Teen Chore Success

Getting Your Teen to do Chores with Less He adache and Hassle

 www.money-and-kids.com The legal stuff: All rights reserved. No part of this publication shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying or recording means, or otherwise, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright holder, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passage in a review. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, the author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. Please Note: This publication contains the opinion and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering professional services in this publication. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted. The author specifically disclaims any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this publication.

Table of Contents
Welcome.............................................................................................. 1 Overview.............................................................................................. 2 The Steps: Step 1. Start with the Basics Figuring Out How to Communicate with Your Teen...................................................................................... 4 Step 2. Basic Things to Consider Before You Make the List...................... 7 Step 3: Determining What Chores Need to Be Done............................... 9 Step 4: Dividing Up the Chores: What is Your Teen Going to Do?..........12 Step 5: Tracking What Gets Done and What Doesnt............................14 Step 6: Is It About Moneyor Not?..........................................................17 Step 7: Write it Down and Get Going!...................................................20 Extra Stuff to Help: Appendix A: Spring and Summer Chore Ideas Appendix B: Fall Chore Ideas Appendix C: Teen Chore List Worksheet (Blank) Appendix D: Teen Chore Contract (Blank) Appendix E: Teen Chore Contract Supplement (Blank) Appendix F: Teen Chore Contract (Completed Sample) Appendix G: Teen Chore Contract Supplement (Completed Sample)

Welcome to Teen Chore Success!

Congratulations! You have taken a great step on your journey to build a successful chore program for your family and teens. I admire anyone who is willing to accept the challenge and make an investment in their family. This is YOU! This guide is designed to walk you through building a chore program, including using a chore contract, that not only works now but which will grow with you, your teens and the rest of your family. Your job is simply to read this guide and take it step by step to get to the program and balance that works for you. It wont always be easy and some days and weeks will go more smoothly than others. That is both the challenge and the reward. Sounds a lot like parenting in general, doesnt it? Good luck ~ and please email me at brad@money-and-kids.com anytime and let me know how youre doing. Id love to celebrate your successes with you! ~Brad Castro

Teen Chores: Teaching and Encouraging Responsibility

Parents view chores as a way to teach kids that they have responsibilities as members of the household. Teens think of chores as stuff their parents think up to keep them from having fun. Ultimately, teen chores are really about learning key life lessons that should start at home. As Dr. Virginia Shiller, Ph.D. in child psychology wrote in her book, Rewards for Kids!, many families in todays society have few or no expectations of their children working or helping out in their own home. Without that structure, kids are more likely to take the comforts of home for granted and learn little or nothing about personal responsibility. That can become an even bigger issue when the kids become teens. As kids get older, parents expect more. Teens can, and should, help out more than they did when they were younger. But, teens that havent been used to having chores or otherwise helping out may not come to the same conclusion so easily. At the core, teen chores usually represent an introduction (or continuation) to work (paid or not) and household responsibility. These chores should: Instill that everyone in the family has a part in keeping the house running smoothly, and that its not just part of being a parent to do all the work Demonstrate that there are rewards and penalties when something gets done or doesn't. This is true whether money is attached or not. Come with a sense of accomplishment. Help build self-esteem. Help lay the groundwork for a good work ethic. Earn praise for a job well-done (and sometimes just done). Most of these lessons apply to many other things in life: schoolwork, sports and eventually paid work outside of the house. Why not get teens off to a good start by teaching them at home through chores and household responsibility?

Once you decide to move forward with having your teen do chores, the work begins - not just for them, but for you too. The biggest key to cashing in on the positive aspects above is to follow through. That means assigning chores that are appropriate for their age and then making sure that the chores get done as agreed. In the pages that follow, there are ideas on chores for teens as well as a couple of ways to make sure they get done. Modify all suggestions to fit your family as needed. Not every idea will work for every family pick and choose what will work for you. A critical part of this is being flexible to finding a solution that balances getting stuff done with teaching teens their household responsibilities.

