Printable Chore Chart and Games

If you follow over on my Instagram then you know this printable chore chart has been in the works for a looooong time. So long. Today I’m finally sitting down to tell you all about how to use them and to show you all the awesome graphics and charts that come in the printable file.

I have needed a chore chart for my kids for a few years now, but couldn’t find the perfect one for it. All the ones I looked at either didn’t have icons for all the chores I needed or they cost way too much. I finally buckled down and decided to make one. All of my kids are young, so we needed pictures for everything. There are 36 different icons included in the printable with four different charts (each available in a variety of colors), so I’m confident, it can work for your family too.

Weekly Chore Chart for the Family Economy

I have been listening to a few parenting books and came across The Entitlement Trap by Richard and Linda Eyre. It teaches all about raising kids to work hard and learn the skill of delayed gratification. Saving for things they want instead of going into debt to have them right now. Taking ownership of their choices so that they will choose things in life that will help build them up and succeed.

In the book they teach the family economy. It is a way for kids to earn money so that they can buy their own toys and “wants”. Mom and dad don’t buy any, except for birthdays or holidays. As the kids get older, they start paying for half of their clothes and then eventually all of them. During weekly pay day, they set aside a percentage of money for charity, savings (college) and money to spend now for things they want. By the time your kids leave the nest, they have a college fund they have saved for, and will hopefully make them value their education more, and they have learned to work for things they want, and not go into debt because they know how to manage finances.

We started the family economy and use the chart above to track it. This weekly chore chart can totally be used even if you aren’t doing the family economy. Just have your kids put pictures of things they need to accomplish during each section of the day. Many icons can be used for various things. The computer at our house represents working on their learning program through school that is on the computer. The backpack means to put their backpacks away after they get home, but at your house it could represent doing homework. As they complete each section during the day they get to put an X on the day of the week box below. When all are filled, they earn a reward.

Each child has their own color of chart that is laminated. We use a dry erase marker to check off the boxes. All the job circles are laminated as well and stuck to the chart using adhesive putty so that they can be switched out and moved around as needed.

To Do/ Done Chart

This chart is a very simple way for your child to see which chores need to be done, and for you to see when they are all completed. Start by putting the jobs that need to be finished that day on the “to do” side. Once your kid has completed the task, they can move it over to the “done” side. When the “to do” side is empty, they are done for the day.

For this sample I printed the chart and job circles on magnetic paper. I used my Silhouette to cut around the circles, but you can also use scissors or a circle punch, as the magnetic paper is not very thick. The small cookie sheets are only $1 at Walmart and the dollar store. I’m sure they are available more places for that price as well.

Family Job Wheel

We use this in addition to the weekly chore chart, but it would also work great on its own. Every afternoon my kids have to do two cleaning jobs. They look at the wheel to see which job they need to do. We rotate the wheel weekly and switch out jobs as needed. Yes, I could put their two jobs circles in the afternoon block on their chart, but it’s fun for them to see them on the wheel.

Job Wheel Game

Getting your kids to do chores willingly is probably the hardest job of them all. My kids love this job wheel. I put on the chores that need to be done that day. Everyone takes a turn spinning the wheel to see which job is theirs. You may have your child spin it several times to get a few jobs. If there are chores leftover I will do them, or if I have someone complaining and not working, they get an extra job. That is pretty good motivator to get that kid moving and completing their chores quickly.

The next few chore games look a little more exciting to kids without the “official” chore charts. We mix these up to keep things new and fun for when it’s time to work. Sometimes we use the job wheels, other times we use the dice, popsicle sticks, etc. to get our afternoon housework done.

Job Dice

The job dice are one of our favorites and they are so easy to make. I printed the chore circles onto sticker paper. Then I just cut them out using my silhouette. Scissors and a circle punch would work great too. Once they are cut out, just peel off the back and stick them on the wood blocks.

Each of my blocks are a different room/zone in the house. We have dice for our bathroom, bedroom (great for kids that share rooms), living room, kitchen and outdoors. When I need bathrooms cleaned, they all take a turn rolling the bathroom dice to see what they need to clean in the bathroom. If you have older kids, you could put one sticker on that represents each room and have the whole house done quickly. With my young kids, we break up each room into smaller tasks to make it more manageable. 

Chore Sticks

Cut and laminate all the job circles. Glue or tape them to craft sticks and stick them in a jar. Each child takes a turn drawing out a job, or two or three, for them to complete. Easy peasy.

Chore Chart Reward Clips

This is one is so simple and is visually very appealing. Look at that money just hanging from those clips. You know you want it. All you have to do to get it is complete the chore that is attached. You can hang these clips along a string, attach a magnet to the back and put them on your fridge or even glue them to a special chore board you hang on the wall. Clip money, coupons for screen time and other privileges, or photos of a toy they’ll earn when they finish the job. Seeing the prize right there for the taking is very motivating.

Photo Chore Clips

Hang a photo of all your kids on the wall. Clip the chores they need to finish on their photo and you’re done. It’s that simple.

You can also use these as an incentive chart to learn new skills, such as potty training. Print out several toilet circles (or you could use the heart and star) and put them on clips. Every time your child goes potty in the toilet they get to put a clip on their picture. When they get 10 clips (or whichever number you decide) they earn a reward.

This can work with other behaviors as well, like making their bed every day for a week, or practicing music lessons without complaining, etc.

There are so many different ways to use the printable chore chart. I’m sure just seeing some of the ways I have shared has sparked some ideas of ways you can implement it in your own home in a way that works for your family. I’m so excited for all you mamas to put your kids to work and get your clean house back. Haha! Good luck out there!