Chore Wars Make Me CrAzY!
Raise your hand if your kid’s chores and tasks are completed blissfully and without your nagging. (I literally just spit out my coffee laughing at the absurdity…) Yeaaaa, me either.
5 Tips to Help Tired Mommas Motivate Kiddos With ADHD to do Chores
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1. Use a Color-Coded Checklist
My son needs the visual aid to help him understand his daily checklist. I found this fantastic planner to be a huge success! It is simple and easy to use PLUS, my nagging has lessened because he is referring back to his checklist for school and chores! (OMG…it’s WORKING!!) It gives him ownership of his day and he feels proud to visually see his accomplishments.
➡️ PRO TIP: Don’t make my mistake of using all black! It’s difficult to read because it visually runs together. Also, refrain from adding pictures, scribbles, or doodles on the page as this causes distraction.
2. Invest in Yummy Colored Highlighters and Pens
I highly recommend using these deliciously colored highlighters and colored pens to start organizing. I use one color for meal time (not that he would EVER forget to eat but, my kiddos take their vitamin with meals and if it isn’t on the checklist to take it, it won’t happen!) I use another color for chores, another for schoolwork, etc.
✨ BONUS! He can visually see his free time shown which is extra motivation to play Fortnite or head out on a bike ride!
✨ EXTRA BONUS! Check out this awesome step-by-step tutorial on how to make a color-coded schedule for your child.
3. Offer a Non-Monetary Reward
On that above note about Fortnite, I am not a believer in paying kiddos for chores. (Momma, are YOU getting paid to do housework? Kiddos should not be getting paid more for chores than the House Manager….which is you!) Chores are simply the responsibilities of being a contributing member of the family. However, that doesn’t mean our kiddo’s hard work does not come with some fun rewards at the end! Playtime with a friend, Fortnite, Minecraft, bike ride, family dance party, etc. I have my son write his goal in the ‘free time’ space so he can visually see what he’s looking forward to.
✨ BONUS: It’s amazing how fast he moves when he has a playdate with a friend!
4. Set Timers to Remind Your Child to Stay on Track
Timers are your friend! And…timers can be anything! Get creative! When my son takes the trash out, I challenge him to have it done before I count to 60. When he washes the dishes, I challenge him to complete it before his favorite five songs are finished playing. For chores that take a bit longer such as folding and putting laundry away, I set a 20-minute timer on my iPhone. Get creative and add some fun!
➡️ PRO TIP: Letting him choose music during chores adds a fun factor for him!
5. Use Positive Reinforcement to Celebrate the Wins
We all enjoy kudos from others…our kiddos do, too! Be sure to give your child a big, squishy hug and praise them for staying on task and completing the daily to-do list. My son’s confidence has grown (although I still get the tween-age eye-roll when he sees his chore checklists) since I’ve implemented this and he is certainly more motivated.
We incorporated the use of a color chart for behavior modification and added chores to the list of expectations during the day and it worked like a charm!
Patience. Patience. Patience.
Oooooh, my daily mantra. Remember to be patient. As with any new skill, your child will need time to adapt to this new format. Also, (this one is a tough one for me!) try not to get caught up in the efficiency of the task. For now, work on consistency and acclimate to the checklist. Once he gets into a schedule, he’ll adopt that structure into his daily routine.
I hoped this helped you, Momma! Leave a comment or share this post if you enjoyed this.
XO for now!
