Are you struggling with how to motivate kids to do chores? With some simple key motivators and rewards, your kids will be eagerly doing their chores!
Doing chores is just a part of daily life in this household. I could easily spend the entire day cleaning up after everyone, but I don’t really want to! I am under the impression that if someone is old enough to make the mess, they are old enough to clean up the mess.
We have chore charts like most families, but the chore chart isn’t the hard part. The follow-through of the chore chart is where the real success is found! We haven’t perfected this, but I feel like we have found a really great middle-ground to help the kids stay motivated to complete their chores without too much effort on my part. What is that answer, you say? The Sticker Chart!
Sticker Charts
These sticker charts are so simple to use! The chart consists of one side to put a sticker on for their morning chart, and one side for their daily chore.
Morning Chart
Our kids have a Morning Chart that they are complete each morning. Depending on their age, their tasks include things such as:
- Go potty
- Brush hair
- Make bed
- Tidy room
- Read scriptures
- Unload dishwasher
If these charts are done with a good attitude before breakfast, they earn a sticker on their chart. The good attitude part is the real clincher some mornings. The chart has to be completed cheerfully and without being nagged or repeatedly reminded to stay on task.
Chore Chart
On this same chart there is also a column to put stickers on for completing their chore each day. I have found this to be the MOST effective way for them to complete their chores. By now, the morning chart is practically a no-brainer. The chore side takes some extra work though. In order to turn in their chart for a reward, both sides have to be completely full. I can always tell when someone has completed their morning chart side because all of a sudden, their chores are completed every day. Haha!
Nobody likes to be nagged to do their chores. Nobody likes to nag a herd of children to do their chores constantly either. Sometimes I will be extra nice and remind them, but otherwise, there are many days where the chores just may not get done.
The Reward
This is the big question, right? Because really, a sticker isn’t going to motivate an older child to do chores. When their entire chart is filled up, they get to go on a one-on-one date with either mom or dad. In a big family, that is golden! We usually go out for some sort of a treat and talk or play their favorite game or something. It has been a great time for them to feel special, and for us as parents to stay involved with the inner workings of all their little minds.
The Consequence
I know, I know. There has to be some sort of a consequence to all those not completed chores, right? That’s just what mean moms do! The biggest consequence is that all of those chores that were neglected throughout the week have to be completed on Saturday with no sticker before they can play with friends.
These sticker charts have seriously simplified this part of life quite a bit. Like I mentioned, it isn’t perfect, and your kids aren’t guaranteed to do their chores, but the special date is a better motivator that a mom that is constantly nagging them to do their jobs! Get your free printable here!
How do you motivate your kids to do chores?