Step 1: Start with the Basics Figuring Out How to Communicate with Your Teen
Even if your teen has been doing chores since they were younger, hitting puberty can change how you need to manage their chore program. If your teen hasnt had chores, you will be facing similar issues. It all starts with the communication. As your child goes from toddler to youngster to preteen to teenager, something in what you say can get lost in translation. They can give you that blank stare as if the words that are coming out of your mouth sound like the unseen teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons. Its not easy to improve the communication bridges with a teen, but its important to try as these years and the choices they make now will have a vital impact on their future. Here are a few tips to help you get started: 1. Watch your body language. How you move, stand and sit say a lot about you and your current mood. When a person is tired, they tend to slump. When angered, your jaw muscles tighten and your eyes narrow into slits. Teenagers are good at interpreting body language, especially that of their parents. Your body language can give you away when you are talking to them. Keep it open and honest. Avoid sitting with your arms crossed, eyes looking away from them or taking an aggressive stance. Conversations about chores and responsibilities can easily turn negative, and everyones body language will start to show that. 2. Make eye contact. When you dont look at the person you are talking to it says that you are either hiding something or you are not at all interested in what they have to say. Your teenager will shut down emotionally when they suspect that you are not tuned in to them.

Sit comfortably and give your teen undivided attention with consistent eye contact. It lets them know that you care. Do this as often as you can when you are talking to them and not just when you are trying to get them to do chores. 3. Keep your emotions in check. Remember back to when you were a teenager. Some of the things you said to your parents were aimed at freaking them out or just getting a reaction. Teenagers will push your buttons if they can (lots of younger kids will, too, so you probably already have a good idea if your teen falls into this category). Dont go overboard and get upset. Their target is the situations they know make you mad. They know what buttons to push. Instead, take a deep breath and ignore the taunt. Do the opposite of what they expect. On some level, they want you to see through their ploy and find out the real problem. For example, your teen may say that since he isnt really home that much, he doesnt need to do any chores. Either you or the younger siblings can do those things now. As tempting as it is to respond with Im not your maid (or butler)! that reaction wont get go very far towards the goal of keeping the house working smoothly and teaching him responsibility. Instead, you can take out his chore contract and ask him which chores he will no longer do and which privileges or money/allowance hed like to also give up in return. If you dont have a chore contract (yet!), you can still have that conversation. It may be that if he doesnt pitch in on the laundry, he doesnt have clean clothes when he wants or needs them. The key is to do is as reasonably as you can. 4. Ask them about their day. This technique works with spouses also. Even if your teen only grunts or says the obligatory, It was okay, ask anyway. Your show of caring can go a long way to convince them that you are interested in the things that they do and how they feel (although their reaction may be that you are just being nosy). While it may not make them jump up and want to help out immediately, it can help build a longer term

bond that will make them more likely to pitch in (or at least not grouse about it as much). 5. Be honest with them. If you dont understand the situation they are talking about then say so. Kids know when you are being insincere. Discuss the situation until you get an idea of where they are coming from. Your teen may not mind explaining as much as long as they know you are listening. Having you listen is a validation that you care about what is going on in their lives. For most people teens or not it is easier to help out others once you feel like youve had a chance to talk about your own stuff. The biggest key, though, is to listen and let it stop unless they specifically ask for something. They may not want or need help or suggestions. Everyone needs to vent and to have a sounding board. In some cases, they may also want advice. But, if they feel like each discussion results in advice (potentially seen as meddling) or a lecture, they are going to share less and less. 6. Allow them their privacy and give them some space. It can be frustrating staring at a pile of dishes or laundry and an unmowed front lawn while your teen is in their room for some private time. Everyone needs time to decompress. The key is to finding a good balance between the teen veg time and what needs to get done otherwise. The best time to address that is before it becomes an issue. Agree with your teen that they get a certain amount of time each day (30 minutes as an example) to be in their room or other private place undisturbed. They then need to agree, in return, that they will take on their share of household responsibility based on their chore contract or list.

