This post contains tips and strategies on how to get your kids to do chores without the constant struggle. Discover practical, fun, and effective ways to motivate your kids and teach them responsibility at home!
Do you constantly have to nag your kids to do chores at home?
It was a struggle at our house a lot last year until I figured out a really easy solution… a chores sticker chart!
Now, some kids might be too old for a sticker chart but mine are 6 and 8 and they love stickers.
I get these stickers off of Amazon and it comes with 1500 really cute stickers for under $7 that my kids love.
How to Get Kids to Do Chores
My kids have done chores here and there in the past but it was never fluent or a routine for them.
They would need constant reminding and I was getting a little tired of it.
So I came up with an idea of a printable sticker chart that I would print off weekly for them.
I created it on Canva and you can download it for free too!
They would grab their favorite stickers and every Monday-Friday they would get their chores done before school.
We usually are more lenient on weekends so we don’t require them to do chores on those two days but we do ask them to help out.
This made it easier for me during the week since my husband is at work before the kids get up in the morning.
It also teaches them responsibility and money management which I am a huge fan of.
How to Reward Kids for Doing Chores
I’m going to tell you what I personally do that has worked well for my family.
Instead of weekly allowances, I give my kids $1 a day (Monday-Friday) to complete their chores before school.
Mind you, my kids are still young so $5 a week is a solid payout for these kids.
That comes out to $260 a year which they have earned all by themselves!
I used to give them straight-up cash to put in their piggy bank but recently I decided to give them a debit card so they can learn more about money management (as you know by now, I am all about that).
What Debit Card to Use for Kids
The debit card my kids use is called Greenlight.
I believe this is the best debit card for kids for a few reasons.
- Greenlight offers a debit card and app designed for kids and teens
- It provides tools to learn about earning, saving, spending, and investing under parental supervision
- We as parents can set spending limits, assign chores, automate allowances, and receive real-time notifications of their child’s spending
We gifted our kids a Greenlight debit card this past Christmas and put some money on it.
The rest of the money that goes on the card will be earned by them when they complete their chores.
Then they can use the debit card as they please… however, I highly encourage them to save more than they spend which is hard to teach when kids are young but hey, why not start them while they are young?
How Many Chores Should a Child Have?
I give my kids 7 chores to complete before school.
- Make the Bed
- Brush Teeth
- Brush Hair
- Wash Face
- Change Clothes
- Eat Breakfast
- Put Away the Dishes
Now some may argue that those are not considered real chores but I think it teaches my kids routine and it helps me out in the morning.
Any extra chores they do (help with trash, put away clothes, feed the dogs….) they will either get a little extra money or they will just volunteer to help.
What Are the Consequences for Not Doing Chores?
Since my kids are still pretty little, I just gently remind them that if they don’t do their chores, they won’t get their dollar for that day.
That is a quick and easy reminder for them to jump back into the swing of it again.
Trust me when I say, they have never missed a day!
Other Ways to Get Kids to Do Chores
If sticker charts don’t work with your kids, try these other ideas below.
MAKE CHORES FUN
Turn mundane tasks into games or challenges to keep kids engaged and motivated.
OFFER REWARDS
Similar to a sticker chart, use a chore chart with incentives like extra screen time or small treats.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Show your kids that everyone contributes by doing chores alongside them.
GIVE THEM OPTIONS
Let your kids choose their tasks to give them a sense of control and ownership.
For example, every Tuesday night Luna likes to collect the trash to take out and Rosie likes to volunteer to feed the dogs.
Will You Implement a Chores Sticker Chart?
A chores sticker chart can be a fun and super effective way to motivate kids!
This also teaches responsibility and accountability.
Whether you’re starting small or tackling bigger tasks, this system encourages consistency and builds positive habits.
Is this something that you will be doing with your family?
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