How to Create a Weekly Chore Chart

Have the children take on more responsibility around the house.

Creating a chore chart is an easy way to help your child learn to be responsible for and track jobs as part of a busy family. Chore charts also provide a visual reminder of your child's responsibilities. Build your own chore chart, or download one for your word processing system. Regardless of how you print the chart, the creation process is critical to ensuring children are involved and understand their roles.

Things You'll Need

• chart template (this can be created on plain paper, a white board, or purchased)

Instructions

1. Determine what chores to include on the chore chart. Discuss the possibilities with your children and make the chores appropriate to your child's age. Younger children can help pick up toys, sort dirty laundry or match socks; older children can help with washing the windows, taking out trash or doing the dishes.

2. Write all the chores for the week on one side of the chart, and then provide a blank space for each day of the week. These spaces are filled in daily as the chores are performed. This works best for chores that occur on a daily basis. Alternately, create a chore chart in a calendar format, with the days of the week at the top and spaces underneath to list the chore for that day. This works well when a chore needs to be performed only on certain days.

3. Decorate the chore chart with your children. Use colorful images, especially if you are assigning chores to pre-readers, clip art, bright-colored writing or draw your own pictures.

4. Mark chores off the list when they are completed for the day or the week. Use stickers, stamps or simply cross them off the list.

Tips & Warnings

• To make a chore chart more effective, use rewards and incentives to motivate your child. For example, if a certain number of chores are completed each week, your child earns a special treat such as a piece of candy, a small toy or extra TV time.

• Assign chores which are appropriate for your child's age and capabilities to prevent frustration.

• If chore charts are new to you it may meet with rebellion at first. Be patient, and be consistent with your rewards and your child will be helping out in no time!

References

• Microsoft Office: Kids Weekly Chore Chart