Step 2: Basic Things to Consider Before You Make the List

Before the first list of chores comes out (or you finalize that chore contract), step back for a moment and think about how your house and your teen really work. It can be tempting to make a long list of all the stuff that needs to get done and start assigning it out. Sometimes, that may be exactly what needs to happen if its been a couple of crazy days (or weeks) and things are a big mess. For a week in and week out chore routine, there are some basics to keep in mind. Check these ideas out before you finish that list. 1. Consider what chores your teen might like doing or at least like doing more than some of the other options. There are teens who are fine with vacuuming or doing laundry because they can plug in their iPod at the same time. Other teens may like mowing the yard or other outside chores. Just make sure that the chore is within their capabilities and maturity. The step alone can eliminate ongoing struggles with getting certain things done, so dont skip it without at least considering the options. Be sure to involve your teen, too. You might be surprised by what they say.
2. Know what needs to be done and be willing to let go of exactly

how it gets done. Not everyone will do a task the same. Teens and parents are no different. As long as there are no safety issues and the task is getting done as needed, be willing to accept that there may be other ways to do the chore than the way you have been doing it. Giving some freedom in the process may make your teen more likely to do the chore (and may even result in a better way to do it).

3. Make sure they have the training that they need to do the chores. They might need to be taught how to actually do the laundry or start the dishwasher. As simple as those may sound to adults who do them all the time, its worth the time to teach your teen the details so the whites stay white and the dishes get clean.

Step 3: Determining What Chores Need to Be Done The Family View

If your teen has been doing chores for some time, you might be thinking that there arent other chore options. If your kid hasnt had ongoing household responsibilities, you may not even be sure where to start in figuring out what and how much they should do. One way to look at both situations is to take a step back and review everything that needs to be done in your house in a typical week. Some chores will be daily, others will be weekly and some may land in between. A snapshot of a typical week will help give you an idea of the bigger picture and a good list to divide up between everyone in the house to share responsibilities. As you review the lists below, keep in mind that any chore should be adapted for your family and your teen. No list or recommendation is a onesize-fits-all answer. Be flexible and make these fit your life (or toss them out if that's what works best). Here are the basic categories to consider: Routine household chores o Washing dishes, loading/unloading dishwasher o Setting the table for dinner o Washing, drying, folding laundry o Cleaning kitchen including wiping down counters o Cleaning bathrooms (sinks, toilets, showers) o Cleaning common family areas (halls, living room) including vacuuming and dusting o Cleaning own room o Washing windows o Emptying household trash and taking it to the curb o Gathering recyclables and bundling them for pickup or delivery o Cleaning the garage o Clearing out and donating old clothes or other household items o Plan and cook one meal per week for the family
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 Pet-related chores o Making sure there is food and fresh water available for all pets o Walking the dog(s) o Emptying litter box o Changing/cleaning fish tank water o Cleaning bird or other animal cages o Bathing the dog Outside chores o Mowing the lawn o Watering plants, flowers, gardens o Weeding flower beds or gardens o Raking leaves o Shoveling snow o Sweeping off porch, deck or patio o Cleaning outdoor furniture o Small painting and/or staining projects o Scrubbing or powerwashing sidewalks or driveways In addition to these ideas, there are even more seasonal chore ideas (inside and out) that might work for you. Check out a full list of spring and summer chores in Appendix A and a fall chores list in Appendix B. Depending on your family and your house, some of these may not apply at all or you may need to add other items. The important part is to complete the list of everything (as best you can) before you start dividing it up. It will help keep frustrations down to not have lots of changes to the chore list or contract for stuff that got forgotten. With your list in hand, write beside each item how often each task needs to be done and how long it takes to do it. This is important because it will help balance out each persons list in terms of how much time it takes and not just the number of chores on the list. For example, you could have each person have 5 different chores. If one persons list is all daily chores and the others list is all weekly chores, that
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may not be the best balance. (Check out Appendix C for a template to use to make your list with frequency, time involved, etc.)

