Getting your kids to do chores can be a huge headache. Often times, that headache leaves you questioning why you tried to start that fancy new chore chart of yours in the first place. After the fifteenth tantrum, all the nagging, and your patience level going out the door you wish you would have never tried to get your kids to do chores in the first place. Mama, I totally get understand. I have been there more times than I can possibly count. As frustrating as it may be at times, encouraging your kids to do chores is a huge benefit for both you and them. Beginning the routine may take some work at first, but in the end you will be thankful that you did.

Why should kids do chores?

Two reasons. First, because it teaches them to be responsible for what they have. Responsibility is an important life skill that we all need to learn. When a child learns to take care of the things they have, they learn a big part of what responsibility is. Second, mama doesn’t need to do everything…and you shouldn’t! Think about how exhausting it is to walk down the hall and have to pick up shoes, socks, toys, blankets, and every little thing that has found it’s way to a place it doesn’t belong. Tiring, right? You aren’t in this alone, families are meant to work together. Learning to work together starts right at home, and chores are a great way to teach your kids cooperation.

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How old should my child be before they do chores?

I think this varies by maturity in every child, but we usually begin implementing our system by age three. At age three they can complete simple tasks and it gets your child in the routine of doing chores. The earlier you start, the less likely it will seem to be out of the ordinary. Doing chores will just be something that kids do! Depending on each child at age three, I may tweak the system a little for what works for them. I will say, that each child has been able to handle more at a younger age then my first. Maybe it’s because they are used to having bigger kids around all the time and they learn from them. I’m not sure, but I don’t complain!

How do I get my kid to do chores?

Here is the real question, how do I get my kid to do chores without losing my mind? Am I right? No one wants to be nagging, yelling, screaming, getting frustrated, or pulling out their hair (what, you don’t do that?) just to get their child to do something they probably won’t do as well as you would anyways….am I right? Getting your kids to do chores and not losing your mind in the process isn’t always easy, and I am sure that isn’t exactly what you wanted to hear. However, I have a few tips that can help.

7 Tips to Get Your Kids to Do Their Chores

1. Keep them simple. Remember when I said to that getting your kids to do chores was based on their maturity level? Well that is important. No one wants to feel like they are going to fail. Make sure the chores you have your kids do are simple enough that they feel like they can do it. Now, they might tell you they can’t do it because they don’t want to, that’s not what I am talking about there. You will know the difference.

2. Make it fun. Getting kids to do chores can be fun…what?! Yes! You can make it fun! Every morning I turn up the music as we are working on our morning routine, which includes their chore time. We dance around, sing songs, and get stuff done! Not every day is this perfect, some days my son insists that he will fall apart if he makes his bed. On those days, I follow tip number three…

3. Make it their responsibility. When my five year old is insisting that making his bed means his arms and legs are going to fall off I simply respond, “If you choose not to make your bed, then you won’t earn screen time for the day. And it also takes you longer to fill up your sticker chart.” My son knows that a sticker gets him one step closer to earning what we like to call a family fun day. He also knows that his kindle is a privilege that he has to earn. So, I’m not going to fight him or nag him, I’m going to put the ball in his court. If he chooses not to do what needs to be done before other fun can be had, then he will have consequences to that choice. It’s good for kids to learn consequences for their actions. Plus, this way you aren’t getting on to them constantly, you simply presented a choice.

4. Teach them WHY we do chores. I am a huge proponent of teaching our children the why behind what we do. It is important for children to understand why we follow certain rules and make certain choices so that they can learn proper decision making skills themselves. We have chores because we have a house to take care of. Our bed, our clothes, our shoes, our food, our dishes, our table, and our toys are all a blessing to have. Some people aren’t as fortunate to have these things, so we need to take care of them. Mommy doesn’t just take care of the house, we all take care of our home because we are a family and families work together. I also remind my kids that God gave us things to take care of, so it’s our way of thanking Him for what He has given to us! This right here is the big factor in getting your kids to do chores.

5. Keep a visual chart or list. Kids like to know what is expected of them, so make a list. Having a chore chart or list of expectations helps kids succeed because they know what they are being asked to do. You don’t have to keep reminding them, because they have a list to refer to. This gives them responsibility and kids like that! You can download different versions of chore charts my signing up for my newsletter below. I have a few you can choose from to get your kids to do chores!

6. Reward them. Now, this is an iffy subject for many people. We don’t pay our kids to do their every day chores because it is their responsibility. There may be a day we let them choose bigger jobs and earn money for doing them, but they aren’t at that age yet. Right now, we just want to reward them for doing a good job at caring for the things they have. Kids are motivated by positive reinforcement. It isn’t wrong to encourage your children for a job well done. We have a sticker chart that they can earn a sticker for each day they complete their chores. When their sticker chart is all full, they can “cash” in for a family fun day. A family fun day is an experience bigger than just our usual park play date. Maybe we take a trip to Sky Zone, Monkey Joe’s, go bowling, or something along those lines. When we take care of our home together, then we can enjoy fun things together! And while you’re working your way to complete that sticker chart, praise them for a good job! Thank them for being huge helpers! Keep cheering them on!

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7. Keep your expectations realistic. Remember, they’re just kids! Their bed isn’t going to be made perfectly, it’s probably going to take them twice as long to complete a chore, and it isn’t going to be done like you would do it. But getting kids to do chores isn’t about perfection, it’s about teaching them to have responsibility. If you expect perfection, your child isn’t going to have a good attitude about their chores because they know they can’t live up to your standards. Keep a realistic viewpoint on the way your kids get their chores done and you won’t lose your mind in the process.

Getting your kids to do chores is possible! It takes time to fall into the routine. You may find they are excited about it at first, new lists, new charts, new is fun. Then new dies down and they get tired of it. If you stick it through and remember it’s their responsibility, pretty soon you will see them developing a habit that helps take care of their home too!

How do you get your kids to do chores? Any helpful tips you have to share?