My kids have been pretty good about doing their chores lately, and I want to keep that momentum going. I’ve been giving them a small allowance, but I’m wondering if there are other effective ways to reward them that might work better. What do you all do? Looking for some fresh ideas that don’t always involve money or treats. Thanks!
I’ve found turning chores into a game works well with my kid. We use a spinning wheel to pick tasks, and there’s a mystery prize hidden under each one. Sometimes it’s small, like choosing dessert, other times it’s bigger, like a trip to the park.
It keeps things unpredictable and exciting. My child actually looks forward to chore time now. Of course, some days are better than others, but overall it’s made a big difference in our household routine.
In our house, we’ve found that a mix of small rewards and praise works well. Our kids have a chore chart, and when they finish tasks, they get to put a sticker on it.
At the end of the week, if they’ve done most of their chores, they earn some extra playtime or a special activity with us. It could be baking cookies together or going to the park.
We also make sure to notice when they do chores without being asked. A simple ‘Wow, you cleaned up your room all by yourself!’ goes a long way.
It’s not perfect every day, but overall it’s helped make chores feel more positive. The kids seem proud when they see their chart filling up with stickers.
I’ve been through the chore struggle with my kids, and we’ve tried a bunch of different reward systems over the years. One thing that worked well was a ‘chore menu’ where they could choose tasks from different categories. Each task had a point value, and they could save up points for bigger rewards they really wanted.
We kept a list of reward options on the fridge, ranging from small things like picking the movie for family night to bigger stuff like a new video game. This gave them some control and motivation to work towards goals they cared about.
Sometimes we’d throw in surprise bonuses for completing all their chores without reminders. It could be something simple like getting to stay up an extra 30 minutes on a weekend. The key was mixing it up to keep things interesting. 
Every kid is different though, so it might take some trial and error to find what clicks for yours.
We use a point system. Kids earn points for chores, which they can trade for screen time or small privileges.
It’s simple to track and they like choosing their rewards. Keeps things interesting without constant treats or money.
I’ve been trying different things with my 5-year-old. We made a sticker chart for basic tasks like putting toys away. It worked for a bit, but the novelty wore off.
Now we’re experimenting with a ‘special time’ reward. After finishing chores, we do a fun activity together for 10 minutes. It’s hit or miss though.
I’m curious about your point system. How do you decide what each chore is worth? And do your kids ever lose interest in earning points?