Hello,
When it comes to chores in our house, it becomes a CHORE to get them to do chores-pun intended! They would rather play Minecraft all day long or just play all day long! Not only do they NOT want to do chores but they also think they should bet a toy everyday and in-between that comes candy every time we walk into the store. I had to figure out a system to get them to do their chores and make it a bit fun too. They need to learn responsibility in this world because you have to work for what you want.
Yesterday, my 10 year old says, "mom, can I have this new star wars lego toy? It only costs $99." I said, "uh, no but you can save your chore money and buy it that way." He says to me-just as serious as he could be, "all you got to do is go to the bank and take it out or write a check and get money anytime you want." um.....yeah.....it doesn't work that way. The bank does not just give you money, you have to earn it and then put it in there. If only the world worked that way!
So, my 7 year old really has a hard time doing chores. He spends more time complaining about doing them then the time it takes to actually do the chore. So I had to come up with a way to motivate them and I asked them for their opinion and we went from there. It has been our second day and they actually race to finish their chores first and they want to do a good job. As soon as they get home, they can't wait to do them. Let me explain a little further because just a chore chart isn't magically making them do their chores....I had to get a little creative! Please read on...
The chart:
My version of a Minecraft chore chart called: (Minechores)
The Theme:
Obviously, Minecraft!
How it all goes down:
If they finish all of their chores and do them correctly, they place a Minecraft TNT block next to the chore they completed...or BLASTED (hence-TNT) haha...they loved it!
Then if they finish all chores for that day and have the day full of TNT blocks, they get a stick or iron ingot to place in their inventory. I have printed and laminated a picture of the actual inventory in the game and printed out a crafting table and taped the inventory on the craft table. In the game, you click on the craft table and your inventory pops up.
Then, on the last day of the week (Saturday) if they have crafted their iron pickaxe (the pickaxes, I made 2 of them out of foam board and printed it out and glued it on both sides but they can't use them until they have done all chores for the week and have crafted one), then they get to "Mine" for their surprise! They are EXCITED about this part. I cut several holes in a big foam board and then covered the holes with the blocks from Minecraft and on the other side of the foam board "the back" I have attached little paper sacks with various surprises in them (money, coupons (I made up), toys they were wanting, etc.) in those boxes and then they get to use the pickaxe they crafted to Mine for their awards. The only get to pick one block to "mine" from for that week. This idea I got from ACasarella and she called it a "punch box" which was used for a birthday party. I thought this would be great to do as a Minecraft Mining to go along with a chore chart.
So far, the kids have done well with their chores! We had a great week and they got to Mine a block and LOVED it! They literally could not wait to "mine". They even came home on Friday afternoon and did their home work without griping about it! Can you say........awesome????
Ok, here are the pictures and an explanation of how we did it. I will also have the links for some of the things I made so you will be able to have your own Minechore chart too.
Below is the chart I made and you can find the download link below it. I found the blank template that just had boxes that I used at My Digital Studio. I tailored it to the way I needed.
Then I downloaded the Minecraft font for free at Dafont. There is the chart below. Is is only Monday thru Sat. because I let them have Sunday off of the regular chores (besides brushing teeth and bedtime and animals-they do on Sunday too).
So in the chart above, the boys place a TNT block that I made and laminated in the square next to the chore they completed....see below...
When it comes to chores in our house, it becomes a CHORE to get them to do chores-pun intended! They would rather play Minecraft all day long or just play all day long! Not only do they NOT want to do chores but they also think they should bet a toy everyday and in-between that comes candy every time we walk into the store. I had to figure out a system to get them to do their chores and make it a bit fun too. They need to learn responsibility in this world because you have to work for what you want.
Yesterday, my 10 year old says, "mom, can I have this new star wars lego toy? It only costs $99." I said, "uh, no but you can save your chore money and buy it that way." He says to me-just as serious as he could be, "all you got to do is go to the bank and take it out or write a check and get money anytime you want." um.....yeah.....it doesn't work that way. The bank does not just give you money, you have to earn it and then put it in there. If only the world worked that way!
So, my 7 year old really has a hard time doing chores. He spends more time complaining about doing them then the time it takes to actually do the chore. So I had to come up with a way to motivate them and I asked them for their opinion and we went from there. It has been our second day and they actually race to finish their chores first and they want to do a good job. As soon as they get home, they can't wait to do them. Let me explain a little further because just a chore chart isn't magically making them do their chores....I had to get a little creative! Please read on...
The chart:
My version of a Minecraft chore chart called: (Minechores)
The Theme:
Obviously, Minecraft!
How it all goes down:
If they finish all of their chores and do them correctly, they place a Minecraft TNT block next to the chore they completed...or BLASTED (hence-TNT) haha...they loved it!
Then if they finish all chores for that day and have the day full of TNT blocks, they get a stick or iron ingot to place in their inventory. I have printed and laminated a picture of the actual inventory in the game and printed out a crafting table and taped the inventory on the craft table. In the game, you click on the craft table and your inventory pops up.
Then, on the last day of the week (Saturday) if they have crafted their iron pickaxe (the pickaxes, I made 2 of them out of foam board and printed it out and glued it on both sides but they can't use them until they have done all chores for the week and have crafted one), then they get to "Mine" for their surprise! They are EXCITED about this part. I cut several holes in a big foam board and then covered the holes with the blocks from Minecraft and on the other side of the foam board "the back" I have attached little paper sacks with various surprises in them (money, coupons (I made up), toys they were wanting, etc.) in those boxes and then they get to use the pickaxe they crafted to Mine for their awards. The only get to pick one block to "mine" from for that week. This idea I got from ACasarella and she called it a "punch box" which was used for a birthday party. I thought this would be great to do as a Minecraft Mining to go along with a chore chart.
So far, the kids have done well with their chores! We had a great week and they got to Mine a block and LOVED it! They literally could not wait to "mine". They even came home on Friday afternoon and did their home work without griping about it! Can you say........awesome????
Ok, here are the pictures and an explanation of how we did it. I will also have the links for some of the things I made so you will be able to have your own Minechore chart too.
Below is the chart I made and you can find the download link below it. I found the blank template that just had boxes that I used at My Digital Studio. I tailored it to the way I needed.
Then I downloaded the Minecraft font for free at Dafont. There is the chart below. Is is only Monday thru Sat. because I let them have Sunday off of the regular chores (besides brushing teeth and bedtime and animals-they do on Sunday too).
You can download the rest of the stuff at the end of the post...
Above, is the blocks of TNT cut out, along with the supplies (iron ingot, sticks, diamonds) to craft their pickaxe. The TNT goes next to each chore that they finish and once they do every chore for that day, I give them a stick, diamond, or iron ingot
Then, they place their iron or stick or diamond (whichever they got for finishing their chores for that day) in their inventory that is on their craft table...see below
In the picture above, next to the chore charts, you see the craft table with their inventory. I have put velcro on the squares and when they finish a days worth of chores then they get one supple that goes towards their pickaxe. See below...
See above, in order to craft a pickaxe, you need two sticks and three iron ingot or diamond (whichever they want) so that is five days worth of chores and then on the sixth day they craft their pickaxe and that is when I give it to them to "Mine" their prizes. I let them have sunday off.
Below is the "Mine" board where they pick one block to "Mine".
Here they are getting ready to "Mine"...
If you have any questions, please let me know. I hope you all enjoy the free printable!
I would love to see what you all do with it!
#printables #freebies #minecraft #chorechart #minecraftchorechart