If you’ve been around here for more than 5 minutes, you know I’m all about chore charts and checklists. Both for me and my kids. They are what keep me and my neurospicy household running.
But I’ve struggled to find the perfect chore chart that encompasses all the daily chores and weekly chores I want my kids to do.
Because, let’s be honest—my kids don’t have the same expectations every single day. School days are different than the weekends when they have a lot more time to help with household chores.
And what about those tasks that only need to be done on certain days?
I needed one chart that my kids could look at and know exactly what they need to do.
After years of testing different chore chart ideas, I finally landed on a system that works. And I’m sharing it with you!
This free printable chore chart template helps track all types of age-appropriate chores and responsibilities with three key sections:
- Daily Tasks – Chores that need to be done every day.
- Rotating Tasks – Duties that change from day to day.
- Weekly Chores – Once-a-week tasks for weekends.
This kids chore chart is a great way to encourage kids’ responsibility and make chore time easier. And best of all? You can download this free printable chore chart at the bottom of this post.
But first, let’s talk about:
- Why chore charts and checklists work so well for kids
- Features of this fun chore chart
- How to use it for your family
Why Kids Thrive With Chore Charts & Checklists
Like I mentioned, I love chore lists and checklists. As a working mom with raging ADHD, I would be lost without them.
I would literally not accomplish anything. I would just rush around all day starting random tasks and finishing absolutely nothing.
But charts and checklists provide a structure that keeps me centered and focused. And that structure helps kids as they are learning skills and responsibilities.
Here’s some specifics on how they help kids:
Reason #1: It Gives Kids Clear Expectations
Even adults struggle to remember everything.
(At least this adult does!)
So expecting young kids to remember all their chores and daily responsibilities? That’s just setting everyone up for failure. A kids chore chart takes the guesswork out of what needs to get done.
(And even more helpful: Putting the tasks in order your kid needs to accomplish them so they can just work through the list!)
Reason #2: Kids Feel a Sense of Accomplishment
Checking off tasks gives little kids and older children a jolt of joy and a sense of accomplishment. And this sense of accomplishment leads to more motivation.
If you get a little high when you cross stuff off of your to-do list, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
And research shows that this sense of accomplishment over time translates to greater self-esteem in kids. Because they feel capable and like an important contributing part of the household.
Reason #3: It Builds Independence
Instead of constantly reminding kids about their daily tasks, you can just refer them back to the daily chore chart. This helps them take ownership of responsibilities and chores and work through tasks on their own.
And the best part? It works for different ages and personalities. My Type A child thrives on checking things off, while the chart helps my ADHD child stay focused.
(Usually with the gentle reminder “Have you finished the stuff on your chart?”)
>>> CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE FREE PRINTABLE CHARTS & CHECKLISTS FOR KIDS
How to Use this Printable Chore Chart Template
Now it’s time to dive into how to use this free printable chore chart for kids. We’ll go over the 3 different sections and how you can use them.
Daily Chores
This section is for the things that your kid needs to do every day. These may be simple tasks like:
- Brush teeth
- Make bed
- Practice instrument
- Tidy bedroom
The free chore chart download includes 2 different versions of the chart:
- 5-day (Monday – Friday) Daily Tasks: This is great when weekdays look very different from other days. Perfect for the school year wit homework and weekday activities.
- 7-day (Monday-Sunday) Daily Tasks: This is perfect when your child’s schedule and routine isn’t very different from day to day. This might also work well for summers.
These daily chores help kids develop routines, take care of themselves, and keep tidy up their own messes.
Prefer a fillable version? Click here to check out the fillable chore chart bundle.
*** Love the customizable pen holder shown above? You can get the cute pen holder and tons of fun snaps above from Snappy Pots. ***
Rotating Chores (Day-to-Day Tasks)
This section is for those tasks that may change from day to day, but remain consistent from week to week. This is an incredibly flexible category, but is really helpful for those things that don’t fit neatly into everyday tasks or once a week chores.
For example, you may use it for:
- Assigning different daily chores to your child
- Activities your child needs to participate in on certain days of the week like sports practice, dance rehearsal, music lessons etc.
This section works for all of it!
It lists the days of the week, from Monday to Sunday, with a space to assign a unique task to each day.
The weekly chore chart template includes a space for specific chores assigned to each day of the week.
In my house, we use this for Dinner Duties—assigning kids different kitchen cleanup jobs throughout the week. Here’s how we break it down:
Dinner Duties Rotation:
- Set the table
- Wipe and clean the table
- Put leftovers away
- Load the dishwasher
- Wash hand dishes
- Sweep or vacuum
- Mop the floor
- Clear and wipe counters
The beauty of this fun chore chart is that it’s completely flexible. Kids can have weekly chores that rotate based on preference.
