How to Get Kids to do Chores (simple motivations)
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Parenting and raising little ones isn’t an easy job. And sometimes motivating them to complete tasks can be challenging. So exactly how to get kids to do chores?
I’m a firm believer in routines and structure. Especially for little ones. It really helps set our day in the right direction.
Around here, it usually goes like this…
Early morning wake-up. Usually between 4 & 5 am. Yes, our children are all early risers. And we’ve experimented with a variety of bed times.
They just like to get up with the rooster. Literally.
From this point, mom and dad stumble out of bed, make coffee and breakfast. Then once said coffee is savored, the rest of our day begins.
This includes morning chore time with all the kids.
Following our morning chore tasks, we roll into the day and start our homeschool lessons. Having this routine has been really beneficial for keeping our children motivated.
How to Get Kids to do Chores
I’m just going to stop and say that we aren’t perfect. And our children do have some times where they drag their feet before completing a task.
I’ve discovered a few things that have helped us inspire and motivate the little ones to completing their chores.
Since this was a recent question from a reader, I decided to share what works for our family.
Because it is totally possible to motivate young children to do their chores. And ours actually enjoy them.
Set Expectations
Setting expectations is crucial. Just like when I take my children on errands, I set expectations. They learn what our plans are for the day.
When they learn exactly what the plans are, they understand what is expected of them. And this eliminates anyone getting upset or having a tantrum in the grocery store.
Same thing goes for our daily chores and routines. When I set expectations for my children, there is less resistance.
Eliminate Distractions
Eliminating electronics was probably one of the best decisions we ever made. There are so many benefits we’ve experienced when we got rid of the TV.
Related: What it’s Really Like Without TV.
Find what works best for your family. Whether it is eliminating TV or other electronics completely. Or maybe some other distraction that would keep your kids motivated from doing their chores.
We’ve had huge success with doing this in our home.
Expose Children to Chores as Much as Possible
What works best for our family is to have them exposed to chores from an early age. I include my children in my daily tasks from the moment they are able to.
They learn how to help me sort, fold, and put away laundry. I teach them how to help with kitchen tasks and preparing meals.
Basically, they shadow me each and every day. And with them learning what mom is doing, they feel valued and like they’re making a contribution.
This is how my children learn. And it is exciting to them, it also feels less like chores.
Use Their Own Cleaning Tools
What child doesn’t like to use cleaning supplies just like mom uses? It makes them feel special and is really motivating.
I purchased some basic spray bottles and filled them with just plain water for my children to start learning cleaning tasks right along side me.
When they are older, they use my branch basics cleaning products. These are completely non toxic so I’m not worried about any risks with my children using them.
They also have their own mini brooms, dust pans, and microfiber cloths.
More of our favorite cleaning tools are found here.
Introduce Accountability
Children need to learn to be accountable from an early age. Along with eliminating distractions, we provide consequences when necessary.
Our children aren’t paid for completing their chores because it is set as a standard for each family member. And it is part of our roles & responsibilities in the home.
Each member is encouraged to fulfill their responsibilities.
Some people I know use chore charts and reward systems.
We haven’t had success with chore charts. Mostly because we just work on tasks together most of the time. Find what works best for you and your family!
