Kids will complete a printable ChoreSoft chore chart contract with their parents based upon chosen weekly chores. Together, they will build a chore chart showing how many points specific chores are worth and awards they'd really like to receive: such as, choosing a later bedtime or curfew, a trip to the mall with spending money or a chore-free week, etc.
Track your child’s progress on the printable ChoreSoft chore chart and hang in a prominent place. At the end of the week, total your child’s points and reward them.
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In The News...
Unexpected Ways to Communicate with Kids via Incentive Charts - Carolina Parent
No one knows why star charts are so motivating to kids between ages 3 and 6, but they are. Use ChoreSoft's Chore Chart to make a simple star chart. Pick only a few chores that are developmentally reasonable and make the time frame approximately one week. Then determine a prize your child will get after earning a certain number of stars. Don't make the prize too lavish; a small toy or an outing with a parent is often highly motivating.
Avoid Gender Specific Chores - Children, Chores and Sterotypes
- Dr. Alexandra Barzvi, NYU Child Study Center
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Look at yourself when selecting gender appropriate chores (consider can a son wash dishes and fold clothes, and can a daughter take out trash from time to time, mix it up a little).
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Make it fair - Create a chore jar. Each member of the house will pull out a different chore to complete.
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Make it fun - Be playful, flexible and breakdown task.
Toddler-Friendly Chores (Around ages 2-3, your child will love to join in while you do housework)
- Parenting
Cleaning up toys
What he or she can do: Pick them up off the floor and sort them into buckets or onto a low shelf
What he or she can't: Stay focused enough to tackle a huge mess
How to help: Establish a place for every toy; clean up one mess before making another
Putting away clothes
What he or she can do: Hang his jacket on a hook; place shoes in a closet; toss dirty things into a basket
What he or she can't: Tell the difference between clean and dirty clothes
How to help: Hang low hooks near the entry; place a hamper near his room or bathroom; add "put clothes away" to your coming-home and bedtime routines
Setting the table
What he or she can do: Place napkins, forks, spoons, and plastic cups (maybe plates)
What he or she can't: Carry sharp knives; be responsible for your best china
How to help: Lay out one place setting as a model; work on plates one day, napkins the next
Dusting
What he or she can do: Wipe a cloth on a surface right in front of him
What he or she can't: Thoroughly clean large surfaces; dig into corners; move objects to dust
How to help: Fill a clean spray bottle with water; closely supervise spraying; suggest he move down the table when one spot is done
Sweeping
What he or she can do: Imitate your motions with a broom; push dirt around
What he or she can't: Actually gather dust into a pile
How to help: Offer a kid-size broom and dustpan; hold the dustpan while he sweeps
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