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Step 4: Dividing Up the Chores: What is Your Teen Going to Do?

Once you have an overall list for your entire household plus an idea of what each family member might enjoy or prefer doing, you can move on to making a specific list for your tween or teen. Its what youve been waiting for! Here are some simple steps to making that list: 1. Take your household chore list with the things that need to be done and take a new look at it. 2. Add four new columns to it: Must be done by an adult Can be done by teen with training Can be done by teen now Name of person who would like to do it 3. Go through each chore and figure out which of these new columns they into. This will give you a final list of chores that your teen can do and may even prefer to do. Depending on what is now on the list, you might be done. For example, if you have five total chores some that are daily and some that are weekly with about 30 minutes a day, that is a nice balance and a doable amount of time. On the other hand, if there are 10 chores on the list that could take 90 minutes on one day, you probably need to whittle it down a little more. Next, look at your teens interests and their other obligations such as school, clubs and sports. How much time is reasonable to have them doing chores each day or week? Should most chores be done during the week or on the weekends or should it be both depending on your family? Based on this final review, pick out the top 3 5 chores as starting a point. This is true for all family members and for all chores. That may mean that there are some chores that dont make the cut to be initially tagged to someone in the family. Dont freak out if that is the case. It is more

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important to get started on stable ground. You can always add more as you go along. There are just two more things to consider before calling this a done deal: 1. how to keep track of the chores, and 2. what privileges or compensation will be tied to the chores Lets tackle each of those now!

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Step 5: Tracking What Gets Done and What Doesnt

There are a couple of ways to track the chores that need to be done and whether they are actually getting done. When kids are younger, chore charts are a great visual way to do this. As kids move into the teen years, they may feel like chore charts are too much like little kid things. That makes the better options for this age group chore lists and chore contracts. Chore Lists A list is an easy thing to make, and its exactly what it sounds like. The list should include a couple of columns to spell out the key parts of each task. These could include the name of the chore, how often it gets done and how much it earns (if applicable). It is best to have a separate list for each teen to keep arguments about who did what to a minimum. There is an example of this type of list in Appendix C for you to use or copy/modify. Chore Contracts The reasons to use a contract are not much different than the reasons for using a chore list. Each provides a way to document the chores that are to be done. By doing so, helps make sure that everyone agrees on what will be done. Contracts can help even more depending on how you write them. They can put in writing nearly all aspects of chores - which is something that chore charts usually don't do as well. It can be a challenge to put all the parts of chores (how, when, where and consequences of not doing them) on to a chart or list. All of those pieces can be put into a contract without much of a problem. Plus, for teens that need and want more independence, contracts are a step toward adulthood. Most contracts are legal documents that teens cannot sign until they are 18. Having a contract that they can sign is another step in their maturity. It gives them a chance to have something more formal without the same risk as signing a binding contract with a third party.

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Any contract has some basic parts. Those parts need to be adapted for your specific family and teen, but here are the main items. What: Which chores will be done. When: Timing of the chores. Are they daily? Weekly? Some of both? Where: Where the chores get done. This might all get covered in the "what" section. For example "clean bedroom" is both what and where. Why: Why the chores are being done. This could include how much allowance or pay goes with each chore. Or what privileges are earned (or can be taken away) for each chore. How: How each chore is to be done. This is where the parent and teen definitions of "clean" can be ironed out. Changes: How changes can be made. Often, the first pass at something isn't the final one. Changes might need to be made to any section and this part of the contract addresses how that gets done. That list can look overwhelming, but it doesn't need to be. You can find a sample contract in Appendix D to get you started (and a completed sample in Appendix F for reference). If you find that you need to have an add-on to the contract, there is a sample of that in the Appendix E (with a completed sample in Appendix G). Why would you need an add-on or supplement to a chore contract? This is ideal for extra chores - or seasonal chores but you don't want to redo the chore contract. A teen chore contract supplement is really just a fancy way of saying an add-on to your original chore contract. An add-on can be used to add chores that are extra for a certain period of time or just to help the teen earn extra money (if that's an option). It keeps you from having to go back and rewrite the whole contract each time something out of the ordinary comes up.

