My DS11 forgot to give the chickens water...again. Also did not pick up the eggs. What do you do to hold your kids responsible w/o reminding them of their routine jobs? I have a job chart for the different daily jobs that our boys have (they change weekly). I do write on the chart that they need to feed the animals. Our 11 year old is very forgetful. Wondering if it is our training that has been slack.
Lily

I have a ds-15 who forgets as fast as he's told. He canNOT let it out of his hands until it's taken care of. He is *constantly* setting things down to take care of later, but that never happens. Honestly, if his head wasn't attached, it would have been gone a long time ago. (This is not meant in a derogatory way, it's just a part of the specialness that's my ds - and something to work on. ;-) `) *PART of it is just their nature. It is hard. I'm trying to work on different ways to help him.

One thing we've started doing is lists. Also, HE designed a day planner during vacation to use, so we'll see if it helps for a more long-term. I have had to help him w/ these, both in design and use. I know that we will have to modify things to make them work better for him, too. But, that comes from use.

As for doing jobs to completion w/out being asked, I think that's a constant battle, particularly for dc like this. As I said above, lists help w/ this, or cards to work from. I had several cards on a ring that needed to be done each morning, the chore on the front w/ the specifics of what that entailed on the back. Yes, down the basic details, almost petty points in our minds. For them, they just don't think along the same lines so seeing it in front of them helps immensely.

For example:
Front - Garbage
Back - check every (underlined 2x's) garbage in the house
- when 2/3-3/4 full, OR on Wed - change them (take old bag our and replace it - wash pail when necessary)
- in Kitchen, whipe down cabinet, too
- take bags to outside bin
kitchen, laundry, living room, den, U Bath, D bath


I will say that I have had to tell them when to wash them out, that is not something that boys will just do. LOL

I don't know if this helped, or if it helped you w/ some ideas, but ask away and I'll see what I can help w/.

K

oh, and I've also noticed that as he's gotten older, the need for doing things on his own has increased and HE's seeing the need now. This is a help in the process.

K

I use accountable kids, but you could easily just make your own cards for chores. Instead of feeling like I'm nagging, I just remind them to flip their cards. It's nice to see them come to a card and go "oops, I'll be right back". You have a chore chart already, so does he have to physically check things off? Are there consequences or privileges withheld for not doing something? We just got chickens a couple of weeks ago and since dd7 wanted them, they are her responsibility. Once we get them out in the coop in a few weeks, I'll start going with her to care for them and then she'll do it on her own when she is ready. I have a chore card ready to put on her peg board with her morning chores to remind her. I think the act of flipping the cards over makes them focus on each task instead of possibly forgetting after putting it off. I get sidetracked all the time, so I know how that goes.

As far as the animals go, animals get taken care of in the morning before they get to eat. While you make them a good breakfast they feed and water the animals.

Also your DS is still living at home and is a kid so remind him every day even if he doesn't like it. It is your job as a parent to remind him to do his job. If he doesn't want you to remind him make some kind of chart up where he can mark off when he is done feeding the chickens.

When he sits down to eat ask him if his animals are fed. If he forgot he goes out to feed them before he eats. If he lies, he looses a meal like the animals did.

animal care is the first priority before anything else..i agree with the previous poster. otherwise, get rid of the pets...they should not suffer due to careless children.

Maybe not switch the chores weekly? Give them their chores and let them keep them for 6 months or even a year!! Let them get good at them and really take ownership over them. This will allow them to get into a routine where they would be much less likely to forget what needs to be done.

agree totally with martinbeef and farmschool.