Question
What is the best approach for when a child refuses to do their assigned chore? My husband and I use the chart system for our 5-year-old and 7-year-old. When one of our children doesn't do their chore correctly or not at the appropriate time, we cross off one of their boxes. That often doesn't motivate them to do the chore, so they may lose the rest of their boxes in one swipe. If all their boxes for the day are lost, the child spends the remainder of the day in their bedroom with one toy (or sometimes no toys). The child has received a consequence but the chore still isn't done.
Some chores, such as "fold your clean laundry" or "dust your bedroom", don't impact the family that much but they still need to be done in a timely manner. Since I'm not supposed to carry consequences over to the next day, what should I do if they are not completed? I don't want to micromanage and I obviously can't force them to move their arms and fold their laundry.
Even more important than those chores are the truly meaningful ones that help the family out and contribute to the flow of the day. The children may be assigned "unload dishwasher" or "empty backpack." If the children refuse to do those chores, it directly impacts my day. For example, I can't load dirty dishes and start making dinner if the dishwasher is full of clean dishes. I can't take care of any necessary school paperwork if the paperwork is still in their backpacks. I assign chores on the days that would be most appropriate to do them. Certain things have to happen at certain times in order for our busy day to move along efficiently.
So, what should I do if a child refuses to do a chore, especially the ones that impact my ability to make dinner or complete another important task?
Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you.
