My Take: Chores + Allowance

My hot take on parenting is, keep it simple.

There are a few basic everyday chores that I expect my kids to do as part of their “daily routines”. Some of them have been much easier to engrain in their heads than others.

Insert the allowance tracker. For our family this has worked tremendously, especially with my 8 year old. A version of our tracker is attached below, feel free to download and edit for your kiddo. For us, we decided to give each chore/job a value $, but it’s not necessary, especially with the obvious things (brush teeth, make bed, etc.)

Having this tracker has allowed Brock to make some huge progress with his chores. He is a very easily distracted kid so having this in hand, with $ values attached, he can monitor is own progress without having to hear it from me nonstop. He’s proud when things get “checked off”, he enjoys being in charge of how much $ he can make each week, and it’s all up to him.

Another amazing bonus of the allowance tracker… at the end of every week he has to total everything up into one giant, complex, math problem! We usually give him a $20 so he has to practice working with money, he loves it.

Chores for Children Ages 2 to 3

• Put toys away

• Fill pet’s food dish

• Put clothes in the hamper

• Wipe up spills

• Dust

• Pile books and magazines

Chores for Children Ages 4 to 5

Any of the above chores, plus:

• Make their bed

• Empty wastebaskets

• Bring in mail or newspaper

• Clear table

• Pull weeds, if you have a garden

• Use hand-held vacuum to pick up crumbs

• Water flowers

• Unload utensils from dishwasher

• Wash plastic dishes at sink

• Fix bowl of cereal

Chores for Children Ages 6 to 7

Any of the above chores, plus:

• Sort laundry

• Sweep floors

• Set and clear table

• Help make and pack lunch

• Weed and rake leaves

• Keep bedroom tidy

Chores for Children Ages 8 to 9

Any of the above chores, plus:

• Load dishwasher

• Put away groceries

• Vacuum

• Help make dinner

• Make own snacks

• Wash table after meals

• Make own breakfast

• Peel vegetables

• Cook simple foods, such as toast

• Mop floor

• Take pet for a walk

Chores for Children Ages 10 and Older

Any of the above chores, plus:

• Unload dishwasher

• Fold laundry

• Clean bathroom

• Wash windows

• Wash car

• Cook simple meals with supervision

• Iron clothes

• Do laundry

• Baby-sit younger siblings (with an adult in the home)

• Clean kitchen

• Change their bed sheets

The Allowance Tracker (SCHOOL YEAR)

The Allowance Tracker (SUMMER)