Hey everyone! I’m struggling to get my kids to pitch in around the house. I don’t want to pay them for every little thing, but I’m running out of ideas. Has anyone found good ways to make chores fun or get kids excited about helping out? Maybe some kind of reward system that doesn’t involve cash? Or games that make cleaning less boring? I’d love to hear what’s worked for other parents. Thanks in advance for any tips!
We’ve had some success with a ‘chore jar’ system. My kid writes fun activities on slips of paper and puts them in a jar. After finishing a chore, they get to pick an activity. It’s not a perfect solution, but it adds an element of surprise that keeps things interesting.
I’ve also found that doing chores together as a family helps. We put on music and tackle tasks as a team. It’s not always smooth sailing, but it’s gradually becoming more of a routine for us.
I remember those days! Getting my kids to help around the house was a real challenge. One thing that worked well for us was creating a points system. They’d earn points for different chores, and could trade them in for privileges like extra TV time or choosing the weekend activity.
We also turned cleaning into a game sometimes. We’d set a timer and see who could pick up the most toys in 5 minutes. Or we’d play ‘beat the song’ - trying to finish a task before a favorite song ended. It made things more fun and less of a chore.
Another trick was letting them choose their tasks from a list. It gave them a sense of control, and they were more likely to do chores they picked themselves. It took time, but eventually helping out became more of a habit. Hang in there! 
I’m curious about how others handle this too. My 5-year-old is just starting to help around the house. We’ve tried making a game of picking up toys - like racing to see who can collect the most in a minute. It works sometimes, but other days it’s a struggle.
I wonder if anyone has found ways to make chores feel more like a natural part of the day? Or how to keep kids motivated when the novelty wears off?
Right now, we use a sticker chart for completed tasks. But I’m not sure if that’s teaching the right lesson long-term. How did you move beyond immediate rewards?
In our home, we’ve found success with a simple star chart for chores. The kids get excited about earning stars and seeing their progress. At the end of the week, we celebrate their efforts with a special family activity they choose.
We also try to make chores feel more like teamwork. Sometimes we all pitch in together to tidy up while listening to fun music. Other times, we take turns picking tasks from a list.
I’ve noticed my older one likes feeling responsible for teaching the younger one how to do things. It’s sweet to watch them work together.
It’s not perfect every day, but over time they’ve started to see helping out as just part of being in the family. Patience and consistency seem to be key!
My kids started getting more involved when we made a chart listing their responsibilities. They liked checking off tasks. We also do quick 10-minute family cleanups before fun activities. It’s become part of our routine now.