How to Make a Chore List for Children

Chore lists take the guess work out of cleaning.

Having a defined set of chores listed out for your children will help them to stay on track with cleaning, as well as increase their level of responsibility in the household. However, there is a fine art in writing up a chore list because you don't want to give the child too much or too little, but just enough so that they contribute to the house in a substantial way and yet, are not overloaded with other obligations like school. This article will show you how to write up a chore list for your family.

Instructions

1. 

   Doing a chore list is not difficult but does require the consistent parent to enforce it. It is best to start a chore list when children are young so that they get used to the idea that helping out around the house is just a part of their routine. As a parent, you may need to work through some of their chores with them several times before they are able to do them on their own. Look at it as an investment.

2. 

   In creating your chore list, think of the work that needs to be done in your home to keep it going and clean. Perhaps you don't care too much about windows being sparkly but vacuuming is a major area of concern for you. Now, think of the areas that your children can help out, remembering to keep their chores age appropriate. For example, you aren't going to have a six year old carry a large load of laundry but your sixteen year old can. The second step is to define the various chores that your children can accomplish that are age appropriate.

3. 

   The third step is to write it all down. Make columns and rows on a sheet of paper or use Microsoft Excel. List your childrens' names across the top columns and the various chores along the left side of the page. Chores may include vacuuming, cleaning glass tables, cleaning a bathroom, feeding your animals, cleaning their room, etc. A good method is to give them one chore a night plus the responsibility to keep their bedrooms decent and put away any of their clothes that have been cleaned for the day. So, they vacuum, pick up their room and put away their clothes in a day, for example. If everyone does their part, the house will stay together. I also recommend having one day a week where chores are not required - let the bed go unmade for a day and don't do any laundry. If chores are being done the other six days of the week, then, having a day off should not be a problem. I hope this article helps you to define a set of chores and keeps your house nice and clean!

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide