The Top to Bottom Speed Cleaning Game

Getting kids to do chores can sometimes be, well... a chore.  However, I know that even though it might initially seem easier to just do it myself, they will never learn the life skills and responsibility they need if I do.  So we maintain daily chores.  Over the years, we have done many different things to get the job done.  In addition to each child having morning and evening chores, we try to have a once a week cleaning day.  Sometimes life crowds in and we don't get it done, but because we are doing a bit each day anyway, the house isn't in shambles.  But we try for every week.  I want to teach the kids to enjoy their work, so this game is one way I teach them not only to do the work diligently, but to "make it fun".

It's the Top to Bottom Speed Cleaning Game.  The principle of this game is that "if you don't work, you don't eat," so if you do work, you do eat.  For each chore they complete from the master list, they get to eat one goody from the goody bowl.  I usually use something little, like M&M's or Skittles.  (We wouldn't want to sugar them up too much, would we?  Because then my little sugar-high elves might run all over the house messing it right up again.)  I made a print-out of everything that needs to happen to get our house in tip-top shape, then I laminated it.  Now, the kids can mark through each thing as it gets done with a dry or wet erase pen (Wet erase works better for us, because inevitably, someone accidentally rubs off the dry erase and then the chore gets done twice.  What a drag.).  I put the printable, pen and cleaning supplies on the kitchen counter along with a bowl of whatever goody we are serving.  I play some rockin'-hoppin' music to keep us all motivated, then all we race around the house like crazy people doing the list.  When someone chooses a chore, they put a mark beside it to claim it.  When it is finished, they mark through it and grab a goody before going on to the next one.  We are finished with the whole house in no time!

Your house will be different than ours, of course, but if you want to have a look at our Top to Bottom Cleaning Game, below is a link to a printable copy.  I am still working out how to do this blogging thing, so the printable isn't great.  I need some better software to do the job properly, but you'll get the idea.  So without further ado, here it is:

Top to Bottom Speed Cleaning Game Printable 

Have fun getting that house clean!

Angela