Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a Chores for Your Kids
Chores are an essential part of childhood. They teach kids responsibility, how to work as part of a team, and the value of hard work. But let’s be honest, they’re not always the most fun. If you’re looking for ways to make chores fun for your kids, here are a few creative ideas.
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Make Chores Fun!
Make a game out of it
Turn chore time into a competition. See who can pick up the most toys in five minutes or make their bed the fastest. You can even keep track of points and award a prize at the end of the week.
Get moving
Add an element of physical activity to chores by making them into a dance. Put on some music and have a dance party while you dust the furniture or vacuum the floors.
Make it a team effort
Turn chore time into quality time by working on them together as a family. Not only will you get the job done faster, but you’ll also create some lasting memories.
Be creative
Get your kids to use their imaginations while they work by coming up with creative ways to do chores. For example, they could pretend to be animals while they sweep the floor or use their toy cars to “vacuum” the rug.
Give them choices
Let your kids choose which chores they want to do. This will give them a sense of ownership and responsibility for their tasks. And it might even make them more likely to do them!
Suggested List of Chores for Different Ages
As children grow, they can do more tasks around the house. Here is a suggested list of chores for kids of different ages:
Ages 3-4:
- Putting away toys
- Picking up clothes
- Dusting with socks on their hands
Ages 5-6:
- Making the bed
- Helping clear the table
- Wiping down surfaces
- Helping to clean their room
Ages 7-8:
- Vacuuming, sweeping
- Folding clothes
- Raking leaves
- Feeding pets
Ages 9-12:
- Washing dishes or loading/unloading the dishwasher
- Helping prepare meals
- Walking the dog
- Taking out the trash
Ages 13-18:
- Keeping their room clean
- Cleaning the bathrooms
- Preparing meals
- Doing their laundry
- Washing windows
- Mowing the lawn
Create a Fun Chore Chart
One of the best tools you can have in your arsenal is a chore chart. A chore chart can help kids to understand what tasks need to be completed around the house, and can also help them to stay on track and be accountable for their actions.
Here are a few ways that you can create a chore chart for kids:
- Use a dry-erase board or whiteboard and create a list of chores that need to be completed each day. You can then assign each child a specific color, and they can use a dry-erase marker to check off their chores as they complete them.
- Using magnets. You can buy pre-made magnets that have various chores listed on them, or you can make your own. Simply write out the chores on pieces of paper, and then cut them into strips. Attach a magnet to the back of each strip, and then let your kids choose which chores they want to complete each day. They can then place the magnets on the fridge or another metal surface to indicate that the chore has been completed.
- Make or buy a chore chart out of fabric. Simply sew or glue pockets onto a piece of fabric, and then write the chores on cards or pieces of paper. Your kids can then “check off” their chores by placing the card or paper into the corresponding pocket. If you would rather buy one, you can find pocket charts here.
- Search for free printable chore charts. There are so many cute chore charts you can find online & print out. You can even put them in a page protector and use dry-erase markers to fill it in each day or week. Hang it up somewhere so everyone can see it and cross off their chore as it’s done.
- Buy a pre-made chore chart. If you would rather have a chore chart that is already made, there are several cute ones on Amazon.
Making chores fun for kids can be a challenge, but there are some creative ways to do it. By thinking outside the box, you can come up with some unique ways to make even the most mundane tasks more enjoyable for them.
