If you have kids, you know how difficult it can be to get them to do chores. They’ll do everything in their power to avoid doing what you ask, and in the end, you’re stuck doing all the work. However, having the right tools and approach can help instead of losing your temper or dealing with tears. 

If you’re wondering how to get kids to do chores, this guide is for you. Here, we’ll help you transform the daily struggle of chores into an engaging and rewarding experience. Keep reading to learn more about what children don’t like about chores and four strategies for making chore management effective and fun.

Why Kids Complain about Chores 

The key to learning how to get kids or teens to do chores is understanding why they don’t want to do them in the first place! Here’s some insight to consider when reviewing your own children’s unique personalities and work ethics: 

Crystal-Clear Expectations

Think of teaching chores like teaching any new skill - success starts with clarity. Take a moment with each child to demonstrate what "mission accomplished" looks like. Is a made bed simply pulled-up covers, or are we aiming for hotel-worthy corners? 

When the whole family shares the same vision of success, everyone wins. Pro tip: Create a simple checklist for complex tasks, making it easy for kids to know when they've hit the mark.

Rock-Solid Consistency

Your chore system is like a well-oiled machine - it works best when all parts move together reliably. When tempted to say "I'll just do it myself this once," remember: small exceptions can create big ripples. 

Get all caregivers on the same page about expectations and stick to them. Think of it as building your family's "operating manual" - when rules are steady, kids feel secure and know exactly what's expected.

Time Management

Learning new skills takes time - and that's okay! Instead of viewing teaching time as a hurdle, see it as an investment in your child's future capabilities. Break tasks into bite-sized chunks that fit your schedule.

 Maybe Tuesday evenings become "kitchen skills night" where you teach loading the dishwasher while preparing dinner together. Small, consistent teaching moments add up to capable, confident kids.

Sibling Harmony

Each child brings unique strengths to your family team. Rather than letting "It's not fair!" become the household chorus, celebrate growing capabilities. A 10-year-old might handle more complex tasks than their 6-year-old sibling - and that's perfectly natural! Hold regular family meetings where everyone can voice ideas and concerns. 

Frame it positively: "As you grow, you get to learn awesome new skills!" This approach helps siblings see their contributions as valued parts of the family puzzle, rather than comparing workloads.

How to Get Kids To Do Chores: The Top 4 Tips 

With these four tips and strategies, you can take the guesswork out of getting kids to do chores without complaining. 

1. Utilize the Magic of Dry Erase Boards

One of the most powerful tools in a parent's arsenal is the humble dry erase board. But we're not talking about just any whiteboard – modern dry erase boards and stickers designed specifically for kids have revolutionized chore management. Here's why they work so well:

Visibility Creates Accountability

When chores are clearly displayed where everyone can see them, they become harder to ignore or forget. A dedicated chore board in a high-traffic area, like the kitchen or family room, serves as a constant but gentle reminder of responsibilities.

Interactive and Customizable

Kid-friendly dry-erase boards often come with colorful markers, making writing and checking off tasks fun. With customizable dry-erase boards, you can add their favorite colors or characters to make marking off your tasks that much more fun. 

Need design help? Think about adding pre-printed sections for different days of the week, and leaving space for rewards and achievements (more on that soon!).

Get Them Involved 

Again, with customizable dry-erase boards, you can also get kids involved and let them help design the chore layout. Consider including a space for “bonus” chores where extra rewards can be earned, and make it magnetized to add motivating messages. 

The physical act of wiping away completed tasks provides immediate satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment that digital alternatives simply can't match.

2. Use Goal Thermometers for Visual Success

Goal thermometers have long been used for fundraising, but they're equally effective for tracking chore completion. This visual tool transforms abstract progress into a tangible, measurable achievement.

Children respond exceptionally well to visual representations of their progress. A goal thermometer provides:

• Clear visualization of progress toward weekly or monthly goals
• Excitement as the "mercury" rises with each completed task
• A sense of accomplishment as milestones are reached
• Motivation to "fill up" the thermometer

Setting up a Goal Thermometer Chore Chart 

To ensure your goal thermometer chore strategy goes off without a hitch, here are some implementation best practices to follow. 

