Let’s Chat … About Chore Charts!

By Renee Metzler
Total Home Makeover offers a simple system for mom to keep her home neat and tidy with delicious meals on the table, and have time to spare. A great place to start is Step 1: A Daily Routine and the Quick Start Kit. Today, let’s chat about chore charts, our next topic in this mini version of Total Home Makeover written for Molly Green’s “Keeping HOME.”

Let’s Chat … About Chore Charts!

A chore chart is a simple way to habit-train, track, and reward children for their help around the house. Chores bring structure to your child’s day—especially needed in the summer months. If you want to bring more order to your home this summer, and thereafter, set aside about fifteen minutes to complete your Total Home Makeover, Step 6: Chore Chart!

STEP 1: GATHER MATERIALS

Start by gathering your materials: (1) Pencil or erasable pen and (2) Chore Chart Free Printable (available here: http://www.totalhomemakeover.com/step-6-chore-chart.html).

STEP 2: IDENTIFY DAILY & WEEKLY CHORES

On a piece of notebook paper, jot down daily and weekly chores. See age appropriate chores below. Ask yourself, “What good habits do I want my child to have?” Let healthy habits guide you to write your own chore list.
Daily chores such as:

• Make the bed
• Good personal grooming
• Wipe bathroom sink
• Carry dirty laundry to hamper or laundry room
• Pet care
• Empty dishwasher
• Take out the trash
• Tidy up

Then add weekly chores such as:

• Mow the lawn
• Clean bedroom (dust & sweep/vacuum)
• Wash car

AGE APPROPRIATE CHORES

This list is shared from the book, Total Home Makeover (p. 82), and is only a sample.
Child Ages 5–9

• Make bed
• Feed and water pet
• Carry dirty laundry to hamper
• Put toys away
• Carry dirty dishes to sink

Child Ages 10+

• Shine bathroom sink
• Wash dishes
• Put laundry away
• Help cook dinner
• Vacuum

STEP 3: CREATE CHORE CHART

Now it’s time to create your chore chart. Write your child’s name on the top row. Add chores underneath the name in the order they should complete them throughout the day. List daily chores first, and then weekly chores such as

• Get up and make bed (air bedroom briefly).
• Groom yourself properly and leave bathroom clean.
• Take dirty laundry to laundry room hamper.
• Feed & water your pet.
• Arrive at breakfast on time.
• Empty dishwasher after dinner.
• Take out the trash.
• Dust bedroom on Saturday.
• Mow lawn on Saturday.

Finally, write down a small but appealing reward at the bottom of the chart. Some parents decide to not provide an allowance for completing chores. You will have to decide what’s best for your family when rewarding chores.

STEP 4: FRAME & TRACK

If your home is like mine, then placing that chore chart on the fridge makes it official. If you are using the fridge file, slip the chore chart into file two – front. Use a dry erase marker and let your child track chore success. Each day check off daily chores when complete and fill in circle at bottom if all are completed. Each week give your child the listed reward.

Get Moving

• Complete your daily & weekly routines.
• Create your chore chart.

Author and speaker, Renee Metzler, lives in Texas with her husband, two daughters, and pets. She holds a degree in Secondary Education, English from Bloomsburg University and mentors women with a simple system to manage, organize, and decorate at Totalhomemakeover.com.