Ultimate Guide to Setting Up 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.
Chore Charts for Kids: Free Resources to Make Life Easier
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.
Oh gosh, my kids weren’t the greatest with chores. But my son lives in a dorm now and his room isn’t completely filthy, so at least he knows how to clean. My daughter is 16 and she kinda cleans, so we’ll see how it goes.
Chores are such a good life lesson for kids. It’s a great way for them to learn about responsibility.
I think it’s great to have kids do chores. We try to do them together at times. I think it’s great to have everyone involved.
I wish I had been better about this when my kids were younger. These are good strategies for making sure kids are involved in doing chores.
I made my older two kids do chores since they were little. But my youngest, I wasn’t so diligent and I struggle with getting him to do very much around the house to help me.
Making a game and building up their patience has always helped me. I love all of these tips and recommend them.
Turning chores into games, adding physical activity, and making it a team effort have not only made the tasks more enjoyable for my kids but have also strengthened our family bonds.
This is so important as you want your kids to learn these necessary chores that they will carry with them into adulthood. It all starts when they are young and we parents need help too in this busy day and age that we live in!
This is such a great guide especially for first time parents. So important that kids know house chores. Thanks for the tips!
No matter how many househelp we have, it is important that we teach our kids responsibility and how to do chores. We just have to ensure that it’s age appropriate.
Thank you for sharing the tips and the list. This is very helpful.
Thank you for this comprehensive guide! Setting up chores for kids is so important, and your tips will be incredibly helpful in teaching responsibility and teamwork at home.
What works with my kids is that I give them choices and they feel better when they can choose what they like!
I required this 13-18 for my neices. Jess dear, you have no idea now a days your posts are like as you know what I personally need. This is going to help me.
I Love all your tips! Such a great guide and so helpful! I can’t wait to share it with my friends!
You should teach your children these necessary chores that they will carry with them as adults. This is one of the most interesting topics! Thank you for sharing this information with me.
Such great tips! We should teach our kids household chores. And making the chores fun make it less daunting.
Such great advice! I don’t have kids yet. I’ll surely keep these tips in mind and thanks for this helpful guide 🙂.