Chores are a great way to get children to help out and an important element of raising responsible kids. Chores for kids aren’t new and neither are sheets that you write their chores down on. However, I found a little twist on chore charts that my kids really love. I wrote out Chore Cards for kids. I got the idea because they are a great way to make things more clear for children of a young age. Turns out the cards actually seem to be making chores more fun for my kids too!
Struggling to get your children excited about doing chores? This article reveals effective strategies and creative ideas to make household chores fun and engaging for your kids. Learn the secrets to unleash their inner motivation and transform mundane chores into enjoyable activities that promote a sense of accomplishment and teamwork.
DIY Chore Cards Are Great For Young Children
Some people find it surprising but there are huge benefits of assigning chores to your kids. From teaching responsibility and time management to building self-esteem and essential life skills, there undeniable reasons why involving your children in household tasks is crucial for their overall growth and development. There is a powerful link between chores and long-term success. Assigning age-appropriate tasks to your kids can instill valuable qualities like perseverance, discipline, and a strong work ethic. It is time to implement a chore routine that will lay a solid foundation for your child’s future achievements.
As a parent, do you ever get tired of asking your kids to do the same chore repeatedly and they don’t do it? I’m sure you have gone through this process and it can be frustrating for you and your kids. A chore punch card may just be the ticket to fun cleaning! If you kids need extra motivation, you may want to try adding in a chore punch card that they can redeem for various small rewards.
Craft Supplies Needed for Making Chore Cards:
- Index Cards
- Marker
- Tape
- Stickers
Instructions for How To Make Chore Cards
These are pretty simple instructions! Decide on how many chores you would like for your child to complete during the week. Then grab that number of index cards. Simply write out the age-appropriate chore at the top and list the days of the week below. Once they have completed their chore, hand them a sticker. Voila!
Each chore has its own card and that card is placed where the chore happens. For example, the Brush Teeth Card is in the bathroom taped to the bathroom mirror. The Make Bed Card is taped beside each of their beds. The chore cards for kids seem to help them remember their chores a little better. Instead of running back and forth to check one sheet with all the chores, they can see exactly what they need to do in certain spots of the house. If you don’t want cards taped around your kid’s areas, you can string them together or put them on a ring. This way your child can carry them around and flip the cards to see what the chores are!
Free Printable Chore Cards
After making my own chore cards for awhile, I thought about designing and printing out a handful of each chore card so that I wouldn’t have to write the chores out each week. If that sounds like something you would prefer, you could always use the free printable chore cards below! You can use those as templates for creating individual cards with specific chores for younger kids. Or just give the whole weekly chores card to older kids and have them initial the chores as they go.
Print out the chore cards pdf file or just use the prompts as ideas for making your own chore cards.
Another Variation: A Chore Punch Card
Another great idea to help make doing chores fun is to make Chore Punch Cards (much like a store rewards card). Doing chores can be fun when a certain number of punches earns a surprise. Growing up, my sister and I would help our mom clean. One day my mom said to us that she would surprise us if we helped her clean around the house before a certain hour. This really made us excited to get the job done before time ran out! The time limit not only made us clean faster, but the surprise that we received in the end was awesome! Our surprise was ice cream from Dairy Queen. It doesn’t need to be expensive. Just pick a surprise reward you know your kids will enjoy and it is a great way to get any tasks completed with a good attitude.
On each chore punch card put the child’s name and draw 12 circles. Whenever your kids do a chore, they get a punch on their card. For extra credit for your kids, if they did a chore without you asking you might give them an extra punch for being a great helper. From assigning tasks to tracking progress and rewarding achievements, the chore punch cards have the key elements to establish a structured and successful chore system.
Age Appropriate Chore List For Kids
Here are some examples of chores for each age group.
Chores For Ages 2-3
- Pick up toys and put them in designated bins or baskets.
- Put dirty clothes in the laundry hamper.
- Help feed pets by filling food and water bowls (with supervision).
- Wipe up spills with a small cloth or sponge.
- Dust low surfaces with a duster or cloth.
Chores For Ages 4-5
- Make the bed with assistance.
- Set the table with napkins, utensils, and plates.
- Clear the table after meals.
- Help sort laundry into categories (whites, colors, etc.).
- Water plants with a small watering can.
Ages 6-7 Example Chores
- Make the bed independently.
- Fold and put away laundry with guidance.
- Sweep floors with a small broom.
- Help with meal preparation by washing vegetables or mixing ingredients.
- Take out the trash with help.
Ages 8-9 Example Chores
- Vacuum floors and rugs.
- Load and unload the dishwasher.
- Clean their room thoroughly (dust, organize, etc.).
- Help with yard work such as raking leaves or pulling weeds.
- Put away groceries.
Example of Chores For Ages 10-12
- Wash dishes by hand.
- Do laundry from start to finish (sorting, washing, drying, folding).
- Prepare simple meals with supervision.
- Clean the bathroom (sink, mirror, toilet).
- Mow the lawn with supervision if appropriate.
Conclusion
Engaging your kids in household tasks can develop problem-solving skills and foster a sense of ownership and pride in their contributions. It is nice to have a reward system when they complete hard work. At what age did you have your child start helping around the house? Do they enjoy doing their chores? What positive lessons do you feel like they are learning about themselves by doing chores?
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Joon Chore App Helps Motivate Kids To Do Chores
Trisha says
Like this idea to get a little help! I will make Chore Cards for my kids too! They are the perfect way to get younger children motivated. These job cards are a great way to promote a good work ethic.