5 Charts for Chores and Tasks

My husband has commented on the number of charts, lists, and reminders I have around the house. That’s just how my mind works! When I write things down in an organized way, my mind feels less cluttered, and I need that!

It’s good for the kids, too. It helps them to visualize that they have responsibilities, and it reminds them, and me, that they should get those things done.

Today I’m sharing 5 kinds of charts that I’ve used to help me write things down to help me help my kids get their jobs done.

Chart 1 – Stick ’em to it

My favorite chore chart for our big family has been a grid of all our kids and the chores that need done Monday through Saturday. The thing about this chart is that the names of the kids are stuck on with mounting putty so every week we can move their names and give them some fresh jobs to do. This has been my way of helping them all take responsibity for the whole house and making sure they learn all the jobs that need to be done here. There’s a picture of it above.

Chart 2 – Rotate the work

Also pictured above is my chart for lunch cleanup on school days. Because I just have my 5 younger ones at home then, I have myself and them on a wheel held in place by a brad. On the carboard behind it I have 6 chores that need done after lunch. I know it’s not very beautiful, and the pencil is kind of hard to see against the cardboard, but it serves its purpose. These first 2 charts were both pictured on my post “Kids and a Clean House – Almost.”

Chart 3 – Make a list, check it twice

This is the list of tasks I ask my kids to do to get ready in the morning. It’s been laminated so we can write on it with a dry erase marker. I have other similar lists in dry erase pockets. It’s really nice when you can have the reminder, check it off when it’s done, and use it again and again.

Chart 4 – Put it in a Pocket

This chart is made by gluing or taping a single strip of paper down in a way that makes little pockets. I like this chart to help me keep track of baths/showers. With everything there is to think about, sometimes I forget when which kid had a bath. At this point only our 3 youngest need help remembering and taking baths, but sometimes I’ve had 5 kids on this kind of chart at a time. We keep it next to the bathroom, and when they get their bath we move the paper stick with their name on it to the pocket that matches the current day. Then I can forget about it till I see it again.

Chart 5 – Slide the Bead

This last chart is for tasks that need to be done in a certain order. This time it’s a reminder to drink enough water each day. To make the chart, draw and write as needed to order the steps across the page. Once you have it drawn out, cut a piece of yarn and put a bead on it. Then tape the yarn at each end of your chart, so your bead can slide back and forth as you complete tasks and then start them over again another day.

Feel free to get creative with these ideas. Make your charts prettier than mine if you like. 😆 Use them for things like music practice and homework and eating vegetables and whatever tasks you feel like you and your kids need reminders for.

Do my charts work perfectly? No, because we’re all humans and we don’t always remember to use them. But they help a lot. I hope they will also be helpful for you and your little humans.

Thanks for reading my post. Happy Parenting!