Chore, Errand and Event Chart Creation Tips

One of the keys to keeping the family organized is to create a central information station, aka Command Central. Now each family has their own needs, demands, and personalities to manage. Here are a few ideas to help you create an event, errand and/or chore chart that fits your family.

#1 Poster board and Post-Its

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. This is a very basic and seriously effective charting process. Grab a large piece of poster board in a color you’re willing to hang on your wall. Using a ruler, divide it into six rows and seven columns – you’re making a calendar here. On the top row, write in permanent market, the days of the week Sunday through Saturday.

Buy a different color Post-it pad for each family member. You can also buy smaller colored post-its to place on a larger post it. Each large post-it will have the date 1-30 or 31 depending on the month.

Write each child’s tasks or daily appointments and responsibilities on the post-it and attach it to the proper date. As things change the post it can be removed and replaced with the updated information. It’s a very fluid and low cost tracking system.

#2 Chalk board/White board

You can find a very large white board at office supply stores. You can also use chalk board paint and create your own chalk board. As long as your children aren’t prone to erasing the information this is another effective and low cost system. You can use different color dry erase markers or chalk to keep family member’s separate.

#3 Desktop Calendar

Your office supply store also stocks large desktop calendars. These provide easy, rip off pages for every month of the year. They provide a nice space to write information. If you have a smaller family this system can work well for you. Simply hang it on the wall in the main living area of your home and you’re ready to go.

Alternatively you can find many manufactured family organization systems online. It’s important, before you spend your hard earned money, to make sure the system is right for you and your family. If your schedule changes often and you have a lot of information to track consider the poster board system or a chalk board system.

If you have younger children use colors, shapes, and fun rewards, like stickers, to help them track their responsibilities. For example, when they do their chores each day they get a sticker placed next to their name on the calendar. When they earn 10, 20 or 30 stickers they get to go to the movies, make cookies or some other motivating reward.

Older children will learn to be responsible for adding their events to the family calendar and for managing them independently. Younger children will begin to learn the benefits of family responsibility.