All in a Day: What if my children won’t complete their chores?

I rarely have a problem with a child refusing to do chores.  We do have some new issues with whining with a few of the children, a problem I am working to correct with motivational rewards. There has been alot of changes in our home in the past few months and we are all still adjusting.


Teaching obedience at an early age makes life alot easier. We begin to teach obedience and self discipline beginning with our toddlers. They are given chores and are praised when it is done. This teaches responsibility, self discipline and self esteem. You can see this when a small child comes to you excitedly to tell you he has picked up his toys all by himself.


When a parent tells a child to do something the child is required to be obedient. When it comes to chores there is no exception. If a child refuses to do what is asked of them there is no discussion or debate. There are no negotiations. If a child were to flat our refuse, they would miss their next meal. I rarely have complete refusal. I do not send children to bed for lack of obedience. If sitting in bed alone, quite, peaceful, were a punishment for disobedience, I would consider disobedience myself. They are to sit in the area of that chore until the chore is completed. 


Our usual chore problem of late is not refusal but delay and procrastination. I recently posted a sign in our kitchen and school room that reads. "If you don't have time to do it right, you must have time to do it over." If a child chooses to spend an hour doing a 15 min chore, thats is their hour of time. We do chores 3 times a day with free time following.  If they want time to draw, play, they need to have their chores done quickly and properly.  

Check out the other All in a Day Bloggers...

Carrie @ Our Full House

Christi @ Where the Creek Meets the Lake

Elizabeth @ Yes They’re All Ours

Kathy @ Kathy Mom of Many 

Kristy @ Homemaker's Cottage 

Lori @ Happy Busy Mama

Monica @ Natural Mama

Renee @ Bakers Dozen