Job Rosters

How do we insure our children know how to work hard and follow instructions?
The Bible gives us clear guidance:

Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

One thing my Dad did a good job in was teaching me how to work hard and follow instructions. How did he do this?

From a young age we were always given the opportunity to help with jobs around the house and often praised for our efforts. I remember and have seen photos of me at age 4 with my own cubby house to look after, I even had my own little broom, and garden tools.

Even when things were tough in later years we were made to help with the work and it did not do us any harm. Dad would explain that if we wanted to live under his roof then we would have to contribute and completing our jobs for Dad was a condition of having morning tea, going skating or on a family trip.

To often today I see children having the rewards without contributing to their family in anyway. This is teaching children that the world owes them and that things like going on a trip or outing, having some nice food, having play time or living in a clean house… is their right not a reward or consequence for helping and encouraging others. We have all heard it said that we have a selfish generation but are we willing to ensure that our children are successful in life?

When I say successful I am not necessarily talking about material wealth. Instead I am talking about that joy that can only come from having a hope in God and a purpose that can only come from serving others and not ourselves.

It is important that we instill in our children responsibility and commitment necessary to hold onto a good job, or better yet, excel in that job?

Here is an additional list:

• Taking out the kitchen trash
• Cleaning the closets
• Emptying all the wastebaskets
• Sweeping –assign areas
• Vacuuming
• Grocery-shopping or keeping the list up to date
• Dusting
• Preparing dinner
• Setting the table
• Clearing the table
• Cleaning the living and dining rooms
• Doing the dishes
• Hanging out the washing
• Bringing in the washing
• Folding the cloths
• Making the lunches
• Tidying the yard –putting sports gear and toys away
• Weeding gardens –giving areas that they are in charge of
• Ironing
• Personal laundry
• Straightening up the living areas
• Household laundry (towels and linens)
• Annual spring cleaning
• Mowing the lawn –older children with correct foot ware and experience
• Taking the garbage cans to the street and back
• Cleaning the bathrooms
• Cleaning the kitchen
• Wiping down the stove
• Cleaning the bedrooms –be specific in your list
  
  

Here is a simple template for you to use