Chore List Ideas for Kids

Appropriate Daily Chores

• Try incorporating some basic daily chores into your child's chore list. The task doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming--just a few simple jobs that can be completed before or after school will teach kids skills such as time management and responsibility. Wake your child up in the morning and require him to make the bed before he leaves for the day. He can also help prepare and pack his school lunch if he brings lunch to school. Setting the table, clearing the table after dinner and helping wash or dry dishes are also daily chores children of all ages can help with. If your household has a pet, put children in charge of feeding or watering it.

Appropriate Weekly Chores

• Start Saturday mornings with weekly duties that must be completed before play time, or space out once-a-week tasks as you see fit. Have your child help you with laundry by folding items and putting away her own clothes. Younger children can fold items like towels or washcloths. Your child can also help out by tidying up her bedroom--picking up toys, dusting and vacuuming should be on the agenda. On the day you do yard work, enlist your child's help. She can pull weeds in the garden, water flowers, rake leaves or pick up trash and sticks. Children will benefit from the fresh air and exercise. Taking out the trash and sorting your recyclable items can also be a part of weekly tasks.

Designing the List

• Simply telling children to perform various chores rarely works if you want to develop good habits. You'll find yourself constantly having to remind your child of what needs to be done. Construct a list or chart that names each expected task and indicates what day of the week it should be completed--a tried and true method many parent use. List the days of the week across the top of your chart, and list chores vertically. Draw lines to create a graph. Each activity will end up with one section per day. Develop a system that allows you or your child to mark a section with a sticker or star when a chore has been completed. Sweeten the pot by making each section worth a prize or a monetary amount. Incentives are always a great motivator.

Make the Chart Fun

• How you construct your chore list is limited only by your imagination. Use markers and poster board to create it, or use a large wipe-off board so changes can be made easily. If you're feeling industrious and your child's room has a free wall, consider painting a wall-sized chalkboard and drawing a chore list on half of it. Kids can use the other half for their own creations and will love the idea of drawing on their wall. You can even come up with a system using note cards. Write a chore on each one and pass them out to children daily. Have them hand the chore card back in once they've completed the task. The key is to be creative and make sure tasks are visible and the list is easy for children to understand.

Things to Remember

• Once you introduce your chore list, supervise your child and teach him what you expect of him. Show him the right way to do dishes and fold laundry or when and how to feed pets. Younger children may need your help on many of the tasks, but older children will be able to complete chores with little or no supervision. Work along with your child as he does his chores--it's a time to have conversation and bond. Let your child listen to his favorite music as he works. Chore time doesn't have to be something he dreads. Inspect work and be sure to praise children for a job well done.