When my daughter was young we used chore charts all of the time. We started out with picture chore charts and stickers and move up to just putting an x in the box next to the chore as she got older. Chore charts can work for any age child because you can use a chart with pictures for children as young as two or a more detailed chart for older kids.
*available as a free printable here
Smaller children do well earning stickers for chores that should eventually become routine like making their bed, putting their dishes in the sink and putting their laundry in the hamper. Older children typically do better with some type of reward system and usually stickers just don’t cut it anymore.
Everyone is going to feel differently about this but I think that you should definitely reward your child in some way. They are children not small adults. They respond to encouragement and rewards.
I realize that you do not get paid to do household chores and that everyone should pitch in for the benefit of the family. One way to incorporate both ideas is to have chore chart and for each member of the family including the adults. Make the child responsible for doing their chores in order to earn privileges. For example, if they finish their chores they get to watch TV, play on the computer, go to a friend’s house, something they enjoy.
*some Family Chore Charts here.
But if they do something off of either mom or dad’s chore chart or a family chore chart they earn something better like money, a treat, an outing, something from the prize basket, a rare trip to fast food, you name it.
Now, you probably don’t want to pay out something every single job they do. This can easily be handled by letting them earn tickets, beans, colored paper clips, pennies, marbles, ping pong balls or anything you could save in a jar or empty container. You might even use a punch card to keep track so they feel a bit more grown up. When the punch card is full they can trade it in for their predetermined reward.
*available as a free printable here.
Remember the purpose of chores is to teach children responsibility and life skills. Two or three daily chores is plenty for a child of any age. Now this doesn’t include things that you are teaching them to do as daily routines like making the bed, clearing their own dishes after eating and such.
Of course not everyone has a problem with all chores being rewarded in some way. It really is up to you how you handle things so that your household runs smoothly. You can use the chore chart and each day or each week that everything is completed they get a reward.
How do you handle chores in your house?
If you missed the other posts in this series they are below, just click the picture.
and here…
ANN*H says
i admit I didnt give my kids a lot of chores but I realize it is best for them if they do have some. I also found that there are chores even smaller children can handle. It helps them be responsible . thanks for the info
Edna Williams says
I think I like this just as well as the chore app! Thanks for sharing!