I’ve been trying to get my kids more involved in household chores, but it’s been a struggle. They often complain or do a half-hearted job. I want them to learn responsibility and be more independent, but I’m not sure how to make it a positive experience. Has anyone found good ways to encourage kids to pitch in with family tasks without constant nagging? Looking for ideas that actually work in real life, not just in parenting books. Thanks!
We started with a simple system at our house. My kid gets to pick three chores each week from a list we made together. It’s not perfect, but it’s working pretty well so far.
I noticed my son was more excited about tasks he chose himself. He even came up with the idea to time himself doing dishes and try to beat his record. Now he sees it as a personal challenge.
Sometimes we team up on bigger jobs like cleaning the garage. Working side by side and chatting makes it less of a chore for both of us. Plus, he’s learning how to tackle larger projects step by step.
It’s still a work in progress, but giving him some control has made a big difference in his attitude.
I’ve been there, and it’s not easy! What worked for us was starting small and building up. We began with simple tasks like setting the table or feeding the dog. As they got the hang of it, we added more responsibilities.
One thing that really helped was letting them choose some chores. My daughter preferred doing laundry while my son enjoyed yard work. That gave them a sense of ownership.
We also tied chores to privileges they cared about. For example, they needed to finish their tasks before getting screen time. It took time, but eventually it became part of their routine.
Every kid is different. What worked for mine might not work for yours. Staying patient and continually trying different approaches made a difference. 
We use a simple app to track chores. The kids pick tasks from a list we made together. They get points for completing them, which they can trade for small rewards or privileges.
My 12-year-old likes the competitive aspect. He tries to beat his sister’s point total each week. The 9-year-old enjoys choosing her tasks. She feels more in control that way.
If they skip chores, they lose screen time. It’s straightforward and works well for us. The key was finding a system that fit our family’s needs without too much fuss.
I get where you’re coming from. We had similar struggles with our kids. What helped us was making a game out of it. We started a ‘chore challenge’ where they got points for each task. They could cash in those points for little rewards like picking our weekend activity or getting an extra 30 minutes of screen time.
My 10-year-old really got into it. She even started coming up with her own tasks to earn more points. It was great to see her taking initiative.
For our 7-year-old, we found that working together made a big difference. He enjoys when we team up to fold laundry or clean the living room. We chat and sometimes race to see who can finish first.
It’s not perfect, but it’s made chores less of a battle in our house. The kids are learning to pitch in without us always having to ask.
I’ve been trying different ways to get my child who is 5 involved with chores. Some days she loves helping, other days it’s a struggle. One thing that’s worked pretty well is letting her choose a task from a list we made together. She really likes putting away groceries and helping fold small items like socks.
I’m curious how other parents handle it when their child refuses to do a chore. Do you let it slide sometimes or always insist? I worry about being too strict but really want her to learn responsibility. What works best for you?