Free Printable Chore Chart for Kids

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A printable chore chart for kids is a great way to motivate your children to do their weekly chores and daily chores! It’s so fun to see your younger kids (and older kids alike) gain a sense of responsibility and build good habits using a simple chore chart. Make sure to grab the free printables at the bottom of this post to start your chore system today!

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Young children can definitely help around the house and with age-appropriate chores you may even find yourself with some extra time on your hands thanks to your little helpers! And although your older children may roll may roll their eyes at the sight of weekly chore chart, kids of all ages really do feel an extra sense of pride when they help with the family chores. 

Weekly chore lists are also a good way to build a strong work ethic and a simple way to teach kids money management, and that money comes from hard work. A kids’ chore chart is also the best way to teach time management. 

Depending on the time of year you can have different kinds of chore charts! In the summer, you might want to include extra work to help fill up all the free time and keep the kids off screens all day. During the school year, it may be better to assign easy tasks that kids can do after school before they begin their homework. 

If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect chore chart, you’ll love the free printable chore chart templates included in this blog post. Grab yours for free at the bottom of this post and enjoy the perfect solution to get your kids to do basic chores each week. 

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Free Printable Chore Chart for Kids

Whether you’re looking for a responsibility chart for little kids to remember simple tasks like brushing their teeth, or you need a daily chore chart for young kids to keep track of daily tasks, you’ll love this Free Kids Chore Chart. 

​This printable template has a place for your child’s name at the top and a chore checklist so your kids can use check marks to keep track as they complete chores. For younger kids, consider using picture chore charts, printing out a picture, or drawing a little picture next to the chore so they can know what to do even if they aren’t reading yet. 

The blank box at the bottom of these free chore chart printables is a great place to add stickers, keep track of extra money earned, or add more chore chart ideas as they come up during the week.

This selection of free printable chore charts comes in 3 different colors and also has a blank header option to write your child’s name or the dates for the week, or you can print off the version that says “weekly chore chart” at the top. 

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How Many Chores Should a Child Have a Day?

Each child is a little bit different, and you know your child best and what they are able to handle. We give our kids (ages 5, 7, and 10) about 4-5 chores each day, however some of them are simply a visual reminder to do every day tasks like brush teeth, brush hair, or get dressed. 

A perfect way to figure out which chores each family member should do, is to get the whole family together and come up with a fun chore chart everyone can agree on!

Younger children can probably handle anywhere from 2-3 chores per day, while older kids can handle much more (and will be extra motivated if more money is involved!)

​How to Use These Blank Chore Chart Templates

There are several different ways that you can use and display your chore charts. 

• Bulletin Board– Something as simple as a bulletin board will work as long as it’s somewhere that your kids can see and reach it.
• Magnetic Chore Chart– Tack up the chore charts on the fridge or a magnetic dry erase board or as part of a family command center. 
• Laminate or place in plastic sleeve– If you laminate your chore charts or put them in a plastic page protector, you can reuse it every week without having to waste paper or print it out again. Simply use dry erase markers to check off the chores as they are done!

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List of Chore Ideas for Different Ages

• Picking up toys
• Wiping down the counters
• Sweeping and Vacuuming
• Folding Clothes
• Putting away folded laundry
• Setting the table
• Loading / Unloading the dishwasher
• Putting away backpacks, shoes
• Cleaning toilets
• Making beds

If you need help finding age appropriate chore ideas for your kids we found this awesome list on The Happy Housewife.

Should I Make My Kids Do Chores?

There are many reasons why children are much happier when they have household chores.

Chores teach responsibility and independence. Every kid needs a chance to work on life skills in order to grow as an individual. Kids who start doing their own chores at an early age will likely need less handholding than those who aren’t introduced to these skills until later.

Doing chores also builds a sense of accomplishment and self worth. When your kid takes the time to put their toys away or take out the trash they grow to realize that living in a clean space feels good! It’s important that kids are able to complete tasks on their own as this will help them develop into adults who can be independent in all aspects of life.

