Today I want to share some practical tips and helps for creating a chore time routine for kids. Young children especially will thrive with these suggestions.
Creating a Choretime Routine For Kids
When we adopted our two sweet children, we sort of went into “survival” mode. Both children had emotional issues, and they need weekly behavioral therapy. Bella was enrolled in a therapy school, and Casey had physical, occupational, and speech therapy. I was spending hours and hours each day on the road. I was happy if I could somewhat maintain the house, and assigning chores to my kids wasn’t even on my radar.
This year things are different. My kids have graduated from all their therapy programs. They are sweet, happy children. You’d never know that not so long ago they had major issues. (Thank you, God!) And now it’s time for chores!
Choretime Routine For Kids
First, I found a FREE printable chore chart here.
I printed three BLANK copies of the chart so I could tailor them for my kids.
This website also gave me great ideas of what kids could do at different ages.
Our list:
Bella
- Pick up toys
- Put laundry in the hamper
- Take dishes to sink after meal
- Make bed
- Set plates and cups for dinner
- Match socks
Alyssa
- Pick up toys
- Put laundry in hamper
- Sort laundry
- Take dishes to sink after meal
- Make bed
- Set napkins and silverware for dinner
Casey
- Pick up toys
- Put laundry in the hamper
- Check mailbox
- Take dishes to sink after meal
- Make bed
I might add on more later, but this is a great place to start.
Even if it takes a couple of weeks for us to get our chores down, I know the work I put in now will be worth it. I saw this with my first round of kids. The training I put in now will benefit our family’s teamwork later.
Things I start with when creating a chore time routine for kids:
- Create a chore chart.
- Explain it to the kids.
- Work with them through the day to follow the chart.
- Create a small award box.
How about you? How do you handle chores for your kids?
Have you created a chore time routine for kids? I would love to hear about it!
Steps You Can Take
- Choose chores for your kids.
- Create a chart.
- Train them for their chores.
- Reward them!
Daily Prayer
Dear Lord,
Sometimes it’s so much easier just to do things myself than to train my children. Yet I know that so much of “today” is really about “tomorrow” and the men and women they will grow to be. Help me to be diligent, Lord, to teach them diligence. Help me to be faithful with my time, attention, home and resources, so my children will understand how to be faithful to all things you have so graciously given us.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resources You Might Like:
- Cleaning House: A Mom’s Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid her House of Youth Entitlement
- If Dogs Could Do Chores
- Financial Peace Junior
You might also want to check out my book Balanced:
Inside you’ll find tips and strategies that actually work. You’ll learn how to:
Create focus themes for your family
Prioritize your schedule
Use your job, so it also benefits your kids
Stop comparing yourself to other moms
Organize your home to fit your needs
Do the inner work, so you can truly understand what balance looks like
Balanced is perfect for Christian women of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new mom or a seasoned mom, women will discover a wealth of information in this resource.
If you’re looking for a simple how-to manual with outlines, or if you’re not willing to do the spiritual work to impact your life, then this book isn’t for you. But if you’re willing to learn from your mistakes, try a new balancing methodology, and trust in God, this self-help book will be a lifesaver for you!