We DO NOT pretend to have everything figured out...in parenting, running a household, or educating our children. We are learning and modifying everyday. We have simply figured out a few things that seem to work well for us; they may or may not work for your family. 

Kids love responsibility and the more you let them do, the more they will surprise you with how much they CAN do! This has been one of the biggest lessons I've learned from homeschooling (and why I SO fully believe in the Acton model...but that's a separate story). 

I'm happy to make a laminated chart for anyone local (I can leave at my mailbox so no contact). Just email me at kori@actonkennebunkport.org and let me know the names of your children and cleaning areas.

Each day a different child is the ‘Daily Chef’ meaning that they get to pick what’s for dinner that night, but all day they are the kitchen helper. 

Everyone is still individually expected to clear their dishes from the table and whatnot. The Daily Chef is responsible for clearing anything else, wiping the table, putting out snacks, and helping with dishes (although I’m not going to lie this part still isn’t a perfect system for us). 

The kids love it; it's seen as a special thing in our house to be Daily Chef!!

This not only gives them responsibility, teaches them to cook and keep a ‘clean’ kitchen, but it also lets you spend a little time with just that child one-on-one which is nice if you have multiple kids.

TIP: whenever possible we use glass pyrex (as opposed to serving dishes) so that for any leftovers, all we have to do is put lids on them and in the fridge they go.

Make it special, let them light candles or whatever they want to put their special touch on it. 

There are many ways to do this, but in a nutshell each child is responsible for a different area of the house; they are the 'champion' of that area for the week. Each week we rotate.

JUST IDEAS, OBVIOUSLY SO MANY MORE