This post’s printable template is brought to you by my kids’ inability to stay focused on their daily routines in the face of, well, anything. How many times must I repeat the same questions about clean teeth and pajama locations before it becomes a habit without need for a nagging parent? Well, I’m afraid I will never find that answer, but I will settle on a nearer-term goal instead: accountability.
During one of my nightly Pinterest scroll sessions, I came across several project ideas for helping kids remember their chores. Some were super-detailed magnet boards, some were simple lists with clothespins that moved when tasks were completed, and others were everywhere in between. Regardless, the “pinner” ideas were inspiring for my gradually worsening attempts to corral my young kids into some sense of order morning and night. All that in mind, I came up with a simple cutout concept with pockets to put little game-type pieces into whenever a chore was done.
My kids love to count down days to special events and visit their garden to check in on every fledgling seed for growth status, so I took a gamble that being able to move a little cutout icon into a pocket when they finished a chore would help improve their memories immensely. It might even be fun! Behind the scenes, they certainly had very strong opinions about what they wanted their personal charts to look like, so there was some built-in excitement to boot!
Included in this free printable PDF file are four themed charts, one blank chart, four sets of themed icons, and two sets of chore labels (one color, one for DIY coloring). The rainbows, dinosaur, and space charts are pretty self-explanatory; however, the raindrop one was chosen by my second eldest as a “meditation” concept. She’s very into nature sounds and listens to nature music playlists when going to sleep or sketching in her art pad.
While the themes I included were based on my kids’ tastes, the concept should be pretty flexible outside of what’s in this printable. Any small clip art should be suitable for the pocket pieces, and the blank chart can either be cut out and taped to a scrapbooking page or designed and colored as-is.
Chore Chart Construction Guide
1) Cut out the chore labels, the little clip art drawings that match the chart theme you’re using, and a 1.5″ x 6″ rectangle from some extra paper. (Any paper will do, cardstock is best).
2) Tape the bottom and sides of the chore labels where you want them on the designated spaces on the chart. (Note: Make sure you only tape the bottom and sides so that it makes a little pocket where the clipart tokens can slide inside.)
3) Tape the rectangle bottom and sides on the bottom of the chore chart. The rectangle serves to hold the little clipart tokens when not being used. (Note: Again, make sure you only tape the bottom and sides so a little pocket is made with the rectangle.)
There is a short video at the bottom of this page that serves as a guide for how they come together and are used. Hopefully everything is easy peasy!
If you use these charts for your kids’ chores, I’d love to hear how they work out for you! As always, thanks for reading!
– Daysha
