How to get your kids to want to do chores

by Aimee Heckel · December 30, 2013

Kids love star stickers. They will do almost anything for a star sticker.

By Aimee Heckel

Sometimes, the hardest part about giving your kids’ chores is having to nag them and remind them to do the chores.

Yes. It is almost always easier — and quicker — to do the chores yourself.

But that’s not the point. According to the Center for Parenting Education, children who have chores have a higher self-esteem, are more responsible, can better handle frustration and (one of the keys to a happy life — and success in school) they understand how to delay gratification. They learn good judgment and awareness of other people’s needs.

Don’t delay; one study found that the “best predictor” of a young adults’ success in their mid-20s was whether or not they helped around the house at age 3 or 4.

Here are some ways to get your kids to want to do chores, starting at an early age:

1. Keep it fun. The best way to do this is to model it. Everyone in the house should have their own chores and enjoy doing them.

2. Provide a reward. After all, chores are their “job” right now. If you don’t want to give an allowance, the completion of chores could instead lead to privileges (like the right to have friends over).

3. Create structure and routine. Empoweringparents.com recommends setting aside a specific time every day to do chores, whether in the evening or morning, and sticking with it.

4. Hang a chore chart on the fridge where everyone can see it. Pick up this dry erase chore chart at Target and award your kids stars when they complete their tasks. This Board Dudes chart is $7.99 at Target, but you can save money using these Target coupons, paired with 2 percent Cash Back from ShopAtHome.com.