Giving the Gift of Household Responsibility to Your Kids

There is no doubt that kids need to have a sense of responsibility. It helps them develop into well-rounded adults. But getting kids to do their household chores can be a daunting task for any parent. This blog post will explore how parents can effectively get their children to help out around the house and their benefits, plus offer parents free printable chore charts.

Make sure to read to the end to get the link for the Free Printable Chore Charts and Age-Appropriate Chore Lists. I do not require your email, but do sign up for my email list (on mobile it is at the end of this post and on a desktop it should appear to the right of this post).

free printable chore charts

Teach Your Child About Different Types Of Chores

Children need to know how to do chores. It helps them learn how to do their jobs and be responsible. It is a great way to help prepare them for adulthood. Far too often, children grow up and don’t know how to shop, make dinner, pay bills, or clean and organize a house.

Via Pexels

There are different types of chores, like cleaning and sweeping.

You need to teach your child about all the different chores you have in your house. You should always show them when you ask them for help with a task so they can learn from you! Do not make the mistake that many people do. They will assign a chore to their child and not teach them how to do it. Most of the time, even older kids, need to see a chore being done step by step and have some oversight the first several times they do it.

Additionally, weekly chores are boring. Having someone to help them with the chores helps make doing chores fun!

The Benefits Of Having Children Do Chores

There are benefits to having children do chores such as:

  • They learn how to be more responsible and take care of things.
  • Helping around the house can make it a happier place.
  • They can learn new skills from doing chores.
  • Children who do chores have a higher self-esteem
  • Kids who do chores have greater success as adults
  • They feel a greater connection to the whole family
  • They learn skills at a young age that will help them function independently
  • Children who do chores learn the value of hard work
  • Chores teach children about delayed gratification
  • They improve their motor skills
  • Chores help children to learn to work as a team
  • If children get an allowance, children learn the value of money
  • They learn good habits
  • Young kids who learn to do chores are less likely to use drugs later in life
father and son folding clothes in the laundry room

Tips For Teaching Children About Chores

Here are some tips for teaching children about chores:

  • Start early: It is never too early to start teaching kids about responsibility. Show them how to do simple tasks like putting their toys away or making their beds every morning. Even 3-4 year olds can help put their toys away.
  • Make it fun: Try to make doing chores fun for young children by turning it into a game or singing while you work. Dancing while cleaning is a good way to make cleaning fun.
  • Be consistent: Children thrive on routine and consistency. So if you want them to do their chores without complaint, make sure you are consistent in your expectations. For example, let them give the dogs their Walmart fresh dog food every morning. Or set the table for dinner every evening. 
  • Give rewards: One way to motivate younger kids to do their chores is by giving them rewards for a job well done. This could be anything from a sticker to extra screen time or a weekly trip for ice cream.

Resources For Families And Kids 

There are many resources available for families and kids who want more information. Some of the best resources are online, and they cover various topics. Here are some of the best resources we have found:

1. Kids Health: 

This website is an excellent resource for kids and families. It includes articles on various topics, from health to emotions to money management.

2. PBS Parents: 

This website is packed with information for parents on various topics, from potty training to learning disabilities.

3. The American Academy Of Pediatrics: 

This website includes articles on various pediatric topics, from injury prevention to nutrition, and great ideas for chores.

4. National Disabilities Information Center: 

This website is a comprehensive resource for families and individuals with disabilities. It includes information on rights, benefits, and programs that involve the children in daily chores.

5. Focus on the Family 

This website is an excellent resource for families looking to further their faith and strengthen the family unit. It includes articles on marriage, parenting, and faith including the benefits of chores.

Prepare Them for Life

Doing chores is not always fun, but children need to learn to be responsible. By teaching them about different duties and involving them in household tasks, you can help them develop new skills and prepare them for the future.

Where to Start when teaching Children about Household Chores

The first place to start is basic life skills. At an early age, begin teaching your child basic life skills with a responsibility chart. Include items that are just about them such as brushing your teeth, combing your hair, taking a bath, or taking your cup and plate to the sink. Once they handle these basic chores, you can expand their list by including more difficult tasks.

family cleaning kitchen

FREE Printable Chore Chart Templates

This free chore chart template is a good choice for making a weekly master chore list that has all the tasks you expect your child to complete. If you don’t want to fill this out weekly, consider getting a premade whiteboard chore chart that you fill in the details with dry erase markers or use a premade one.

Make sure to read to the end of this post to find the link to these free printable chore charts and an age-appropriate chore list.