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That is really the only difference between the supplement and the original chore contract. The other basic parts of the agreement are the same and will likely include: What: Which chores will be done. When: Timing of the chores. Are they daily? Weekly? Some of both? Where: Where the chores get done. This might all get covered in the "what" section. For example "clean bedroom" is both what and where. Why: Why the chores are being done. This could include how much allowance or pay goes with each chore. Or what privileges are earned (or can be taken away) for each chore. How: How each chore is to be done. This is where the parent and teen definitions of "clean" can be ironed out. One thing that might be different from the original contract is that the addon might end on a certain date. For example, if you do a supplemental chore contract that is meant to cover winter snow shoveling, then you can write it to end on March 31st (hopefully!). You can also leave it openended and then just revisit it when chores move into the next season or when it is no longer needed. If you have already done a chore contract, doing this add-on will be no big deal. It can give you some more flexibility in your teen chore program. If you are just starting with a chore contract, you can do a supplement at the same time for chores you know will only be seasonal in nature. If your teen is trying to earn extra money by doing chores around the house, you may or may not want to use a chore contract supplement. A supplement can be more work than it might be worth if its an afternoon or weekend of chore work. This can also depend on your teen, though. If having a contract will help make sure the job gets done well and the pay is fair, then definitely use one.

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Step 6: Is It About Moneyor Not?

There are all kinds of ways to look at what your teen gets for doing their chores. This can range from personal satisfaction and contributing to the running of the house to actual payment. There is really no right or wrong view on this. It is more based on your personal and family views. Here are the three most common views. View #1: Its Part of Being a Member of the Family A household doesnt magically run on its own. There are no laundry fairies or elves that do the dishes. It takes real work to keep a house running let alone running smoothly. Everyone in same way should pitch in to make sure that it does. The reward for doing chores is a sense of personal satisfaction and achievement as well as knowing that this is a key contribution to making the family and the house run more smoothly. Its just part of being a responsible member of the family and will be the most representative of how chores will get done when the teen reaches adulthood and lives on their own. View #2: There is no money involved just privileges Chores are something that needs to be done, but there should be something connected to do them on time and well. It shouldnt be money because that adds all kinds of negative connections to the chores and to earning money. It is also just a lot more complicated to add money into the equation. There should be privileges and consequences attached to the chores so that there is accountability and personal responsibility for when chores get done (or dont). For example, if a teen needs a ride to meet their friends at the movies every Friday, their associated chore could be to clean the family car each week. If the car doesnt get cleaned, they dont get to go (letting them hitch a ride is an easy way out). There is an immediate consequence and an ongoing privilege attached which helps the kid see the connection between chores and benefits.
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Thats how it works in the rest of life too. If no one does the laundry, there are no clean clothes to wear. Same with going to the grocery store, doing the dishes or other routine chores that need to get done. This is real life. View #3: Kids need a way to earn money from a young age besides having to get a job Chores are basically the first job that kids can have. There are rules to follow on what needs to be done, how it should be done and by when. Most kids dont have a way to earn money when they are young, and this is a good way to teach them that money doesnt get handed to them without them putting in some effort. Sure, there are some chores that dont pay anything. Those are basic house chores that everyone contributes to (putting your dishes in the sink) as well as basic personal care (brushing their teeth, as an example). There are also plenty of other ones that do get paid. Some people call the payment as an allowance, others refer to it as a commission. In either case, the key is to not pay if the chore is not completed. This is a basic money management skill that everyone needs to learn starting at a young age. One thing to note is that certain behaviors and expectations should never have money attached to them. These are things like respecting others, speaking nicely and having a good attitude. Which one is right for your family? Only you can answer that question. You may find that one answer works when the kids are younger but you need to change to a different mode as the kids get older. This should be a combination of motivating your teen (without making it all about the money), your family budget and your beliefs. You will also want to think about how this connects to any money management skills you are trying to teach them. Instilling responsibility through chores can be a great match for teaching money management even if they are not directly tied together.

