Chore Markers

Delegating housework is no easy task, whether the intended helper is a child, roommate, or adult partner. It's all too easy to walk through your house while doing one task, and fail to notice ten more that need doing. With children, making a long list can be difficult, especially if you have more than one child and lots of other things to do. To solve this problem, use Chore Markers.

Chore Markers are large yellow and orange striped rubber arrows, probably about 2" by 12" by 6". To use them, first speak into the end of the Chore Marker the nature of the desired work, i.e. "Pick up these socks." Then drop the Chore Marker near the site of the disaster.

How does the Chore Marker work? It is equipped with sensors that detect motion. Whenever someone moves nearby, the Chore Marker will replay the message that you recorded, but only once. When the motion stops, the Chore Marker resets its motion detector. This way, if you walk up to a Chore Marker, stop, and then start moving again, you'll hear the message twice. If you're walking by on an errand, you'll hear the message only once. In this way the Chore Marker draws attention to the chore.

When the chore is complete, the Chore Marker is removed and reset.

You can stick Chore Markers around the house as markers to yourself, too, so that you don't get so distracted you forget what you need to do.