As a parent, we all have things we excel at and things we struggle with. My most recent struggle has been finding a chore system that works for us as a family. In the past, we’ve had systems in place that worked really well for our stage in life. My Job Chart was a huge hit with our teenagers (and it’s even better now that they have a mobile app), but it wasn’t working for the twins at this current stage. They needed something a little more tangible.
The other issue I was having was assigning chores. My favorite way of assigning chores was to have each of the kids pick random chores from a hat, but we were constantly losing the slips of paper (and the least favorite chores were constantly ending up in the trash). I saw that some people used popsicle sticks, but it just seemed like more clutter that would get shoved in a cabinet. I needed something that I could leave out (to remind me to have everyone do chores) and I also wanted something that would double as art.
During a recent trip to Hobby Lobby, inspiration struck and I created a chore system that worked well for our family AND that looks good too! This is super easy to do and it’s quite frugal too!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Solid Colored Vase (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby for 50% off)
- Artificial Flowers (I bought these at Hobby Lobby as well for 50% off)
- Floral Tape (I had some of this lying around the house)
- Wooden Spoons (You can buy these at Walmart. I got them in a bag of 4 or 5 for $.97)
- Sharpie or marker to write on the wooden spoons (Thinner tips work best)
Once you’re supplies are assembled, decide which chores you’ll want to include. If you have some chores that are not age appropriate for little kids, try to stick these on one color flower. At our house, all the chores for big people are on the pink flowers.
Next, write 1 chore on the spoon part of each wooden spoon.
When your wooden spoons all have chores written on them, you’ll want to attach a flower to each one. To attach the flowers, simply place your flowers (bloom side up) with your wooden spoons (spoon side down) and wrap securely with floral tape.
When you’re finished, simply arrange your flowers in a vase! Voila! You have a chore system that doubles as a centerpiece!
If you’re looking for some chore ideas, here are some of the chores we used.
- Set Table
- Clear Table
- Load Dishwasher
- Unload Dishwasher
- Wipe Down Kitchen Counters
- Sweep Kitchen Floor
- Straighten Living Rom
- Straighten Dining Room
- It’s Your Lucky Day (That’s one less chore for them to do)
- Ask Mom!
- Sweep Front porch and steps
- Empty Trash
Ahhh…summer is almost here! The kids only have 7 days left of school and then it’s time to par-tay! While we will be doing some traveling this summer, most of our time will be spent enjoying all that Fort Wayne and the surrounding cities have to offer!
With gas prices back at around $4, driving is not quite as economical as it used to be and many people are opting to stay local instead of traveling to far off locales for vacation! With that in mind, I’ve partnered with over 90 bloggers to bring you Staycation fun across the country!
Since I live in the Fort Wayne, IN area, I thought I’d share some fun and frugal ideas to make your staycation sizzle with excitement! Fort Wayne is chock full of things to do! You could staycation (or vacation) here for weeks without running out of fun!
About Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is Indiana’s second-largest city and home to over 250,000 residents. Fort Wayne has won the All American City Award three times and is consistently sited for their high quality of life, low cost of living and warm Hoosier Hospitality.
Things to Do in Fort Wayne
DeBrand Chocolate Tour
Just thinking about DeBrand makes my mouth water! They have the best chocolate in the world (I’m serious). These chocolates are enjoyed by celebrities worldwide (and they’re made right here in Fort Wayne)! For only $5 per person, you can take a tour of the DeBrand Corporate Headquarters where you’ll see their chocolatiers in action! You’ll watch a short video of the history of DeBrand and then you’ll get a chance to view their kitchen and taste some of their delightful chocolates. When the tour is over, you’ll be given a coupon for $5 off a $10 purchase which basically makes your tour free (because once you’ve tasted their chocolate, you’ll definitely want to buy as much as you can)!
Parkview Field
Parkview Field is the home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the single A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. In 2011, Stadium Journey Magazine named this the best ballpark in minor league baseball. It has a variety of seating options, great food and clean restrooms!While I absolutely love watching games at Parkview Field, that’s not all you can do there!
The stadium opens most days at 7am for those who want to walk the concourse (the concourse is 1/3 of a mile around and is a great place to walk). They even open a concession stand for the walkers or those who are just looking for a different place to enjoy lunch. There is also frequent theme nights which feature entertainment!
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the top ten children’s zoos in the country. They have impressive animal exhibits and lots of hands on fun for kids. Gorgeous peacocks roam the grounds, you can wander through a rain forest, there are goats to be petted and brushed and oh-so-much more! We have a family membership and plan on spending lots of summer days at the zoo!
Science Central
Located in a former powerplant called City Light & Power, hence the colored smokestacks, Science Central is an exciting mix of hands-on learning and engaging fun! Science Central provides fun for little kids and big kids too. My older kids enjoy the high rail bike and our little kids enjoy the slides and the kids central area! If you’re looking to save money, you can print a BOGO Science Central coupon!
Foellinger Theater
The Foellinger Theater is a part of the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department. They are presenting lots of free and low cost family entertainment this summer. While there are lots of concerts going on, I’m most jazzed about Chicago which will be performing on August 27th.
The other highlight of the summer at Foellinger Theater is their FREE Wednesday night movies. They feature different family friendly movies each Wednesday night at 9 pm. Some of the movies showing this summer include Madagascar III, ParaNorman, and The Lorax as well as other great fun family movies!
SkyZone
If you’re looking for high-flyin’ fun, you can’t beat SkyZone! SkyZone is an indoor trampoline park featuring 25,000 sq ft of fun in the form of Open Jump courts, a Foam Zone, a SkySlam basketball dunk court, SkyRobics fitness classes, and 3-D Dodgeball!
Splash Pads
Photo Credit: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
Fort Wayne offers 7 great splash pads…Memorial, McCormick, Waynedale, Shoaff, Buckner, Robert E. Meyers parks as well as a new splash pad at Taylors Dream Boundless Playground in Kreager Park. The Splash Pads open Memorial Day weekend and are open 9 to 9 daily. Robert E. Meyers park (located just inside the North Gate of Parkview Field is open 9am to 11pm on days where no activities are scheduled at the field). I’m planning on visiting all of the splash pads with my kids this summer! Splash Pads are FREE and provide hours of entertainment on a hot summer day!
Fort Wayne Trails
Photo Credit: Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
Fort Wayne has one of the finest trail systems in the midwest with over 70 miles of trails winding through the city. I’ve done quite a bit of walking, running, and biking on these trails and they are top notch! If you’re a biker, you’ll want to check out Trek the Trails. Each Tuesday night, people from all over the city (and from other places as well) join together to bike one of the trails. It’s a great chance to see the trails and make new friends. These trail rides are a fun family event!
There are lots of other great things to do in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area! What am I missing? Leave a comment so that those who are vacationing or staycationing in Fort Wayne don’t miss out!
