How to Make Chores Fun – 10+ Super Easy DIY Chore Charts for Kids

I remember when my sisters and I were younger, our mom used to have a chore chart on our kitchen wall.

In our culture, it was very common for households to have a house help to do all the cleaning. But, our mom did not want us to grow up not knowing how to do a single thing around the house.

So, we did not have house help, and we had to do our own chores.

Consequently, we came up with DIY chore charts that worked for us. Since we were kids, it took us several tries before we found a chore chart that worked for us consistently.

It’s probably not shocking that kids are not inclined to take the broom and sweep their mess or tidy their toys. You have been cleaning up all of their mess since they came to this world, so why should things change?

Teaching them to do chores at a young age will prove to be very beneficial for them in the long run. Think of college when they have to start living on their own.

Do you want them to be able to cook, clean, and do laundry on their own?

If your answer is yes, then it’s time to teach them. But, let’s make it fun!

PS: Scroll to the bottom of the article for some free printable charts! 

Side Flaps

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I love the innovative feel to this chart. The fact that you can just simply add and remove chores as they change is a much-needed bonus. They’re pretty easy to make, too!

Get the printables and full how-to here.

Sticks in a Jar

DIY Chore charts
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The way this chore chart (doesn’t really look like a chart) works is quite creative.

Each jar has an equal number of “must-do” chores and “can-do” chores which have corresponding color coordination. The “must-do” chores must be done on a daily basis while the “can-do” chores must be done at least once a week.

Once your kids accomplish a chore, they flip the stick to reveal a green star. T

hen you check them at night for the “must-do” ones and then at the end of every week for the “can-do” ones.

Find the full inspiration here.

Race Course Board

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This may seem to be just for your son but it can actually work for your daughter too.

Choose a different color of Hot Wheels for her, draw a two-lane course with their corresponding chores and have a race!

The first one to reach the finish line gets a point and whoever has the most points at the end of each week gets a reward.

Find the full idea here.

Clothespin Chart

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How simple is this, right?

You probably already have an idea of how to make this without needing to look at the full instructional, right?

Either way, click here for the step-by-step.

Magnets and Cookie Sheets

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As complicated as this looks to make, you would be wise to still choose to try these out. On the contrary, it’s actually a lot simpler than it looks. Plus, it’s durable so investing time on this is worth it.

All you need are simple household items like cookie sheets and a bunch of other office supplies. See the full list of materials and steps here.

Money Magic

DIY chore charts
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If money won’t motivate your older kids to do their chores, I don’t know what will.

Before they start hasting through their chores to earn an extra buck or two, set the ground rules such as what you consider a good job or if they returned their materials in the right place.

If they don’t meet the rules, they have to keep doing it until they get it right before getting the reward money. :)

Family Responsibility Board

diy chore charts
bydawnnicole.com

I know what you’re thinking. “I can’t possibly make that on my own!” You’re absolutely wrong. Yes, this takes more time, resources and expertise but find the right person to help you and it will be a breeze.

To put this plain and simple, each chore done earns a ticket and tickets can be exchanged for money. Great way to teach your kids early that you have to work hard for the money!

Grab the full how-to and printables bydawnnicole.com!

Tickets, Tickets, and More Tickets

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This works very simple and very similar to how the ticket exchange in arcades work.

Each chore has a corresponding colored ticket. At the end of the week, your kids can exchange their accumulated tickets for small prizes like gum, candies, erasers or small toys.

Or, they can exchange them for money to save. Discuss with your husband how much each ticket will be valued at.

See the full idea here.

Pebbles In, Pebbles Out

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Before I redirect you to where you can get the instructions, I’d like to emphasize how this chore chart works. For every chore finished, you child drops a pebble in the jar.

Once the jar is filled to the brim, you give them a reward like a trip to the ice cream parlor, a new toy or a movie night. If they misbehave, a pebble gets taken out. Fun, right?

Okay, go on and head here to see how this rustic piece of art is made.

Spin the Wheel

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Warning: this particular project might be up on the difficulty level but it’s said to work for her kids.

And, they’re having fun! You see, kids have this tendency to think moms are dictators when assigning chores. I certainly felt that way before so why not leave it all to chance?

You can’t get any fairer than spinning the wheel. Learn how to make it here.

Cookie Monster

DIY Chore Charts
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Feed a cookie to the monster for every chore done and cross it out of the list. But before you do this, think of a reward system that would work for both of you and your kids.

What can they exchange for the cookies? You can try giving them an extra 15 minutes of staying up for every 3 cookies or an extra snack for every 5 cookies.

Full set of instructions here!

Mom, I need more money chart

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This is pure genius. Most of parents face the issue of pocket money vs help needed around the house. This pretty simple chore chart is the ultimate solution- all you need is few envelopes and a marker.

Bonus: 15+ FREE Printable Chore Charts

Not every chore chart would work like a charm on the first try. 

Kids are not consistent creatures. Most adults aren’t consistent.

If the first one doesn’t work for you, try again. Consider the reasons why they don’t work. Are your chore assignments to hard or too frequent? Maybe your reward system isn’t motivating at all? Or maybe you and your husband aren’t setting a good example of being consistent? There are plenty of causes but keep an open mind.

I remember it took us quite a while to get the hang of a daily chore routine but we were able to get the hang of it. Just be extra patient and relentless at the same time.

Pretty soon, it will be part of their habit and that’s what we’re aiming for!

Have chore charts worked well for you and your kids? Let us know in a comment below!

SHOP our Printables

Daily Self Care Checklist Printable – This simple printable will allow you to plan your self-care activities and tick them off as you go through your week or month.

Kids Chore Chart with Allowance Tracker – Track your kids’ chores and their allowance all in one place, in this gorgeous child-friendly printable.

Printable Daily Checklist for Kids – Clearly defines which chores need to be completed in which part of the day.

Weekly Chore Chart for Kids – This simple to use and clear chore chart provides a quick visual reference for your kids about their responsibilities and helps to enforce accountability for their chores. 

Chore Chart for Multiple Kids – This printable chore chart for multiple kids has been designed to provide clarity and enforce accountability for chores. No more arguing about who does what and when! 

Weekly Printable Family Chore Chart – This simple printable will help you clearly plan chores for each family member (suitable for 2 – 5 family members or more) and display them anywhere for quick reference. 

Weekly Printable Chore Chart with Money – Pretty weekly chore chart allows you to put a monetary value to each chore for your child, and add up at the end of the week.

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Fueled by fun and the simple things in life, I am a full-time writer, a baker on some days when I actually have spare time and a back-up vocalist on the weekends. Coffee and I don't work well together but give me a glass of milk tea or really rich cocoa and we'll be friends for life.

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