Any parent knows how frustrating it can be to ask your child over and over again to complete their chores without them ever getting done. If you’re nodding your head and saying to yourself, “Yes, that’s me,” then you should consider designing a chore chart to encourage your little one to complete their chores.
The first step in designing and implementing a chore chart is to determine exactly what chores your child is expected to do. Chores should be chosen based on your child’s age and stage of development. Expecting a 4 year old to sweep and mop the floor, for example, may be unrealistic.
Once you’ve figured out what chores your child will be responsible for, and how often they are to be done, sit down with your child and discuss your expectations and what rewards will be associated with the chart. You may decide to provide an allowance for completion of chores – just be sure it is appropriate for their age.
Some parents may have issue with providing allowances but it could be a great opportunity to teach your child the value of money. If you want to take it a step further, you can help teach them the value of saving as well by having them divide their allowance into what they can spend and what needs to be put away. You can make the process visual by giving your little one a savings can or jar so they can watch their saved money accumulate.
Choosing not to give your child money for completing chores is okay too. You can offer non-monetary rewards such as more time with the television, a movie night with popcorn or a “coupon” for a desired activity that they can cash in whenever they like. Overall, the importance of providing a reward system is to offer something of value that your child is willing to work for.
The chore chart itself does not have to a grandiose affair and can simply be a “to-do” list in which your child checks off the tasks as they are completed. If your child is young, you may want to make the chart more attention-grabbing by providing stickers to place on the list instead of check marks. Remember, the purpose of the chore chart is to encourage your child, so you may have to come with ideas to make the chart more encouraging.
It’s likely your child will simply find satisfaction in being able to check off each chore and take pride in knowing that they accomplished a set task or list of tasks. At the end of each week, it is very inspiring for both parent and child to look at the chore chart and easily see that each designated job was completed.
Chore charts are an excellent tool not only for tracking your child’s progress of completing chores but also for creating a visual aid of task-setting and completing that your child can comprehend. This comprehension will eventually lead to the development of goal-setting and healthy self-confidence.