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No matter which option you choose (or create on your own), it needs to be communicated across the family. Communicating means more than just announcing it. It means that you should explain to your teen what comes with getting chores done and what doesnt. You should be ready to answer their questions. Sure, there are some things that are really just your decision, and they dont have to agree with all of it. But, helping them understand and buy into the decision will be a BIG help in getting them to do the chores that come out of that decision. This is a great way to keep the communication lines open at the outset of a chore program and to keep it on the right path as you move forward.

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Step 7: Write it Down and Get Going!

This is the final step. Its time to put into writing all the work you have done so far. The best way to do that is to jump in and start getting things on paper. Take out the chore list or chore contract along with the list you have from Step 4. Put the chores along with frequency and privileges (if applicable) in the list or contract. Sit down with your tween or teen and review it. Make sure everyone agrees that whats on the list is correct. It can be changed in the future, but you really want to come up with something that is going to last through the first month. After the end of the first month, you and your family can review the plan and see if its working. Make it a friendly meeting and list what is going well and what isnt. Sure, there will be gripes that are just part of life. There may be some real things that you didnt think about at the beginning. For example, your teen has early swim practice each Wednesday. It is all everyone can do to get out the house to be at school at 6 a.m. Trash day is Wednesday, and your neighborhood rules dont allow for the trash to be put out the night before. It may be that this is just part of life, and your teen needs to get up an extra 10 minutes early. Or, you could consider changing the chores around. The key part is to have the discussion so that everyones views can be heard. Make any changes or updates and keep going! There are two keys to any chore program: getting started and keeping it going. By this time you have gotten through the worst part of both of these. Now its time to give yourself (and your family) a pat on the back for what you have accomplished to not only make your house run more smoothly but to also teach your teen responsibility. Way to Go!
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Appendix A Spring and Summer Chore Ideas

Ongoing chores (weekly) 1. Mow the yard 2. Cook dinner one night a week including making menu and staying within a provided budget 3. Vacuum house (or clean floors if not carpeted) 4. Clean bathrooms 5. Take care of pets including feeding, watering and exercising 6. Wash, dry and fold own laundry 7. Do family laundry (such as bathroom towels, sheets) 8. Wash and clean out the family car (especially important if the teen is using it!) 9. Water plants (inside and outside) and/or garden

One-time chores
1. Clear out flower beds for any dead plants from last year

2. Plant spring flowers and lay down fresh mulch 3. Apply lawn treatments (ideally with a push sprayer to minimize contact) 4. Wash windows (outside or inside) 5. Take down curtains and wash 6. Fully dust or clean blinds 7. Get out and test garden hose; patch holes 8. Clean birdbath 9. Get out summer lawn furniture or cushions; check for pieces that need to be washed or repaired 10.Wash and/or repair summer lawn furniture and cushions 11.Paint or stain outdoor woodwork, such as deck or fence 12.Check summer equipment (sports, swimming) for damage and cleaning 13.Organize summer sporting equipment and lawn care implements so that they are easily accessible
14. Change out air filters on furnace (may need to be done more than

once but not weekly)

15.Clean out closets and sort outgrown clothes 16.Clean out basement and sort items no longer being used 17.Organize and run a garage or yard sale with the stuff from the cleanings done in #15 and #16 18.Organize gloves and hats within easy access for cold mornings 19.Clean out garage and put away winter tools and supplies

