Every season I have to tweak our chore charts/family routine. Routines help a home thrive, and leaves more time for families to stay centered on Christ. Let’s face it, if you are living in chaos, you aren’t really able to find time to focus on Christ…or at least that is the routine I fall into.
I recently posted about our newest routine on my own blog, Peace Creek on the Prairie. This routine seems to be working much better for us than any of my others.
Why?
Because, I took several steps in developing this routine and pretty much set it up from how our day runs. I didn’t try to implement something that is going to interrupt the flow or our day. I carried a clipboard or notebook with me noting what needed done around what time each day. I noted how often the bathroom needed to be tended to, and so forth. I noted when the kitchen needed vacuumed, and so forth. I also noted who could tend to what chore best. I did this for two to three weeks.
How does this help? It means that we aren’t wasting time doing things that don’t need done 3-5 times a week like Besty’s family down the road. It means that if cleaning the bathroom doesn’t work into our family’s schedule at 10 am, that I have it at a time it flows easily into our day.
After I had my plan on paper, I went to the computer to build a printable spreadsheet. In all honesty, my children will follow a typed and printed chart much better than a hand written.
Why?
Maybe easier to read? Maybe more professional? I don’t know, but hey, it isn’t that hard. 
So, I started putting the chart together using my notes I took over a two to three week period. By doing it on the computer, I am able to easily add and edit things over another couple of weeks. This allowed me to really fine tune a routine to our family, that seems to really be working.
We have assigned colors to each child for many years. It works quite well, for nearly everything.
By taking several weeks to put together a really good routine for homeschool and chores, our home is running smoother, and our time as a family is much more enjoyable. By having this new routine ironed out before the Christmas season, we are able to include a few more special family activities, than we have been over the last few years.
I have lots of crafts planned and some new baking recipes. My daughter had time to put together a list of families we hope to bless with some baked goods.
In years past, we have taken off from homeschooling through most of December, but due to weather issues and farming, our farm busy time was extended by about two months and our school got a very slow start. I didn’t want to lose our tradition of focusing on Christ at Christmas, but also wanted to be sure we continued with some of our school. So, we are moving to a four day school week, and doing a craft or baking project every day. We will spend Fridays working on more complicated crafty projects.
How have you adjusted your routines to be sure to have time to focus on Christ during the Christmas Season?
By: Betty Eisenhower
Well after moving for the 4th time this year, we are finally settling for a little while. As you can imaging we have not had a consistent routine for quite some time.
I feel I have been struggling to find what works and quell the chaos.
I like your idea to take notes for a few weeks, I think I will try that, rather than keep designing routines that I have to scrap and start over every few days.