Inexpensive, Easy Chore Chart for Kids

This summer is the first summer I’ll be at home most days with the kids since I started my freelance adventure last fall. My 6 and 4 year old are bright, exuberant kids and I knew I’d have to add structure their days if I wanted any sanity. However, with my freelance work I don’t have the ability to be there every moment to guide their day (and who would want to?). It’s also great for fostering their independence as well.

I went to work trying to find chore charts, but none of them were quite right. My 4 year old can’t read the text chore charts, and many of the picture charts were geared toward very little children, or had unattractive graphics.

After doing some research I landed on four requirements:

  • I wanted a photo chart that my four year old could understand and interact with on her own;
  • I didn’t want to spend much money;
  • I wanted the flexibility to change their days up, but I also didn’t want to have to print a new one each week; and
  • I needed something I could mount to the fridge somehow – I didn’t want a chart that required wall space.

I landed on the concept of a magnetic chart with two categories: “Doing” and “Done.” I saw a few examples that I liked and got to work emulating those based on my needs. However, I needed clip art. It was SO hard to find cute clip art that would work for this! That’s when I stumbled upon Audrey Schilaty‘s blog. She had the exact chart I wanted – for free! Really, it’s the nicest free resource I’ve found. She offers both personal care and chore images, and I used a small combination of both (sad but true: I forget to have my children brush their teeth all to often).

I made it my own with a few modifications:

  • I drafted my own simple “Doing” and “Done” text document and used just the images I needed from her selection, so it would all print on one page, saving me money.
  • I printed it on a glossy sheet of photo paper that I had on hand, and then just placed it on an 8.5×11 sheet of adhesive magnet. You can buy packages of adhesive magnet sheets at office supply stores, but I found the most inexpensive option for heavy sheets – I got mine for just $3.59. I cut the small pieces to size, added them to the fridge, and voila – a clean, easy and inexpensive chart.

Magnetic Chore Chart | Five Marigolds

The kids woke up the first day and had moved two magnets over before I had a chance to remind them about it! So far, it’s been a great success.

DIY Magnetic Chore Chart | Five Marigolds

I encourage everyone to check out Audrey’s great blog. And, if you’d like a copy of the 1-page version of the printable I used to create my chart using her images, just click the image below!

Chore chart printable | Five MarigoldsThere you have it – a chore chart for just $3.59. What are your tips for keeping the kids structured in the summer? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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PlaySkool ShowCam – Bzz Campaign

 

I was sooo excited to recently be chosen for the PlaySkool ShowCam Bzz Campaign.  A Bzz Campaign is a program through BzzAgent that sends free products and coupons to people to let them try it out, harnessing the most powerful form of marketing there is right now – word of mouth.

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As soon as we got the box, I knew how I wanted to introduce this to the kids.  Sunday morning we grabbed donuts and went to a local park where I brought my own camera to take a few snapshots of the family fun.  I sent them on a picture scavenger hunt and let them snap away.

camera1

Now I should mention, I was surprised upon opening the packaging that there were absolutely no instructions inside.  So we popped the batteries in and found that it was pretty intuitive to operate.  Just a little testing of the buttons to figure out what-was-what, and we were off and running.

Dub took pictures of a spider, butterfly, leaves, and the rest of us at the park.  camera_2  P00047

camera   P00030

A cool feature of this camera is the in-picture templates.  You can make your subject a pirate, ballerina, dragon, skunk…all sorts of fun things!

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When we got home, we all watched the pictures through one of the camera’s coolest features – the projector.  They loved this and were delighted when the in-picture templates played animations along to music.  They watched them over and over…until a fight ensued about whose turn it was to play with the camera.

This camera is lightweight and made of plastic, yet it seems reasonably durable. I see lots and lots of fun with this toy in our future.

Christmas Card Family pictures – what to wear

Our annual family photos are coming up quickly in just a few weeks – and I have been putting off the decision of what to wear.  I normally have a vision and this time…I just don’t.  Which is your favorite wardrobe theme?

coral fam photos famphotos

famiy Christmas photo
Update – Shop similar look here:
pastel family of 5 photos

(Very) Small Spaces: Shared Girl Room

Baby #3 is on the way  soon(!) and the nursery is officially done. We live in a 3 bedroom home with cozy (aka ridiculously small) bedrooms which meant lots of creativity and organization.
I tried my best to create the illusion of space with monochromatic touches of taupe and pink with gold accents against white.  We used a pink and taupe toile in the bedding for both girls and carried the colors throughout the room. Here is a mock up:shared girl room3
I’m certainly no designer (clearly!) but because I had such a hard time finding decor ideas for tight quarters, I’m posting mine for all of you out there with small spaces.
Tiny Spaces Shared Girl Room
Do you like how I kept the overstuffed toy box in the shot? That’s just me keeping it real.