Teach Your Kids About Chores

Everyone has memories of doing chores around the house. Maybe you helped with the dishes after dinner, took the trash out on school nights, folded laundry, or made the beds.

It probably didn’t seem like much fun at the time. But doing chores can be really instructive for children.

Chores can teach kids how to take responsibility and feel proud of a job well done. They can give kids a sense of self-confidence for their accomplishments, and make them feel like they’re part of how your household functions. Best of all, chores can help kids develop good habits and a strong work ethic.

When paired with an allowance, chores can introduce kids to the concepts of employment and income. Even children as young as pre-school can benefit from simple chores, such as putting away toys or helping you to set the table for dinner.

These lessons are likely to carry over into adulthood, helping your kids understand the importance of work to achieve goals.

Teach your kids about their chores

Download the activity sheet

Getting started

In this activity parents and kids can work together to identify chores and organize a schedule within a chore chart.

What you’ll need

• Chores Chart Activity Sheet – Download and Print [PDF]
• Crayons, color pencil, stickers for decorating (optional)
• Laminating (optional)

Instructions

1. Brainstorm a list of possible chores with your child. Make sure they are age-appropriate so they can be successful (see our suggested list in printable).
2. Choose a few chores. Consider adding a few extra that can be done to earn an allowance. Determine how often each chore should be done.
3. Create a weekly chore chart and hang it someplace where you can see it, monitor it, and discuss it.
4. On the attached chart:

• Write your child’s name in the blank.
• Add the agreed upon chores to the boxes.
• Allow your child to decorate the chart.
• Laminate for repeated use (optional).
• Add dates to the calendar.

Talk to your kids!

It’s important for parents to ask their children questions about what they’re doing to check for understanding. What conversations can you have with your kids about their chores?

You might start by asking them why chores need to get done, or how it helps you around the house. If your children are very young, consider making some chores a game, for example, a race to put the toys away.