1. Set clear metrics: Define how many "degrees" each chore is worth, and establish weekly or monthly targets. You can have multiple thermometers for multiple chores, or use a color coding system to track. 
2. Reward tiers: Incentivize the entire growth by marking specific points on the thermometer for rewards. This adds smaller rewards at different goal levels and leaving a large reward when reaching the top. 
3. Add flair: Thermometers can also be customizable and eye-catching, using bright colors to mark and track your chore progress. Think about creating themed thermometers based on your kid’s favorite things (rocketships, trees, mountains, etc.) and allow kids to be involved in its creation, too. 

3. The Power of Play

Add a little gamification to your chores, and the power of play will motivate your kids to participate. Point systems and competitions can transform chores from mundane tasks into exciting challenges. Here are a few ways to incorporate game elements into your chore management system.

Point System

Transform everyday tasks into exciting achievements with a dynamic point system that sparks motivation and rewards effort. Start by assigning point values to different chores – maybe making the bed earns 5 points, while tackling the full bathroom cleanup scores an impressive 20. 

Over time, kids watch points stack up, creating opportunities for bigger rewards. Make the game even more fun, and watch their excitement build as they discover "streak bonuses" for completing their chores consistently—five days in a row might unlock double points!

 When you notice exceptional effort, like perfectly folded laundry or an extra-thorough vacuum job, surprise them with quality bonus points that recognize their attention to detail. And here's where the magic really happens: encourage family teamwork by offering bonus points when siblings lend a helping hand. 

Before you know it, your kids will be eagerly volunteering to help their brothers and sisters with bigger tasks, creating natural opportunities for bonding while getting more done.

Rewards and Recognition

Involved the kids in selecting privileges and rewards, they’d like to see involved in the point system. For competition among siblings, you can create fun awards too, such as “Chore Champion of the Week” and make fun announcements at a weekly dinner, with a speech and all. 

4. Rewards at Work: Smart Allowance Systems

While intrinsic motivation is important, a well-structured reward system can teach valuable lessons about work ethic and money management. So, as one of the simplest answers to “how to get kids to do chores” incentivize them with an effective allowance system. 

Setting Up the System

Start your allowance system with clear, consistent base rates for everyday chores – perhaps $1 for feeding pets or $2 for bathroom duty. Sprinkle in exciting bonus opportunities, like earning extra cash for seasonal tasks such as raking leaves or helping with spring cleaning. Make success crystal clear by defining precisely what a completed chore looks like – no more debates about whether a "cleaned room" includes organizing under the bed. 

Keep the money flowing smoothly with a reliable payday schedule, whether a weekly Sunday evening ritual or a monthly celebration of accomplishments. Add a dash of financial wisdom by incorporating a savings rule – maybe 20% of earnings goes straight to their piggy bank or savings account, teaching smart money habits while they earn.

Beyond Simple Cash Rewards

If you feel awkward about handing over cold, hard cash for things kids could be doing anyway, consider adding tiered reward systems—bronze, silver, and gold—for other types of incentives, such as a day trip to your favorite place or a sleepover with friends. 

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Don't withhold allowance for behavioral issues unrelated to chores
• Avoid making all household contributions paid tasks
• Don't create rewards that are too distant or unattainable
• Keep the system simple enough to maintain consistently
• Don't forget to adjust the system as children grow

Best Practices for Kid Chores

The most effective chore management system often combines elements from multiple approaches. So have fun using these ideas and inspiration, and making your own blend of what works best for your unique lifestyle and preferences. No matter what, these best practices will help the process go even more smoothly. 

1. Start small: Like a job, start with a small set of responsibilities and gradually add more. Be consistent with expectations and rewards early on to set an example for the future. 
2. Stay flexible: If something’s not working, don’t be afraid to change it. Be willing to modify rewards and consequences so everyone feels accountable without feeling pressured. 
3. Focus on progress: What’s something that keeps you going? Celebrating small wins, and documenting improvements. Keep the conversation around chores positive, and be sure to focus on the benefits everyone’s receiving for pitching in. 

How to Get Kids to Do Chores: Help from StickerGenius 

Now that you’ve learned how to get kids to do chores without complaints…you’ll free yourself from constant battles and have a cozy, tidy home. By implementing these visual and interactive systems with help from StickerGenius, you can create an environment where children feel motivated and empowered to contribute to household responsibilities. 

Whether you choose to use dry-erase boards, goal thermometers, gamification, allowances, or a combination of these approaches, remember that the goal isn't just to get tasks done – it's to help children develop a sense of responsibility, accomplishment, and contribution to the family unit.Ready to create your own chore system? Get to work with StickerGenius! Explore our dry-erase products for your project now, or get in touch to customize your own.