CHAPTER 1: SETTING THE GOALS -- offers some guidelines for determining what skills you want to teach your children to be independent and successful adults...including:

• where do you want to go as a family?
• how to use a "home progress chart" for tracking
• making plans to reach your goals
• key elements in developing reachable goals
• defining the required behavior
• determining conditions under which the task should be completed
• deciding on a standard of completion
• goal-setting examples

CHAPTER 2: KNOWING THE LEARNING SEASONS -- divides your child's life into "seasons" and discusses the appropriate skills to be taught during each...including:

• "spring" ages 2-5 (teaching confidence, obedience, and adherence to a routine)
• "summer" ages 5-12 (teaching specific chores, a sense of success, and consistency)
• "fall" ages 13-18 (teaching independence and responsibility)
• basic human needs at any age

CHAPTER 3: GETTING THE FAMILY TOGETHER -- provides concrete suggestions for including your entire family in housework and home maintenance tasks...including:

• setting up a family council
• deciding on the rules
• agreeing on household standards and responsibilities
• holding personal "job" interviews
• creating order with routine

CHAPTER 4: ASSIGNING THE JOB WITH CHARTS -- talks about the many advantages of chore charts, several different methods you might use, and how to implement them in your family...including:

• vertical chore charts
• circular chore charts
• the "flag in a cup"
• floor plan chore charts
• daily / weekly / monthly assignment charts
• the "helping hand" method
• chance assignments
• checklists
• contracts with your children
• ways to use progress charts to give incentives

CHAPTER 5: TEACHING THEM HOW TO WORK -- discusses all the things required for a child to successfully learn and implement a new skill...including:

• know their learning style
• make sure they understand the work requirements
• show and tell, step-by-step
• set a standard by which job completion is evaluated
• helping kids recognize what they are capable of
• guided discovery questioning
• decide on the amount / type of supervision
• specific techniques for helping your child master difficult tasks on their own

CHAPTER 6: GIVING POSITIVE FEEDBACK -- describes the requirements for a successful and constructive critique of your child's performance...including:

• being positively pleasant
• an immediate reaction
• no accomplishment is too small
• using the principle of shaping
• letting your child judge his own work
• focusing on the learning experience
• being careful of labels
• lists of positive statements that encourage or compliment your child

CHAPTER 7: OFFERING INCENTIVES AND REWARDS -- explains the many reasons for providing a reward for a job well-done, and describes several ways you can praise your child's efforts...including:

• verbal compliments
• letters
• ribbons, certificates, and coupons
• inspections
• privileges
• food rewards
• monetary payments
• giving out "chances" for good behavior
• challenging your child
• the unexpected response
• how to select the right incentive for your child

CHAPTER 8: PROVIDING LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES -- provides some concrete criteria for determining if a consequence is appropriate for to the infraction...including:

• is it reasonable?
• is it enforceable?
• is it nurturing?
• is it too powerful?
• is it associated with negative emotions?
• is it related to the offense?
• ways to avoid anger, resentment, or retaliation when assigning punishment

CHAPTER 9: ORGANIZING THE BEDROOM -- offers several guidelines for creating an organized sleeping and living environment for your kids...including:

• taking a look at room arrangement
• evaluating the quantity of "stuff" being stored
• creating a place for everything
• helping your child set limits
• making the room attractive
• respecting your kid's space -- always ask permission
• developing a quick and easy cleaning checklist

CHAPTER 10: MANAGING MONEY -- designed to help you make smart decisions, and in turn teach your kids to make smart decisions, about money...including:

• how kids will get their money (jobs, allowance, gifts, etc.)
• teaching budgeting skills to kids of all ages
• instilling the savings habit early
• earning and giving
• can I babysit tonight?
• can I have a paper route?

CHAPTER 11: EVALUATING -- lays out the rules for effectively judging your child's work...including:

• clarifying your standards and vision
• making sure the job is appropriate to your child's age and ability level
• making regular inspections
• allowing your child a measure of independence
• observing your child's reactions and behavior
• creating routine and structure
• recognizing internal and external factors affecting your child
• avoiding comparisons and battles
• helping your kid have a vested interest in the results

CHAPTER 12: 401 WAYS TO GET YOUR CHILD TO WORK AT HOME -- offers 401 different motivational tips and practical organizing techniques for every area of your home, and your child's life...including:

• work motivators
• incentives
• feeback
• job assignments
• chore charts
• money
• self-esteem
• your family council
• consequences
• teaching the job
• evaluation
• personal organization
• general organization
• in the kitchen
• bedroom organization

APPENDIX A: HELPING THE CHILD GET ORGANIZED FOR SCHOOL -- tips and checklists for assisting your child with study habits, organizing school supplies, and time management skills for school

APPENDIX B: HELPING THE CHILD BEGIN COOKING -- tips and checklists for assisting your child with basic food preparation and meal planning skills

APPENDIX C: HELPING THE CHILD KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY -- tips and checklists for assisting your child with mapping, learning directions, and safety issues

APPENDIX D: HELPING THE CHILD EXPLORE AND PLAN A CAREER -- tips and checklists for assisting your child with deciding what they want to do for a living and begin exploring job options