Appendix B Fall Chore Ideas

1. Rake leaves 2. Clear out flower beds of dying summer flowers 3. Plant spring bulbs 4. Lay down a fresh layer of mulch for overwintering
5. Fertilize the lawn (ideally with a push sprayer to minimize contact)

6. Plant fall flowers (such as mums) 7. Clean outside flower containers and store (if not used for fall flowers) 8. Start a composting pile with all the yard debris 9. Check windows and doors for needed weatherproofing 10. Add weatherproofing to windows and doors 11. Store garden hose for winter (if no longer needed)
12. Clean birdbath and store for winter

13. Clear out garden 14. Lay down compost in garden for overwintering 15. Clean all blinds and windows 16. Take down and clean out birdhouses 17. Clean and store summer lawn furniture or cushions

18. Clean and put away summer toys 19. Locate, organize and store summer swimming gear 20. Organize snow shovels, rock salt, etc. 21. Change out air filters on furnace 22. Clean out closets and donate outgrown winter coats and clothes 23. Organize gloves and hats within easy access for cold mornings 24. Wash curtains and rehang 25. Clean out garage and prepare it for winter

Appendix C Teen Chore List

Chore

Frequency (daily, weekly)

Must be done by (day of the week)

Time to Complete Task

Privilege or Payment

Must be done by adult

Teen needs training

Can be done by teen now

Appendix D Teen Chore Contract Blank

Chore Contract Between

And

The purpose of this contract is to outline the household responsibilities and related privileges of (teen name). The effective date of this contract is (date).

Section 1. Responsibilities of (teen name)

This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household responsibilities of (teen name). 1. Daily: Make bed; ensure coats, shoes, backpacks and sports equipment are properly stored 2. Each Wednesday: Empty all trash cans within house and take trash to curb (pickup is on Thursday) 3. Once each week: Plan menu and prepare simple family meal 4. Weekly: Vacuum and dust living room and own bedroom

Section 2. Acceptable completion

The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by (parents name). Note: Consider putting into writing what this means. For some tasks, it is really easy either the trash is taken out or its not. For others, such as making the bed, there may be some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way around if as much as possible is agreed to up front.

Section 3. Compensation

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, (teen name) will receive the following each week: 1. An allowance/commission of $20 2. An hour of uninterrupted computer time on the family computer 3 nights per week. 3. The choice of one family activity per weekend.

In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the compensation may be reduced or withheld.

Section 4. Modifications to contract

From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be limited to: Responsibilities of (teen name) Definition of acceptable completion Compensation/privileges earned

Section 5. Full contract and agreement

This contract is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may be determined). Agreed to this _____ day of _____ by:

Teen Signature

Parent Signature

Appendix E Teen Chore Contract Supplement Blank

Chore Contract Supplement
between (Teen Name)

and (Parents Names) The purpose of this contract supplement is to outline additional responsibilities and related privileges of (teen name). The effective date of this contract is (date).

Section 1. Responsibilities of (teen name)

This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household responsibilities of (teen name). 1. Weekly additional chores: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2. One time additional chores: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3. Other (as needed): __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

Section 2. Acceptable completion

The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by (parents name). This includes: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Note: Consider putting into writing what this means. For some tasks, it is really easy either the Christmas tree gets watered or it doesnt (and the needles make a nice blanket on the floor). For others, such as shoveling the drive (and how clear it really needs to be), there may be some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way around if as much as possible is agreed to up front.

Section 3. Compensation/Privileges

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, (teen name) will receive the following each week: 1. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the compensation may be reduced or withheld.

