Scheduling Chores, Activities and Routines

Having just moved into our current home gives us opportunity to re-evaluate our daily schedule and routines.  We homeschool, so that means I have my children home all day every day.  So every meal we typically eat at home (especially since our oldest is lactose-intolerant).   So we expect our children to help fix meals and clean up after the meals.  Also we expect our children to do their laundry and clean their rooms.

So scheduling chores, activities and routines become a natural part of life.  Through the years I have had numerous books and methods shared for scheduling chores.  Two of my favorite ones are "Managers of their Home" by the Maxwell family and "Large Family Logistics" by Kim Brenneman.  Both of these methods have their benefits.  It really depends on your personal preference.

"Managers of their Homes" uses a very detailed approach.  Literally, you break down every minute of every day for everyone in the household and every single thing you all need to accomplish each day.  Once you do this, then you assign tasks to specific time slots.  Each person/activity is color coded.  Once you complete the initial chart, you fill out a large chart that can be put up on a wall where everyone can see it.  This way everyone can see what is going on when.

Another option for scheduling activities is "Large Family Logistics", which breaks things down into routines.  So there would be a morning routine, meal routines, Afternoon Routines, Evening Routines and so forth.  The routines would be specific to your family and your family's needs.  There are also specific days assigned to things like running errands (Town Day), Laundry Day, Kitchen Day, Office Day and so forth.

It really depends on your own preferences or tastes.  I love both.  For someone just looking to begin organizing their day, take time to look at both and decide what works best for your family and the season of life you are in.  Then investigate what is out there.  Regardless of what you decide, I have to say having a written plan is a necessary part of organizing your day.  What methods do you like for organizing your day?  #blogboost