Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice. I’ve been trying to motivate my kids to do chores and homework, but I don’t want to always rely on giving them toys or treats as rewards. Does anyone have any good strategies for encouraging kids without using material things? I’ve tried praise, but it doesn’t always seem to work. Any ideas would be really helpful!
In our house, we’ve found that giving the kids some control over their tasks works well. They get to choose which chores they want to do from a list, and decide when to do them (within reason). It’s not perfect, but it’s helped a lot.
We also started a ‘responsibility chart’ where they put stickers for completed tasks. No prizes, just the satisfaction of seeing their progress. It’s been cool watching them get excited about filling up their charts.
For homework, we try to make it part of a nice after-school routine. They have a snack, do some homework, then get to play. The routine itself seems to motivate them more than any reward we could offer.
We use a point system for chores and homework. Points add up for extra screen time or a later bedtime on weekends. No toys or treats involved.
Our kids seem to like having some control over their rewards. It’s working okay so far.
I’ve been trying to figure this out too with my 5-year-old. Right now, we’re doing a sticker chart for putting away toys and setting the table. It works sometimes, but other days it’s a struggle.
I like the idea of giving choices. Maybe I could let my kid pick between two chores? Or decide when to do them during the day?
What age did your kids start doing chores regularly? Did you find they needed reminders all the time at first?
I’m curious about the responsibility chart with just stickers and no prizes. Did your kids lose interest after a while? Or did they stay motivated by seeing their progress?
I’ve been experimenting with turning chores into games lately. My 11-year-old loves challenges, so we set up a ‘beat the clock’ system for tidying up. It’s not a perfect solution, but it definitely makes things more fun. We also try a ‘chore roulette’ where tasks are randomly assigned. Sometimes it works great, other times not so much. Still figuring it out, but at least the concept of chores isn’t such a drag anymore.
Hey Sarah, I remember those days! My kids started with simple chores around 5 or 6. It took a while, but they got into the routine.
Giving choices worked well for us. I’d ask, “Do you want to help set the table or put away your toys?” It made them feel more in control.
We tried sticker charts too. They were excited at first, but interest faded after a few weeks. What helped was connecting chores to daily life. Like, “Once the toys are picked up, we can play a game together.”
Reminders were constant at the beginning. I felt like a broken record! But I kept at it, and eventually, they started remembering on their own. It takes time, but hang in there. Before you know it, they’ll be doing chores without you even asking! 