Chores teach children how to do a job. Kids who sweep the floor or take out the garbage have learned what it takes to complete specific tasks start to finish. This will later help develop self initiative in helping children know things such as if they want their room clean, then they need to sweep and vacuum before picking up toys. 

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How Do I Get My Child To Do Chores Without Nagging?

We, as parents, should motivate our kids to do chores, not make them do chores. 

Some people may come to the conclusion that we are really referring to the same thing. However, when it comes to getting kids to do chores, there are two types of motivation at play: intrinsic and extrinsic.

When your child does a chore without being asked with the sole motive to please you, this is an  example of extrinsic motivation.

Kids are intrinsically motivated when they have an inner drive to do something, which is better than externally feeling forced into doing it.

Below you will find some ideas that will help your child become intrinsically motivated to do their chores!

Motivating Kids To Do Chores

• Create a chore chart with pictures and age appropriate tasks– When creating a chore chart, use simple photos and place your kid’s name on it. Keep the chart simple by only using the tasks they are responsible for each day (such as sweeping or putting their dishes in the dishwasher). To create accountability you can give your child a sticker for their chart when your kid has finished their chores. If your child has multiple chores each day, divide the chores into categories, like cleaning their room or cleaning the kitchen to help your child learn how to prioritize each task.
• Be consistent– One important thing to keep in mind when teaching children how to do chores is that they need a system. Having a routine to follow around when chores need to be completed and how they should be done will help children feel more confident in completing the tasks on their own. Knowing what needs to be done at any given time of day also helps make task completion less abrupt if something interrupts an activity that child is already engaged in.
• Set Expectations– Make sure your child knows exactly what is expected from him or her by giving specific directions (i.e., “I would like you to put the toys near your bed into your toy box.”). In order for kids to do well on household chores, they need direction from us as parents (or whoever helps them). Whether this happens by telling them how or showing them how through demonstration is up to you, however I highly suggest using demonstration as your child is learning. The important thing here is that we are being explicit with our directions-and that we are setting the expectation for our kid to finish.
• Do chores with your child– Introducing your child to a new chore can be overwhelming, but trying it out alongside them may help the task not seem as daunting. When you show them how to do the chore with them first, this shows that they’re also capable. 
• Set time limits– Start off chores by setting time limits around a single chore. Make sure your kids are aware of how much time it takes to do certain tasks (i.e., folding clothes takes 5 minutes). 
• Use a reward system– Kids love prizes! Many families use stickers or tickets as rewards on their charts. Some ideas for rewards could be an extra bedtime story, extra screen time, or even play a game with them after they do their chores for the day!
• Don’t use chores as a punishment– It’s important to remember that chores should not be used as punishment- kids need a sense of order and responsibility. When children know what tasks are expected, they’ll more likely feel motivated to do them without being told how or when. Parents must rely on positive reinforcement to motivate their children to do household chores. Punishing chores for children will create a negative association with responsibility, which will work against your goals of motivating your child. 
• Be willing to let things go– Teaching your child how to do different household chores will not often come without some mistakes. However, you can use knowledge of their abilities to support them through training to help them complete each task. Punishing your children for making mistakes will only lead to more mistakes down the road. Instead of reprimanding them when they make a mistake — even if it is because they are lazy or unmotivated — let it go and use this as an opportunity to connect and teach.

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Should Kids Get Paid To Do Chores?

Most families have chores that their children should be expected to do. And though some parents believe that giving children money in exchange for doing chores can motivate them, many others think the other way around. Some things to consider when deciding if giving your child an allowance for chores is right for your family are:

1. Is your child motivated by money?
2. Will paying your child for chores help strengthen or weaken their association of being paid for work completed?
3. Does your child struggle with entitlement?

In our home, it’s important for our children to learn that money comes from hard work, but we also want them to help out around the house out of the sheer desire to be helpful and do good for others.

No matter what you decide, it’s important to use your child’s chores as a way for your kid to learn responsibility and independence. 

Ready To Start Having Your Child Do Chores At Home?

Snag our printable chore chart by filling out the form below!

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