Weekend Chores (Bigger Household Tasks)
Since weekdays are packed with school and activities, weekends are the best time for bigger cleaning tasks. This is when my kids:
- Change their sheets
- Clean the bathrooms
- Dust their bedrooms
- Vacuum their rooms and common areas
Weekend chores teach kids responsibility and give them a chance to help with the household chores that keep everything running smoothly.
How I Organize Chores for My Kids
Here’s how I set up my chores system both during the school year and during the summer months.
During the School Year
During the school year, so much of my kids’ chart is taken up by small tasks that keep them organized and take care of themselves. Things like:
- Pack lunch
- Get backpack ready
- Homework
- Sports practice
- Instrument practice
But I want each child to contribute to the overall household by doing a daily chore that helps everyone. Things like:
- Unloading the dishwasher
- Loading the dishwasher
- Vacuuming high-traffic areas
- Tidying living areas
- Feeding the cat
- Dusting living areas
This is an important part of creating a culture of helpfulness in my home where everyone contributes. I tried rotating daily chores, but with 4 kids (and the brain I have), it got confusing.
Instead, after talking to a friend who mentioned assigning the same household chore every single day, I decided to give it a try.
And it has worked great! They keep the same chore for a whole semester and then get to switch it up.
Here’s how I do it:
2 – I make a list of chores.
This is a simple list of chores that need to be done every day to keep our house running well. I list about 8 things so everyone actually gets to pick the task they do daily. Some examples:
- Unloading the dishwasher
- Scoop cat litter
- Tidying and vacuuming 4 high-traffic areas in our home (stairs, entryway, hallway, living room)
- Dusting one room with swiffer duster
2 – My kids pick a chore they want for the semester and stick with it.
And I rotate through the order of who gets to pick first. This method keeps things consistent and easy to track.
During the Summer
Since they’re home more, have fewer outside responsibilities, and are making more messes…
…I assign my kids two to three daily household tasks on top of their other personal daily tasks. I use the same process as above, listing the choices and letting them pick a top choice.
For help creating a great Summer schedule for your kids, check out The Best Summer Schedule for Kids + Free Schedule Printables.
I also created a cute Free Printable Summer Chore Chart for Kids.
How to Use the Printable Chore Chart for Kids
1 – Download the chart (button below)
To get the free printable chore chart for kids, you will click the button near the bottom of this post. It will take you to a page where you can enter your email address so the chart will be sent directly to your inbox.
You’ll also get some really helpful resources and tips to help you in your journey to establishing an awesome chores system in your home.
2 – Print a copy for each child
I recommend printing on cardstock, if you’re able. It creates a sturdier chart that will last longer. Plus, your pen or marker is less likely to bleed through.
3 – Fill it out with their daily chores and weekly tasks
I recommend planning out their tasks in advance on a scratch piece of paper before writing on the chore chart.
4 – Laminate or put in a picture frame to use with dry-erase markers (OPTIONAL)
While optional, I highly recommend either sticking the chart in a picture frame or laminating it so you can use dry-erase markers. That way you can reuse the chart every week.
I have this laminator from Amazon and it’s been awesome for all of our charts and checklists.
If you prefer to use a picture frame, I included 8×10 versions of the chart in the Fillable Chore Chart Bundle you can grab in my shop.
5 – Post it somewhere visible (like the fridge or a bulletin board)
If you want your child to use it, you need it visible and in a high traffic area where they can access it and you see it often and can can keep them accountable.
This is my current setup:
Here’s a link to the dry erase marker holder I use. It comes with an adhesive sticker so it took about 10 seconds to affix to the wall.
Note also that use the Fillable Chore Chart Bundle because I don’t like my handwriting.
6 – Keep it positive and encourage Kids daily
When introducing the charts, keep it positive and be consistent. Your enthusiasm and consistency (or lack thereof) for the first couple weeks will make or break this whole thing.
I highly recommend checking out How to Get Your Kids & Help Out Without Being Asked for more on how to do this.
Download the Free Printable Chore Chart for Kids
Click the button below so you can get your free printable chore chart sent straight to your email inbox. This responsibility chart is for personal use only. Feel free to share this post with friends.
Get the Free Chore Charts
Click the button below to get the free chore charts sent straight to your inbox.
Prefer a Fillable Version? I got you.
If you prefer a printable chore chart template for kids that you can type into, I’ve also created a fillable version in my printable shop.
- Includes both a 5-day and 7-day format
- US Letter Size and 8×10 inch to fit into picture fram
- Works with Adobe Reader (free software)
- Perfect for those who want a clean, typed look
*Note that the fillable PDF bundle is a paid product. Scroll up a bit to click the pink button to get the free version*
Customize the Printable Chore Chart for Your Kid
If you’re looking for a fun chore chart that helps kids take ownership of their daily chores, this free printable chore chart template is perfect. If you haven’t already, you can click here to grab the free download.
Not only does it make life easier, but it also teaches kids responsibility and builds great habits—starting from a young age.
And if you’re ready for more, I’ve got…
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