Skip to main content

Chore Sticks Tutorial

Making children's chore charts or job jars are not a new idea, but it seems that every few months, I'm trying something new to get the kids excited and motivated to get their chores done.  (I'm wishing I had someone doing the same for me, too! lol)  Well, we were due for a change with the move.  Our last round, we had a laminated list with clothespins to move down the charts.  They conveniently disappeared in the move (wishing the chores disappeared, too).

I decided to dig into my scrap piles and make some chore sticks.  Here's what you will need if you want to make them too:
  • Mod Podge
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Paint brush
  • Scrapbook paper scraps
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Nail file
  • Ink pad
  • ABC Stamps
  • Jars of choice
Here's how you make them:
  1. Cut strips of paper that are as wide as your sticks.  I used the little sticks, but you could use the tongue depressors, too.  I just used what I had on hand.
  2. Using the Mod Podge and paint brush, brush the glue on the stick.  I got the kids to do this part for me!  This way, they had an interest in doing the chores later!  he! he! Aren't I sneaky?  Don't worry if it's not perfect or if they are too long for the stick, you can see here, it's too long!
  3. Let them dry completely.  I know this is the hardest step.

4.  Using the nail file (it's the red one in the picture.), file off the excess paper.  No measuring needed for this project!
5.   Using the ink and stamps, stamp the chores you want on each stick.
6.   Paint a top coat using the Mod Podge to protect them.

Voila!  You have chore sticks!

Here are the basic sticks.  I used blue papers for my so and purple papers for my daughter.


Yes there are a lot of chores, but this is their entire morning for school included.   The activity sticks are for activity bags.  They get to pick a bag to work on for each one.  I figure if they do the activities first, oh well, at least they all get done.  The rule is they have to finish all the sticks to get lunch.  It works perfectly for timing if they aren't misbehaving.  We've had some close calls for missing lunch, but not quite!  Love it that everyone wants to eat!
Labels:

Comments

  1. Meaningful MamaMarch 23, 2012 at 11:55 PM

    This reminds me of the sticks I made for independent activities. Fun idea to do chores too. Great minds.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for your comments! I love to hear from you!

Popular posts from this blog

DIY Pig Feeder

  This is our second year of raising pigs for the fair.  We've had some bumps along the way, one of them was our homemade feeder of last year.  I tend to have ideas, and then Mr. Right gets the pleasure of trying to execute my ideas.  Most of the time it works out, but last year, our feeder was a fail.   This year, we need a feeder that can go a long period of time, since our pigs are not on our property where we live.  Our neighbor made a complaint about the smell of the pigs last year to our landlord, so the landlord told us no more pigs. (Keep in mind, there are only 2 pigs on 6 acres and they are only here for 5 months and then go to the 4-H fair and livestock auction) Thankfully, another neighbor graciously allowed us to pen up a corner of her horse pen, to put our pigs in.    This year, I wanted to be sure that Mr. Right did a quality version of the pig feeder that would make it through the entire five months, and hopefully...
Post a Comment
Read more

Drop Cloth Couch Re-do

It's my 100th Post!  What a great big reveal I have in store for you today! Three years ago, I found  Miss Mustard Seeds' 6 part How to Make Slipcovers Series  and started with watching the first video.  I ran out to Home Depot and purchased two drop clothes, washed and bleached them to get ready for making the slipcovers for my two couches, and there they sat folded nicely in my craft room!  A year ago, we moved across the country, so I packed those drop clothes up in a box, clearly marked them and put them on the truck.  When we arrived, I put them in front of all my other boxes to do first.  We even moved again over Christmas, and I moved that box again!  Then, I did a pillow re-do,  HERE  that pushed me over the edge.  I just had to tackle those slip covers! Before of the couch and the pillows that began the entire thing!  I  had a Saturday, where the guys were doing guy things and it was me and the girls hom...
14 comments
Read more

Top 5 Gifts for the Piano Student

As a piano teacher, I thought I'd put out there some of my top recommendations for great, yet practical and fun gifts for the piano student this holiday season!   1.  Piano Maybe you weren't totally sold on your child playing piano, or maybe you got an instrument to get you thru the interim, until you find or can afford that better instrument, but what student wouldn't be ecstatic about receiving a better one for Christmas (or consider buying it for your family)?   Here's a great article that will get you started in  making the right decision: The Ins and Outs of Buying a Piano.     If you're wanting to order a digital piano, here are two recommendations: Be sure that you have a stand, pedal, and bench for use with the digital piano. 2.  Metronome I love this one But this one is great too!   3.  New Music Ok, so this one takes a little research.  Ask your piano ...
Post a Comment
Read more