The Importance of Chores for Kids

Figuring out chores for kids can be overwhelming. Keep reading to learn some simple tips to help you navigate this!

Chores for kids has always been something I neglected. I knew it would be a good thing to implement in our home cleaning but had zero success with it. We would start a chore chart and after a week it would slowly decrease in follow-through. I struggled between wanting to give my kids an allowance and also wanting them to pitch in because we are a family.

Can you relate?

I have always had my kids do certain things: clear their plates from the table, help clean up the house, pick up their toys, etc. But we did not have any paid chores other than my oldest mowing the grass.

This past fall things changed and we started to implement chores for our kids where they were getting an allowance. As we navigated this, these four tips helped us figure out how to best do this.

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4 Tips for Chores for Kids

Pick simple tasks.

Start small and determine the tasks based on age. I like to give my kids the responsibility of their rooms. Kids can easily dust and sweep their room. Then it is easy to add in chores like feeding pets, helping clean a bathroom, putting laundry away, etc. I have found it to be best to start with a couple of chores and then slowly add.

We started with having the kids make their beds. It was simple.

Have kid-friendly products.

It is not going to be helpful if your cleaning products are all unsafe for kids to use. A great idea is to put together a cleaning caddy for your kids to use. This encourages ownership and excitement. Put in a hand-held duster. Having Branch Basics cleaner on hand is perfect as it is clean and toxic-free.

Use incentives for your kids.

The easiest way to do this is through an allowance. We have tried cash in the past and it would never work. I would forget to get cash out, the kids would lose it, etc. Then a friend told me about Greenlight debit cards for kids. I decided to check it out and have LOVED it!

With this, each of my younger two kids has their own debit card. I have the Greenlight app on my phone and can easily transfer money from our bank account to their debit cards on their pay day. Then I can easily see how much money they each have on their cards by looking at my app and getting alerted when they spend anything.

Since using this card, I have noticed a change in my kids. Where in the past, they would want to buy stuff as soon as they had money, they now are saving. Seeing the amount on my phone helps them to visually see how much money they have. When we are at a store, if they have their card with them and want something, we will look and see how much money they have and then factor in tax. It has taught so much responsibility and is teaching money management.

Along with this, they both know that if they do not do their chores, they do not get paid.

Their chores: Make their beds, put their laundry away, feed our pets, clean their rooms on Saturdays.

Let go of perfection.

Your kids are not going to clean perfectly. Remember- done is better than perfect. Use this as a time to train them how to clean and encourage them in it. If you immediately go in and redo everything, they will not feel excited or want to continue with the job.

Ready to start chores with your kids?

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