Chores for kids: a chore chart that works
A chore chart works when the jobs are specific, there aren't too many of them, and your child can see what's done and what's left. Start with a handful of jobs they can finish on their own, like making the bed, putting clothes away and setting the table, and add more as they get the hang of it.
Here are three chore routines that come with Little Streaks, and how to make them fit your family.
What chores can kids do?
Chores
- Make The Bed
- Tidy Your Room
- Put Your Clothes Away
- Set the Table
- Wash the Dishes
- Take Out the Rubbish
Not every child is ready for every job on this list. Keep the ones that suit your child and remove the rest. There's more on matching jobs to ages in chores for kids by age.
How do you get kids to tidy their room?
"Tidy your room" is one of the vaguest instructions a child can get. Breaking it into steps tells them exactly what tidy means:
Tidy Room
- Tidy Up Toys
- Put Your Clothes Away
- Make The Bed
- Put Your Books Away
- Sweep the Floor
What jobs can kids do for a pet?
Looking after a pet is a chore with a clear reason behind it. These can be shared between children, or done on alternate days:
Pet Care
- Feed Your Pet
- Give Fresh Water
- Walk the Dog
- Play With Your Pet
- Clean Up After Your Pet
Not a dog family? Change Walk the Dog to whatever your pet needs.
What makes a chore chart work?
- Be specific. "Set the table" is a job. "Help more" isn't.
- Keep it short. Five or six jobs at a time is plenty. A list that's too long never gets finished.
- Show them once, together. Do each new job side by side the first time, so your child knows what done looks like.
- Let them tick it off. Seeing the list shrink is part of the motivation.
- Reward the routine, not every job. A reward for finishing the whole list keeps the focus on getting it done. See reward ideas that aren't toys.
How many chores should a child have?
Five or six jobs at a time is plenty. A short list that gets finished works better than a long one that doesn't. Add more as your child gets the hang of the first ones.
Should kids get a reward for chores?
Many families reward finishing the whole list rather than each job. In Little Streaks, every finished routine earns a star, and stars add up to rewards you choose.
Is there a printable chore chart?
Yes. There's a free weekly chart (PDF) for Chores, Tidy Room and Pet Care, with a box to tick for every task and a star to colour in for each day. Or use Print the checklists for a simple list.
How does it work in Little Streaks?
Chores, Tidy Room and Pet Care are ready-made routines in Little Streaks, each with up to six tasks and an icon for every task. Your child holds a task to tick it off and gets a celebration each time. Finishing the routine earns a star, and stars add up to rewards you choose, like 15 minutes of screen time or picking dinner.
With Little Streaks Family, each child can have their own chore routines and stars, so siblings can share the jobs.
Little Streaks is a routines and rewards app for kids, for iPhone and iPad. Free to start, with up to two routines.
