I’m trying to set up a system to motivate my kids to do their chores, but I’m not sure what kind of rewards would work best. Anyone have ideas for good rewards that would be appropriate for different ages? Looking for suggestions that won’t break the bank but will still be exciting for the kids. Thanks!
Screen time worked well. 30 minutes for basic chores and an hour for bigger tasks. My older kid prefers choosing weekend activities, while my younger one likes small toys or treats. We adjust as needed.
We’ve tried different reward ideas as our kids have grown. For our 7-year-old, a simple chart with smiley face stickers works great. She loves seeing them add up!
Our 10-year-old enjoys earning ‘tokens’ he can trade in for small prizes or privileges. It’s fun to watch him decide what to save up for.
Both kids get really excited about family movie nights or outings as rewards too. We’ll do a picnic in the park or visit a favorite ice cream shop.
The most important part has been keeping it positive and celebrating their efforts. Even if they don’t finish everything, we always find something to praise. It’s made chores feel more like teamwork than a chore!
I’ve been wondering about this too for my 5-year-old. Right now, we use a sticker chart for simple tasks like putting toys away or helping set the table. When she fills the chart, she gets to pick a small toy or book.
But I’m not sure if this is the best way. Sometimes she only wants to do chores for the reward. How do you balance teaching responsibility with keeping it fun? And what about as they get older? Will stickers still work or do I need to change it up?
What’s worked well for your kids as they’ve grown? Any ideas for rewards that teach good habits too?
In our house, we’ve had some success with a point system for chores. My 11-year-old earns points for each task completed, which can be redeemed for various rewards. Some favorites are choosing a weekend activity, extra allowance, or staying up late on a Friday night. We also do ‘surprise rewards’ sometimes, like an impromptu ice cream trip after a particularly productive day. It keeps things interesting and my kid seems to enjoy the element of surprise.
I remember when my kids were younger, finding the right rewards was tricky. What worked for us changed as they grew up. For my younger one, around 8-10, simple things like stickers or small treats were exciting. As they hit the tween years, we switched to things like extra screen time or choosing dinner once a week.
Now that they’re teenagers, money talks 
We give them a small allowance for basic chores, and they can earn more for extra tasks. It’s teaching them about budgeting too. Sometimes, non-monetary rewards work well, like letting them have a friend sleepover or picking the movie for family night.
The key was finding what mattered to each kid. My daughter loved art supplies, while my son was all about video game time. It took some trial and error, but we found a balance that didn’t cost too much and kept them motivated.