Chore Charts & Beyond

When it comes to household chores, there’s not one answer.  We have found it best to use lots of methods. Variety makes it more fun. When one idea loses its punch, try another style. Different methods work for different families and different kids.   Here are some of our favorite chore charts and work assignment ideas.  Find one you like and give it a try!

Big List of Creative Strategies to get Kids Working

Pocket Charts

Each child has a chart with two pockets labeled “To Do” and “Done”.  In the “To Do” pocket are cards or popsicle sticks listing jobs that need to be done that day such as clean room, brush teeth, water plants, etc. As the child completes each task, he puts the card in the “Done” pocket. Add different chores each day in the “To Do” pockets depending on the needs of the day and the child’s ability.

Pocket Job Chart

Dad Dollars/Mommy Mart

Award Dad Dollars for doing listed jobs and allow kids to spend them at the Mommy Mart.  This is one of our favorites! See our post for more details: Dad Dollars & Mommy Mart

Dad Dollars

zone Management

Divide the house into zones. Each child is assigned a zone  and is responsible for keeping it clean.  Rotate the zones after each week or month.

Zone Cleaning Chart

More on Zone Management

Chore Wheel

This is the classic rotating chart listing chores on the wheel and the children’s names on the outside.  Turn the wheel each day or week so the children take turns doing the listed chores.

Chore Wheel

More Chore Wheels/Charts

Random Choice

Dart board:  Attach or write chores on a dart board.  Let the kids throw darts and whatever they hit is their responsibility for the day, week, or month.

Balloons:  Put chores inside balloons.  Let the kids choose three to pop. Those are their responsibilities for the day, week, or month.

Photo Jobs: Take photos of a clean bathroom, made bed, sparkling sink, etc.  Have the kids draw a card with a photo on it. They will see their assigned chore and your expectation on the card.

Popsicle Sticks: We use popsicle sticks often for chore assignments.  Here are a couple of ideas.

Write a chore on one end of each Popsicle stick.  Color the other end of the stick based on difficulty, like red for hard jobs and black for easy.  The children then get to choose Popsicle sticks out of a can, maybe one red and three blacks for a younger child, and 2 reds and 2 blacks for an older child.  Make sure the kids can’t see the writing on the bottom of the stick when they’re choosing.

Popsicle Stick Job Assignments in a Jar

Write chores on Popsicle sticks. Each day, select chores that need to be done and put them in a To-Do can.  If there are four jobs and you have two children, they each get to select two.  We like this idea because every household chore doesn’t need to be completed every day.  There are also days where families have limited time for chores, so this gives the power to parents to select what specifically needs doing each day.

Popsicle Stick Jobs

Board Game

Create a poster like the attached photo.  When the kids complete tasks, they get to move their pieces up the board to earn rewards.  This is a fun way to manage household chores in the summer.  You can build in summer bucket list activities into the chart.  See more details: Summer Chore Chart Gameboard

Board Game Job Chart and Calendar

A and B Weeks:

One week the kids do A-week chores, and the next they do B-week chores. A-week chores are household chores like vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms.  B-week chores are outside chores like weeding, fertilizing the yard and sweeping the outside.  You can make a chart to keep track.

Work Teams

Assign jobs in teams so older kids can teach younger kids how to accomplish work tasks.  The older child improves as he gets to teach.

Boys folding laundry together

BLitz Method

The whole family pitches in and cleans the whole house or a specific room in a specified time period.   Set a timer, put on some music, and clean like crazy!

Sixty-Second Straighten

Everyone goes to their room and we count out 60 seconds (or 100 seconds) and see how fast they can clean. Even if the room doesn’t get completely clean, there will still be improvement!

Our Favorite Substitute for Chore Charts: Dad Dollars & Mommy Mart

Kids doing household chores work

Looking for kids’ chore charts?  Here’s an idea that’s a lot more fun.  Throw out the chore charts and try this!

Dad Dollars & Mommy Mart

Summertime means more time at home… and more messes.  That means everyone needs to help with household chores and yard work.  Children who enjoy cleaning and weeding are as rare as albino hedgehogs.  However, a little planning and a touch of fun can go a long way.

Here’s an idea that has been a huge success at our house: Dad Dollars.  Our children actually request this “kids chore chart” incentive plan because they enjoy it so much.  Give it a try! You just might see a few smiles while your kids are working.

Dad Dollars

Here’s the idea: Kids earn pretend money for completing jobs around the house. Then they spend those dollars at the Mommy Mart.

Print a simple dollar shape with a picture of Dad, Grandpa, Mom, etc. You could make Dad Dollars, Grandpa Greenbacks, or Mom’s Moola. Have fun with it!

Make a list of ways to earn the Dad Dollars.  Here’s our list:

Dad Dollars List

Printable Dad Dollar Earning Opportunities List

Now, make a list of activities or items the kids can buy with their money.

Mommy Mart List

Printable Mommy Mart List

You’ll need to make sure they are items that can be ready almost instantly.  For example, I have a bucket with special Mommy Mart treats. The kids can pay three Dad Dollars and choose a treat immediately.  The activities on our list can usually be accomplished within a few days of the purchase, if not immediately.  Kids get frustrated if they save up for an item and then have to wait a long time to receive it.

Once you’ve made your cash and lists, and gathered a few Mommy Mart items, you should be ready to present your plan to your children.  They may have a few ideas for your lists too.  Make it work for your family. We promise that they’ll never miss the old kids’ chore charts.

We hope this little idea makes your summer go a bit smoother.  Now, let’s get to work!

Find more ideas for teaching kids to work in our post Chore Charts & Beyond.

 

Mommy Marketing (to your kids)

Get ready for something BIG!

Don’t underestimate the importance of selling your fun ideas to your kids… especially the ones they might not label as fun. Being a mother is a lot about marketing. You’ve got to talk up your job charts, your goals, and sometimes even upcoming vacations or holidays.

One of the doors in our kitchen is often covered with mom’s advertisements. If we have a vacation coming up– it’s on the door to get everyone excited about the trip. If summer is around the corner (or in full swing), the summer calendar is spread across the door with jobs and goals for the break. At Christmas time, the calendar with activities and service opportunities is there to see. No one in the family can claim they don’t know what’s going on or what is expected when it’s pasted on a door they pass 50 times each day.