Kids Chore sticks...a fun way to do those hated chores!

Like most parents in America I have problems getting my kids to do chores around the house with out threats, punishments or bribes. I am trying to teach them to be more responsible by taking care of their own rooms, but I am adding a daily chore list. To make it a little more fun and, hopefully, less arguing I am going to write some minor chores on color coded pop sickle sticks and put a point system on them. For the lower point sticks, they get to pick one dollar tree item a month, for the mid point sticks they get to choose two dollar tree items, and for the higher point sticks they get to choose a ten dollar item from Walmart. To collect these prizes they must do the chore correctly. They also must complete all the chores by the end of the month. I know this is considered bribery but if it works I am willing to do it.

Materials needed:

Monthly dry erase board and markers( or you can make your own with scrapbook paper, a picture frame with glass, Sharpie markers and a ruler. Use the ruler to draw a months worth of squares on the scrapbook paper with a line for the month name on top then place paper in the frame behind the glass and use the dry erase markers on the glass.) One for each kid so there is no confusion
A package of multi colored pop sticks (dollar tree has them in the craft section)
A black fine point sharpie
2 containers (I use short square candle holders I got from dollar tree)
Ribbon and scrapbook paper to decorate(no one wants an ugly container sitting around) and label (To Do and Done) the containers.

Then you need to figure how many times a week and how many chores per pull for them to do. If you have enough containers you can separate the colors and have them pull 2 hard (high point) a week, 3 medium (mid point) a week and 4 easy (low point) a week. If they do them correctly (lets face it, kids like to take short cuts) then they get the points, if not they have to go back in the to do container. I put them all together and give them the choice but they have to deal with their own decisions and once all the easy and medium are gone they still have to do the hard.

I guess it depends on the kids and the parents as to how this gets done and what the rewards are and there are many variations that can be done, but this is what works best for me. Hope this is helpful and your kids can have fun doing this.