Cleaning Instruction Cards

When I started homeschooling, I knew that it was going to be a challenge to keep my house clean. Having 5 kids home all day every day would be a new kind of chaos--especially when learning and creativity is our focus. I also knew that I wanted my kids to develop some independence in their routines and cleaning efforts. So, I created chore cards specific to my home.

I have the larger areas of my home divided up into "zones." Each week, one child is in charge of a zone. They are responsible to tidy things up 2-3 times a day, as well as do a "deep clean" once a week. At the beginning of the next week, we rotate the zones.

My chore cards include instructions for each zone, as well as how to complete specific "Deep Clean" tasks within that zone, (words in GREEN have a corresponding instruction card). That way, when the kids say they've completed a job, I can run down the chore card and do a quick check that they've done it the way that I've asked.

I cut up and laminated the cards, then hole punched the corners, divided them by zone, and put them on a ring. I used mini 3M removable hooks to hang them by the "command center" on a wall in our kitchen.

These cards have worked great for our family! And they have simplified my life a LOT.