Better Late Than Never: Let's Talk About Chore Charts

Hey there! Beth here, from the Cabell County FRN. I missed posting a blog last month—but better late than never, right?

This month, I want to talk about chore charts for kids (or even adults!). Chore charts are a great way to introduce your children to basic life skills early on. I started using them with my own two boys a couple of months ago. For background, they’re 3 and 5 years old.
When we, as adults, think of chores, we usually think about dusting, vacuuming, doing the dishes, laundry—you name it. The list goes on, and let’s be honest, it’s a never-ending cycle! But for kids, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. In fact, it shouldn’t be.

My kids’ chore charts focus on the most basic life skills—things like:

• Take dishes to the sink
• Put dirty clothes in the hamper
• Brush teeth
• Put clean clothes away (not fold or wash—just put away!)
• Clean up toys in the living room
• Feed the dogs
• “Extra” – they get a bonus star when they do something without being asked

My 3-year-old is still a little young to grasp the concept of money, but my 5-year-old is definitely catching on. Full transparency—he asked for a new Nintendo Switch game a few months ago, and that’s when I decided to start these charts.

After the first month, we talked about how much each star should be worth. Together, we decided on $0.50 per star. But this part is totally up to you! The reward doesn’t have to be money—it could be extra screen time, a small toy, a trip to the park, or anything else that works for your family and budget.

Switch games aren’t cheap—the one he wanted was $60. He worked hard for two full months before he finally earned it. And now, he understands that if he wants something that isn’t a basic need, he has to work for it and save up.

He’s also started doing some chores without being asked—which is HUGE.

While this method may not be right for every family, I wanted to share how we’ve been introducing basic life skills at our house. As my kids grow, their chore charts will grow with them, adding more age-appropriate responsibilities over time.

P.S. — Chore Charts Aren’t Just for Kids!

While chore charts are a great tool for teaching children responsibility, they can also be helpful for adults. If you find yourself struggling to stay on top of household tasks or just like having a visual reminder, don’t be afraid to make one for yourself! Breaking down chores into small, trackable steps can make everything feel more manageable—and let’s be honest, crossing things off a list is pretty satisfying at any age.

If this sounds like something you’d like to try but aren’t sure where to start, feel free to reach out! I’m always happy to help brainstorm and answer questions.

Here is a printable 4-week chore chart for your convenience if you wanted to go ahead and get started!
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Until next time!