Hey everyone, I’m struggling to get my kids to do their chores without constant nagging. Any ideas for ways to motivate them that actually work? I’ve tried sticker charts and small rewards, but the novelty wears off pretty quick. Looking for some fresh ideas that might keep them engaged longer-term. What’s worked for you?
We use a job board at home. Kids pick tasks they want to do each week. They earn money for completed chores. It’s helped teach budgeting and work ethic. Sometimes they’re into it, sometimes not. But it’s reduced the daily battles over chores.
We’ve had some success with a simple points system for chores in our house. The kids earn points for completing tasks, and they can trade them in for small treats or extra screen time.
What’s been great is how it’s grown with them. Our older one now saves up points for bigger rewards, while the younger one still likes the immediate gratification of smaller prizes.
It’s not perfect - there are still days when they’re not into it. But overall, it’s helped make chores feel more like a choice than a chore. They seem to like having control over what they earn.
I think the key has been keeping it flexible and letting them have input on the rewards. It keeps things fresh and interesting for them.
I remember when my kids were younger, we tried all sorts of things to make chores happen. What worked best for us was a mix of different approaches. We had a chore wheel that we spun each week, so the jobs were always changing. It kept things interesting and stopped the “but I always have to do that” complaints.
As they got older, we tied chores to their allowance. It wasn’t a lot of money, but it helped them understand the connection between work and reward. Sometimes they’d skip chores and lose out on allowance, but that was their choice.
One thing that really helped was letting them have a say in when they did their chores. As long as they were done by a certain time, they could choose when to do them. It cut down on the nagging and gave them some control. 
Every kid is different though. What worked for mine might not work for yours. The important thing is to keep trying until you find what clicks for your family.
In our house, we’ve turned chores into a silly game show. I’m the goofy host, and my kid is the contestant. We spin a wheel to pick the chore, then race against a timer to complete it. There are even silly sound effects and a victory dance at the end.
It’s not foolproof, but it does make cleanup time more fun. My kid actually looks forward to it some days. We’re still working on consistency, but I’ve noticed less resistance overall.
I’m curious how other parents keep the momentum going long-term. Do your kids ever take initiative with chores on their own?
I’ve been trying different things with my 5-year-old to make chores more engaging. Recently, we started a ‘chore race’ where we set a timer and see who can finish their tasks first. It’s been pretty fun, and my kid gets excited about beating me.
But I’m curious about long-term motivation. Do your kids ever just do chores without prompting? I worry that making it too game-like might backfire later. What’s worked best for you to keep them interested as they get older?
I’ve heard some parents talk about letting kids choose their own rewards. Has anyone tried that? I’m wondering if it might help them feel more invested in the process.