DIY Kids Chore Chart

In a few months AG will be 4 years old. One of my goals this summer (before she starts Pre-K) was to start implementing a chore chart at home. She’s at the right age for more responsibility and lets be honest, I’m over cleaning up all the toys! Last week, I picked up all of the supplies and was ready to start on her very first chore chart.

I had a few specific goals with the chore chart. I didn’t want to spend more than $15-$20 on the entire project. I wanted it to be easy enough for her to do on her own. I wanted to find images that she could easily understand, eventually without help. I also wanted it to have a goal to work towards. With those things in mind, I got to work.

Materials: 

11×14 dry erase board

laminating sheets

washi tape

letter stickers (or vinyl letters)

magnets

chore printables 

star printables 

hot glue gun

Directions: 

1. Create an I on your white board using washi tape. Leave space at the top for your child’s name and space at the bottom for the reward. I left an inch and a half on the top and just over 2 inches on the bottom.
2. For the vinyl letters, I used my Silhouette machine to print Avery’s name and To Do and Done. Letter stickers would also work perfectly. Put your child’s name at the top of the board. Next, TO DO will go on the left of the chart and DONE will go on the right side.
3. Print, cut out and laminate the chores you want to use on your chart. I laminated the front and back of each picture and then cut them out again after laminated. More information on which ones we’re focusing on right now below.
4. Print the stars for the rewards chart at the bottom, cut and laminate. Then cut again.
5. With a hot glue gun, glue a small round magnet onto the back of the chores and stars.
6. After glue is dry, place chores and stars on the chore chart.
7. Create the reward system. I cut squares using the silhouette. You can use the washi tape to create boxes for the stars, circular stickers lined up for kids to place the stars on or draw squares with a dry erase marker. More information on the reward system below.
8. I hung the chart using command strips, my go to for pretty much EVERYTHING I hang on the walls these days.

 

Here are the chores AG Is working on right now: 

Writing- Writing her name everyday over the summer.

Clothes- Getting herself dressed.

Bed- Staying in her bed at night.

Laundry Basket- Putting her clothes in the hamper and where they belong.

Meal- Eating well at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Teeth- Morning and Night

Toys- Cleaning up toys at night.

Toilet- No accidents!

Reward System:

I wanted to create an incentive for AG to work towards but I didn’t want it to just be a 7 day thing. So, I have 12 boxes at the bottom of the chore chart. If she completes all of the chores for each day, she gets a star. She can also earn stars for making really good choices or by doing other things around the house that she chose to do to be a helper. I wanted to encourage making good choices and positive behaviors with this chore system as well. Once a star has been earned, it cannot be taken away. But, if she doesn’t complete all of her chores or makes a bad decision, she can not earn a star for the day. When all of the stars are filled up, she earns her reward. This time she chose going to the movies with daddy. When she meets this goal, she’ll be able to pick another experience to do. There won’t be any treasure boxes in our house, we have enough toys and junk from the dollar spot!

So far, this chart is working wonders. We hung it up in her room, next to her door and out of the reach of little brother. She runs to it every night when she’s completed each task. She knows what she has to do each day and asks to help more than ever. For me the best part has been a clean(er) playroom every night. Mom win for sure!

I can imagine as AG gets older her responsibilities will change and increase.

Do you have a chore chart for your preschooler?

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