What are some ways to manage household responsibilities between family members?

1. 95

   CWanamakerposted 12 years ago

   What are some ways to manage household responsibilities between family members?

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2. 72

   Lauryallanposted 12 years ago

   Setting up a rota is probably the best way. That way everyone knows their responsibilities and also means they get jobs that they are capable of achieving

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3. 77

   Christofers Flowposted 12 years ago

   Managing Household Responsibilities -
   
   I began as a young father in 1972 with "household responsibilities" and am now with my wife of many decades, having had 4 kids, who have had 6 grandkids.  All this to say that assigning tasks is not like an efficiency expert, or a teutonic agenda set in stone.   
   
   You start early.  In the 1980's I was at home with my fourth child - a stay at home Dad for two and a half years.   Part of the "assigning" is engendering a spirit of picking up as a part of family hood.  My little one was encouraged to pick up after herself.  Now this is not a miracle.  It is just a natural urgent message that part of playing is to pick up after the playing.
   
   Part of cleaning tasks is to just rotate the assignments that are not liked.  Then the kids can trade days, exchange the chores like currency.  Their are easier tasks and ones that are age related or gender related.  They can be assigned this way.
   
   Of course, this is noisy and seems to be arbitrary.  When there is noncompliance, punishment by the parents can be "nonviolent" by extending duties. 
   
   The more joyful and high speed this becomes, the better.   Boys get garbage.  And girls get dishes.  This is kind of a traditional way of dividing.  However, if the kids can change duties back and forth, the parent should not mind, as long as it gets done.   If it does not get done, and the remedy does not seem to take effect, then the parent should examine if someone is getting too much work or not enough work.
   
   If there is a general revolution or juvenile upset, then the family should sit down and reformulate the answer.

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4. 60

   birdsjeannemp90posted 12 years ago

   have a reward system..!..it always works..!

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5. 71

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   To split them up accordingly? Obviously. What can the kids do? Clean their rooms, put their clothes away, put their shoes in the right place, go into their rooms to go to sleep on time. What can the wife do if she does not work? Most of it since that is her job. What can the wife do if she does work? Split the tasks evenly with her husband. One does laundry, one does the dishes, one washes the car, one sweeps, one vaccums, one dusts, etc. Maybe if this gets boring then switch weeks but make sure to have this all written down on the calendar.

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6. 60

   CorinneCanadaposted 12 years ago

   Whoever is better/more efficient at a task, or simply like the task more, should do that task. That way, nobody hates the chores/tasks and they are done quicker. Ok now if one spouse is better at everything, then I guess it doesn't work, but that's how I divide the chores with my spouse and it works.

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7. 37

   edhanposted 12 years ago

   This has to be done from day one in your life when you have a family.
   
   I have done a standing order for household responsibilities consist of do's and dont's so that everyone knows their own role in the house.
   
   If you intend to start afresh then it will be rather hard as the routine is not being built. But if you have been a model of your household, then it will be slightly easier and create a new standing order from start.
   
   It will be like the 10 commandments. It will take a while for everyone to get used to it but be firm and it will work out.

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8. 61

   CastleQueenposted 12 years ago

   Having a chore chart with assigned duties is great but it gets boring having the same chores to do all the time. Sometimes I would rather vacuum than do dishes, sometimes its the other way around. I like to post a list of daily chores and a list of weekly chores. Everyone has to do a certain amount every day. Once done it is checked off and initialed. sometimes as a nice surprise we will do an extra chore and initial another family members name beside it.  It is fun, keeps it from being boring and gives a chance to make an every day thing special for someone when theirs gets done for them. I find chores get done faster this way too. If someone likes to do a specific thing they have to do it quickly and get it checked off and initialed before someone else does.

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