Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Chore Charts and Potty Training

So last week while reading through some of the "Works for Me Wednesday" tips I came across this blog (A Very Blessed Mommy) who linked her readers to this fabulous chore chart for toddlers. I love it AND it allows you to fill in the blanks right on the site, print and voila. Your charts are ready to go. I slipped them into a plastic sleeves attached magnets to the back and then the problem became: How should I mark off the chores that the boys complete? I thought with dry-erase marker but that quickly became "lets color on the frig. time" and it wiped off way too easily. I have been coming up with alternatives so that the charts remain re-usable. I decided I was going to make little stars out of brightly colored foam and attach magnets to them. THEN while shopping at Wal-Mart I found these magnets which TOTALLY match for around $2. I bought one pack in case I was wrong about it matching and brought them home. Needless to say I will be getting one more pack because it looks as if these magnets were specifically made for these charts. So that is what works for me.

chore chart

Now, onto MUCH bigger things. I was planning on waiting until the dead of winter to do potty training b/c we would be stuck inside and I was completely fine with the boys not being trained until 3 or 3 1/2, 6 whatever. I dont' struggle with the whole "keeping up with the joneses mentality" when it comes to developmental milestones. I think I can attribute this to having preemies and having worked with Developmental Specialists who are quick to tell you that the "normal" range is VAST. Anyways, as is typical for Eli he decided that he would like to start now and began presenting to me ALL the signs of readiness. Therefore, in the interest of not losing that enthusiasm I am going to begin potty training. I have all the neccessary supplies (I think) below and would love to hear some of your tips. :) Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you and for those of you who aren't to the potty training stage yet and are interested I will lay out "the plan" in a future post.

the supplies

What's missing?? I still plan to make a potty, sticker chart.

Here are a few of my other WFMW posts if you are up for it.

15 comments:

monica said...

Love, love, love that chart and the magnets! How well does the boys make there beds? Then when the chart gets full what do they get...anything? I only have one chart and thats to feed the dog, but I have it taped to the container of the dog food and it's just it's this persons turn to feed the dog type thing...

Now potty training I am saying this quietly but I think I finally have both of mine potty trained. Each one of them was different and on their own time and nothing was going to change that - I tried. I never used a potty chair but go the potty seat that attached to the toilet as a ring you can find them at One Step Ahead. You actually take the normal seat off and replace it with this one. I loved it and the boys loved it! Good luck is all I have to say.

Becky @ Our Sweet Peas said...

Thanks Monica! I loved them too. As far as "making beds" they throw the stuffed animals that have fallen on the floor during the night back onto their beds and they their blanket (small knit one) onto the bed. As with all of the chores listed it is a very minor version of the said chore (very minor) but I figured why not start somewhere. :)

At this point they don't get any rewards other than a sticker on their shirts (they love this) now and then. I haven't decided if I like the idea of allowances or anything yet and they are VERY motivated to help as it stands so who knows what we will do.

Christi said...

love your chore charts. we don't have kids yet but i am tucking this away for later.

Liz said...

Love the idea! You are on top of things that is for sure. I'll be checking that site out.
Good luck with the potty training. I'll be anxiously awaiting your plan and posts about how it is going.

Jennifer Juniper said...

Thankfully I never had to put much effort into potty training. All my boys trained in the summer. I set them loose in the back yard with a long tshirt and no pants. They just figured it out on their own in a few weeks. So glad those days are over, but I do miss the baby stage :(

Anonymous said...

I love the charts and magnets

The Adventures of Carrie, Brook, Finn and Reid said...

These charts are great! I've been looking for a good chore chart.

Regarding PTing, I was like you...besides the "rules" for preschool, I could have cared less when they were trained. Our plan changed when they started showing rediness and were clearly wanting to get on with the show. It was also a blessing, considering the amount of winter weather gear I would have to be washing if we were PTing in the middle of winter (as planned). At any rate, they did WAY better than I ever dreamed. We are 2 months post our "booty camp" and I can't remember their last accident. Although one of my sons did have trouble with pooping in the potty, we left it alone (after the inital freak out on our end) and now he is golden.

I never minded diapers at all, but it is SO awesome to not have had them in the house for over 2 months. LOVE IT!

Good luck!

~Maria said...

Thanks for linking up! I LOVE those magnets and I'm thinking we may be seeing some of those around here very soon thank you very much! :)

As for potty training around here I just seriously did not stress about it either. We talked about it A LOT and the closer to 3 they got the more we talked about wearing big kid undies and growing out of diapers. As interest grew and they started using the big potty before bathtime(that seemed like an easy time to start-when naked!) I then started giving the option each day of diaper/pullup or undies. It was nearly always a diaper/pullup until about 3 months before the 3rd birthday with my boy. One day he decided undies and that was literally IT. Done deal. Never went back. Wore a pull up at night for a month or so but maybe had 1-2 accidents.

My point I guess is that there is a lot to be said for truly waiting until they are ready to take the lead. Pushing only makes it harder and last longer.

Best of luck to you!!
~Maria

Anonymous said...

I am forwarding that chore chart link to mom's I know with toddlers! Good luck with the potty bit!!

Stephanie said...

Love the chart! I will be using that. Anything to make my life easier. Good luck with the potty training. Tanner is doing better, but some days he is clueless!! Boys, perhaps?? It is good to know that we are going through this stage together. We will encourage each other through it. :)

No I wasn't Sleeping said...

Okay those magnets were perfect. they are making me rething my velcro chart idea. hmmm....

one idea for training. Our son is just finsihing with the potty part and we are struggling with the pooping part, so no tips there, but when he does get a treat, everybody gets a treat. Big sister and little brother. first of all its just easier that way, and it encourages them to encourage him to go potty. Sometimes he will be playing, and not want to stop, even though I know it has been awhile. But big sister says, "you should go potty, and then we will get a treat" so she has some incentive to tlak him into it. They are his support team.
anyway, it worked for us.

Sharon said...

GREAT Find with the magnets and the chore chart... We're not there yet, but we're coming to it! We just have to get through the cranky stage... when will that happen? 8?

Good luck with the potty training...!

'Becca said...

Click my name for my toilet-training tips. Good luck!

I also want to mention how happy I am that you spelled "voila" correctly! It must be one of the most-misspelled words, both on blogs and in newspapers that ought to know better, and it really bugs me! :-D

Debbie said...

That chart is great. I wonder if it would work with teens:)

Anonymous said...

Hi Becky! I just wanted to say thanks for sharing the chore chart with your friends. Awesome magnets you found too :)