Blank chore chart to teach household responsiblity

Also, you can choose between several options of chore charts. This prefilled just requires you to put in the child’s name and reward system.

Free printable chore chart point system

More Printable chore lists – Make sure to read to the end to get these Free Printable Chore Charts

Free printable weekly chore list
free printable daily task list

Chores by Age Groups

This list of chore chart ideas can be used to fill in your chore charts for your kids of all ages. Not every chore can be done by every child at each age. Assess your child’s abilities at different ages and assign chores accordingly.

Additionally, keep in mind there are chore charts that have children doing a specific chore at younger ages, however, I do believe that a child’s first job is to be a child – to run, play, cut, color, and learn to navigate their world.

Also, remember that children love to do “chores” where there is a fun outcome. For instance, raking leaves is great if they get to jump in them!

boy and girl raking leaves in a fenced in backyard

Research regarding chores

Furthermore, some research suggests that children who grow up with too many responsibilities “may negatively affect development because, in addition to having little time for leisure, adolescents who perform household chores have their school performance affected, more frequently miss classes, and experience school failures, and have less time to do school work.” However, if you homeschool, you can mitigate the effects of chores and school performance.

Make sure to read to the end to get this free Chore List by age printable.

chore list by age free printables

AGE-APPROPRIATE CHORES

AGES 3-5

Pick up toys

Dust Baseboards

Wash windows – this needs to be age-appropriate. I would have my little ones use a spray water bottle and a cloth or paper towels. Don’t expect it to be clear or clean.

Empty silverware from the dishwasher

Put silverware on the table

Dust end tables

Put dirty clothes in the hamper

Fold washcloths

AGES 6-8

Items from the previous age

Set the table

Take dirty dishes to sink

Wipe off table

Empty dishwasher

Fold towels

Water house plants

Move clothes from washer to dryer

Pair socks

Feed pets

Make bed

Rake leaves

Make sandwiches

Make toast

Collect trash from cans inside the house

AGES 9-11

Items from previous ages

Peel potatoes

Make simple hot meals – macaroni & cheese, canned soup, toasted cheese sandwiches

Make lunches

Dry dishes

Fold laundry

Sort laundry

Clean fronts of appliances

Sweep kitchen floors

Vacuum

Wash mirrors

Weed garden & flower beds

Clean bedroom

Help with recycling

AGES 12 and up

Items from previous ages

Wash dishes

Make dinner (with help at first)

Plan weekly menu

Iron

Do laundry

Mow lawn

Take out trash

Watch younger siblings

Clean bathrooms

Wash kitchen floors

Clean out refrigerator

Straighten the laundry room

Check pantry and laundry room to see what items need to be put on the grocery list

Ways to Make Chores Fun

All chores are not fun for everyone. While you may enjoy washing dishes, you may hate dusting. Everyone has something they are good at and enjoy doing. Keep these things in mind when you are talking with your children about chores.

First, talk to your children about chores. What do they like doing and what do they hate? While you, as the parent, want to ensure they know how to do every chore essential to being an adult before they leave your household, you don’t want to suck the life out of them. When I got married, I did all the grocery shopping. I HATE GROCERY SHOPPING! My husband now does most of the grocery shopping. Being forced to do a chore you hate is painful! Teach your children how to do a job without making life miserable!

Value of doing chores

While you want to teach your children the value of doing chores, and that often we have to do things we don’t like to do, you want them to learn to prioritize the really important with the “would be nice.” These things are only taught by example and years of conversations and experiences.

When I was young, my much older brother used to leave a quarter on the edge of the tub. Whoever cleaned out the tub for him would get the money. This was an easy way for him to pass his chore on to someone else. If your children figure out how to “get out of a chore” don’t punish them for ingenuity.

Ideas for Making Chores Fun – Plus Free Printable Chore Chart and List

Make sure to read to the end for the link for your free printable chore charts and free printable age-appropriate chore list.

Use a Fun Chore Chart

Use a chore jar and let the kids pick chores from the jar. This mixes up the chores that each child has to do.

Put on fun music and dance while doing chores

Use this free Scavenger Hunt to do a quick clean up

Make sure to select age-appropriate chores for your child

Assign a fun activity on their chore chart that will be done after chores are finished

Encourage your kids to work together to get chores done – things are always more fun in groups

Find ways to reward them without them expecting a reward for everything they do.

Plan an end-of-the-week activity if everyone has completed their chores.

Make or buy chore cards that can be played as a game.

Download FREE Printable Chore Charts and Chore List By Age

Download here to get free printables!

Chore charts and lists

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