Section 4. Modifications and supplements to contract

From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be limited to: Responsibilities of (teen name) Definition of acceptable completion Compensation/privileges earned

Section 5. Agreement

This supplement is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may be determined) but should be considered along with the original chore contract dated ______________. Agreed to this _____ day of _____ by: Teen Signature

Parent Signature

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Appendix F Teen Chore Contract Completed Example

Chore Contract
Between Joe Smith and John and Mary Smith The purpose of this contract is to outline the household responsibilities and related privileges of Joe Smith. The effective date of this contract is February 1, 2010.

Section 1. Responsibilities of Joe Smith

This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household responsibilities of Joe Smith. 1. Daily: Make bed; ensure coats, backpacks and sports equipment are properly stored 2. Each Wednesday: Empty all trash cans within house and take trash to curb (pickup is on Thursday) 3. Once each week: Plan menu and prepare simple family meal 4. Weekly: Vacuum and dust living room and own bedroom

Section 2. Acceptable completion

The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by John and Mary Smith based on: 1. Bed is made so that covers are pulled fully over the bed and pillows are at the head of the bed. 2. Coats, backpacks and sports equipment are not left lying on the floor in any main family room/area. 3. Trash cans are emptied and trash is to the curb for pickup each week. 4. Meal is planned and served on agreed-upon day. Meal should include a main dish and a vegetable. 5. Vacuuming includes main areas as well as under tables and picking up items on the floor (and not just vacuuming around them). 6. Dusting includes all main tabletops and shelves as well as TV and computer screens.

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Section 3. Compensation

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, Joe Smith will receive the following each week: 1. An allowance/commission of $20 2. An hour of uninterrupted computer time on the family computer 3 nights per week. 3. The choice of one family activity per weekend. In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the compensation may be reduced or withheld. Section 4. Modifications to contract From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be limited to: Responsibilities of Joe Smith Definition of acceptable completion Compensation/privileges earned Section 5. Full contract and agreement This contract is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may be determined). Agreed to this 29th day of January by: _Joe Smith_______ Joe Smith (signature)

__John Smith__
John Smith

____Mary Smith_______ Mary Smith

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Appendix G Teen Chore Contract Supplement Completed Sample

Chore Contract Supplement
between Susan Jones and Sally Jones

The purpose of this contract supplement is to outline additional responsibilities and related privileges of Susan Jones. The effective date of this contract is February 1, 2010. Susan is taking on these additional tasks because her brother broke his leg while skiing.

Section 1. Responsibilities of Susan

This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household responsibilities of Susan Jones. 1. Weekly additional chores: Rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher on Tuesday and Thursday (in addition to Monday and Wednesday) Taking the recycling to the curb each Friday morning 2. One time additional chores: Boxing up the old home computer and parts to be taken to the recycling drive at church on February 13, 2010. 3. Other (as needed): Emptying the dishwasher and putting the dishes away (timing of this varies depending on the family schedule)

Section 2. Acceptable completion

The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by Sally Jones. This includes: No food left on dishes after the dishwasher has been run (this means that they werent rinsed well) Having the box of computer parts at the door to garage on the evening of February 12th. No more than one meals worth of dishes in sink waiting to be put into the dishwasher (more than one meal would mean that the dishwasher hasnt been emptied timely). Note: Consider putting into writing what this means. For some tasks, it is really easy either the houseplants get watered or they dont (and the leaves start turning brown

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and dropping). For others, such as shoveling the drive (and how clear it really needs to be), there may be some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way around if as much as possible is agreed to up front.

Section 3. Compensation/Privileges

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, Susan will receive the following each week: 1. An additional hour of computer time on the family each week. 2. An additional $2/week of allowance In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the compensation may be reduced or withheld.

Section 4. Modifications and supplements to contract

From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be limited to: Responsibilities of Susan Jones Definition of acceptable completion Compensation/privileges earned

Section 5. Agreement

This supplement is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may be determined) but should be considered along with the original chore contract dated May 15, 2009. Agreed to this 31st day of January 2010 by:

Susan Jones
Teen Signature Sally Jones Parent Signature

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