The Chantico Method
It's all about agency
Chores can make a family stronger, if they are a shared responsibility. When chores are dictated, they become an obligation.
Authority systems
The typical approach is to plan the chores. It's intuitive, and you can ensure the work is divided fairly.
The down side is that planned systems must always be authoritarian. Work must be assigned. Assignments must be enforced. Resentment comes easy.
If you treat chores like a job, they will feel like a job.
Agency
Chantico ensures work is divided fairly and chores get done, but relies on agency instead of authority.
Because Chantico doesn't rely on authority, things work a little differently. You give up some direct control, but the results are better.
Create ownership by deciding points together
Every chore has a point value. Deciding point values should always be done as a team, including children.
Deciding together gives everyone a voice and a feeling of ownership. Even if you end up with the exact same point values, your team's commitment will be stronger for having done it together. It will be something they decided, not something forced onto them.
Discuss each chore, and decide its points together.
Only shared responsibilities
Chantico creates harmony by exposing your families commitment to each other.
To do this, Chantico must exclude personal chores. Everything chore in Chantico should support the team.
Chantico does not track everyone's responsibilities. Chantico only tracks chores that support the team.
Free market values ensure productivity
Point values should be based purely on loathing. Points are about motivating your team, not measuring effort or difficulty.
Points represent a team member's contribution. An easy loathsome task can be a bigger contribution than a difficult inoffensive task. For example, cleaning the litter box vs raking leaves.
No hated chores
Pricing chores based on loathing ensures productivity. If no one wants to do a chore, that's because the points (i.e. recognition) are too low. Price the chore high enough, and someone will happily take care of it.
In Chantico, effort might not be equal, but the work will always be fair.
If you price your chores correctly, you will create competition for the chores that no one wants to do. Seeing your family compete for loathsome chores is a glorious thing.
Self selected chores
In Chantico, team members choose the chores they want to do.
The most desirable chores will get snatched up first. Again, competition for chores is glorious.
The leaderboard keeps everyone honest. Everyone can see who is contributing, and who needs to step up.
Self selection also makes it easier to balance the rest of life. If you are behind, you can knock out a set of chores to catch up.
Celebration and shame
Your family wants to contribute, but it's easy to feel unappreciated. Accurate or not, people often feel they are doing more than their fair share.
Chantico can shine a light on everyone's contributions, but only your team can show appreciation. A "thank you" can go a long way. Be deliberate and acknowledge your team's contributions.
It's also fine to call out the laggards, or to create a little competition.
"Gee, look how many points Billy has. Maybe I do have a favorite child after all…"