Practical Tips for Creating and/or Revamping Chores and Schedules

It's that time of year again...time to revisit and re-print the children's chores as well as our family's schedule for the new school year.  Although we live in Argentina and we're really still in the middle of winter right now in August...we still (for the most part) follow the USA school schedule.   
For almost 8 years, our family has utilized a wonderful resource for putting together our family's schedule and chore system that comes...

Homemaking Skills for our Girls (III) - 5 Easy ways to get started!

In the past, we've written a few posts about teaching our daughters homemaking skills.  You can find part I here and part II here. 
Planning and implementing a schedule to teach these skills

Review: Lessons in Responsibility for Boys

Lessons in Responsibility for Boys, Level 1 (Ages 6 and Up)

As we had mentioned in a previous post, we have enjoyed the "Lessons In Responsibility" curriculum series for our girls. This year, we decided to try out the first book of the series written for boys (6+). However, after careful review of book #1, we have decided that it isn't the best for our family. We have several reasons for this: 1) Unlike the book for girls, this one doesn't seem to have as many hands-on skill learning activities built into each week's lesson. The main focus is on being responsible in every aspect of life (relationships, personal care, money, etc.).  2)  Most of the chapters deal with issues we have already covered with our 7 year old son.  3) Our family has a conviction regarding not owning or watching a TV as well as not playing video games.  There are at least two chapters dealing with being responsible in limiting TV watching and video game playing, which are irrelevant due our family's situation.
My husband has found creative ways in which to teach our son responsibility.  Several of these things would include daily, weekly, and monthly chores as well as simply bringing him on board when it comes to learning skills such as grilling, outdoor skills, car mechanics, basic home repairs, etc.  The quality time they have while doing these things together, growing in character, is better than taking him through a book.  This also provides opportunities to have those "aha!" moments with 'Dad.'  Eric is very good about trying to turn events and life situations into teaching moments so these naturally come up while they work together.  Praise the Lord, we continue to grow as parents and praise the Lord for his direction and grace!

Homemaking Skills for Our Girls (Part II)

Much has changed since we posted Homemaking Skills for Our Girls (Part I).  We are now living overseas once again.  We are expecting baby #5 (in one more month!).  We are still living through lots of transition in our family.   Having invested the time and energy into building character and homemaking skills in our daughters is paying off every single day! 

Not too long ago, someone asked me how we could have "so many kids" and still have the energy for the pregnancy and all the "to-do's" of keeping up the home.  The answer is simple.  I don't keep it all running.  I don't even try to keep everything running.  I guess I should say, the answer is: SIMPLICITY.  Yes, simplifying life and expectations is a starting point.  Simplifying life not only involves de-cluttering your heart's expectations but also your home.  It involves de-cluttering the homeschool.  It involves investing where it really matters - in your husband and in your children.  Taking the time to teach our girls to cook, clean,  wash the laundry, hang out the clothes, take care of their personal grooming, to sew, bake, and so forth are essential skills they will need for life.  When life gets complicated (expecting another baby and moving overseas), the girls are able to really put into practice what they have been learning.  They can step up to the plate, so to speak, and use their skills to bless others.   They know how much they're needed and valued.  This builds them up and gives them confidence.

OK, so maybe you aren't expecting a baby.  You haven't moved overseas.  Perhaps life is going pretty smoothly for you right now.  You have decided you want to invest in your daughter(s) and teach them some of these skills.  Where do you begin?  If you homeschool, you can purchase the books we mentioned in Part I and start there.  Another thing you can do is to sit down and write out some goals for your daughters.  What are some essential areas they need to grow in as they learn what it takes to be keepers of home?  Start small.  Give lots of encouragement.  Model.  Walk alongside to assist.  Create opportunities for them to put into practice what they are learning.  Invite some friends or family over for a meal and allow your daughter to help cook the dinner.  Ask your daughter to prepare a meal or dessert or bread for a family who is going through a hard time or who just had a baby.  Of course, all of this will depend on your daughter's age, her abilities, etc.  You will have to ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom in this.

Do a lot of praising (even when it doesn't get done just right) and keep that focus!  You will be tempted to criticize, re-arrange, re-do, and even to re-think your strategy when things aren't going as smoothly as you thought they should.  Allow your daughter room for mistakes, growth, and for improvement.  Just don't forget to pray for her and encourage her during these vital years!

Kristi

Homemaking Skills for our Girls (Part I)

Being overseas when the Lord led my husband and I to homeschool our children, we did not have many resources to choose from and we weren't surrounded by many others who were homeschooling at the time.  However, the Lord used His precious Word to help shape our family's vision and the goals we have for homeschooling our children (even though at the time they weren't even school age!)
   

Teaching our children Christ's character as we instruct them, and walking alongside them as they learn valuable life skills, are part of that vision.  It's more about discipleship than schooling!  This is a privilege and a blessing we do not take lightly.   

This past week, as we prayed through and finished up planning for the upcoming school year, we were reminded of one of the most practical little curriculum books we've enjoyed using with our children.  "Lessons in Responsibility for Girls"(a.k.a. Home Economics for Home Schoolers) is one of the many books in the series.  We have the books for girls as well as the books for boys (more on the boy's series in another post).  Our oldest daughter is currently using level two.  

Lessons in Responsibility for Girls, Level 2 Up)

The book for girls is broken down into chapters, each covering different, yet basic, homemaking skills for young girls to begin learning (6+).  It includes skills related to cooking, baking, cleaning, organizing, and hospitality.  You could use it weekly (covering one chapter a week) or you could use it in the summer months.  It is not only great for teaching a young girl to follow basic steps and instructions (when it comes to cooking, for example) but it also begins to teach them the importance of some of the skills they are learning.

Last night, two of our daughters made a delicious dinner and a scrumptious dessert by following the recipes in the book.  We love not only that our oldest can follow most of the recipes by herself with very little input or assistance from us (except for when it comes to safety), but she loves to bring her younger siblings in on the fun.  She is modeling and teaching the younger ones valuable skills.  She, without us prompting her, is investing in them.  She is telling them, by her words and actions, that they matter and that their help is important. All the while having a fun time together.

 Dinner is ready!!

Today, after my oldest put some of the dessert bars in a tin for her grandparents to take home, I heard her grandmother say that perhaps they didn't need as many bars as she had included in the tin.  I smiled when I heard my daughter tell her:  "It's ok, we know how to make more!"



Brother helps take care of baby by feeding her homemade yogurt (or should we say: Sunmade yogurt!)

These homemaking skills are very important for our daughters to learn.  However, what is more important is that they learn to use their skills and knowledge to serve our Lord Jesus by serving and giving to others.  "Love builds up." Don't miss Part II of this topic!  - Eric and Kristi