Beyond the Chore Chart- Book 3

Beyond the Chore Chart by Kimberly Eddy, was a FREE kindle book I picked up off of a daily email I get from either Money Saving Mom or Ebooks.com.  I mainly picked it up because all to often I've used a chore chart, which works for a little bit, and then find myself back to just asking for help at different times.  Usually the kids are good about helping when I ask.  They have both have homework, instruments to practice and sports or church activities so I try to look at what is going on each day and then ask them to help me with that days daily jobs.  The biggest complaint I usually hear is that one of them was asked to do more than the other one.  While at times this is true due to illness or schedule conflicts I do try to give them each the same amount of jobs.  With all of that in mind I thought perhaps I'd pick up some tips from this book.
This book did discuss the use of chore charts at different seasons of parenting, as well as different types of jobs that children can learn how to do, based on age groupings.  I liked that it also mentioned that each child is an individual and therefore a given list of what is acceptable for a certain age needs to be looked at from the perspective of your child's skill level and responsibility level.  I've read lots of books with chore suggestions  as well as lots of books that talk about not doing all the work yourself.  This is the first book that really focused on the "why" children need to do chores.  Yes, the load gets lighter when they are helping out. But if you've ever said "I'm not the maid" to your children, are you really telling the that they are?  When I've used those words, it has been from the thought of I shouldn't have to pick up for you something that you can pick up yourself, not from the perspective that I shouldn't have to do the work. Still those aren't words I'm glad I've said. Kimberly set in motion the idea of giving kids chores as a  means to raising responsible, successful adults. While I think I've always thought this in some way a light bulb for getting them to help finally went off.  My kids are pre-teen and teen age at this point. So when I stopped the last time I asked them to help and pointed out that chores aren't just to make my life easier, but so you know how to do these things when you are on your own, a mini light bulb went off for them too.  They need trained and retrained how to do things to learn the information.  Yes, maybe they will still fold towels and laundry differently when they are older, but knowing how to fold it in general will help them take care of those items better and have them last longer.  Learning how to do the laundry, clean up after themselves and manage their time are all useful benefits and life long skills that chores can help with.
I don't think I took the time I could have when they were younger. I didn't have the balance in my life that I do now.  I was out of control and over committed which made taking the time to show them how to help hard to do and so I skipped it.  I'm glad she points out that yes, it is valuable to start young but that you can start at any time.

Great book to refresh the why for kids doing chores and for gaining perspective on what and how to get them started.

I'd give this book 4.5 stars.