Chore Charts Don't Work, Here's What Does

The Summer Productivity Hack for Stress-Free Parents! šŸ¹

Author

Lakshmi Jayanthi
June 18, 2024

In partnership with

As a mom of two boys, I know the struggle of keeping the house clean during the summer while trying to keep the kids engaged. But I've discovered a little secret that I just have to share with you. šŸ¤«šŸ’”

First things first, let me give a shout-out to our amazing sponsor, Netflix's Popcorn Brainstorm: Jokes & Trivia for Kids podcast! šŸŽ§šŸŽ‰ My boys absolutely love it, and it's been a total lifesaver during our road trips and at home down time. It's packed with hilarious jokes, brain-teasing trivia, and cool facts about their favorite Netflix shows. Trust me, it's a must-listen! šŸš—šŸ˜„

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Now, let's get down to business. Kids hate chores. Moms (and dads) hate nagging. But the bottom line is, these tasks need to get done! As a more ā€œlaid backā€ mom, I donā€™t have a need for order and perfection, but I would like to not live in squalor, ya know?

So hereā€™s my plan this summer - since many of us have come to the conclusion that chore charts donā€™t work, letā€™s try gamifying these tasks for the entire family.

Think of it like a ā€œfamily teamworkā€ plan. Hereā€™s how it works:

  1. There are daily easy tasks like clearing the counter, picking up toys/paper off the floors, dishes, laundry, etc. Then there are ā€œbigā€ tasks like sorting toys/clothes for donation, fixing broken things, organizing a closet, etc.

  2. Each person is assigned two easy tasks per day. These can rotate, they can swap tasks with each other (without cajoling!). There is one family ā€œbigā€ task assigned per week.

  3. If most tasks have been done happily (without complaining or constant reminders) during the course of a week, then the whole family gets to enjoy a fun activity: a trip to the water park, a sporting event, special desserts and outdoor movie night, whatever we all agree on.

  4. If the tasks donā€™t get done, then no one gets to do the family fun activity ā€” even if only one person didnā€™t pull their weight. These are shared responsibilities, and thatā€™s the ā€œteamworkā€ part of the ā€œfamily teamworkā€ plan.

Check out my "Family Tasks" Chart and let me know if this may help your summer routine! šŸ—ŗļøāœØ Get the editable version here

Family Earn Your adventure chart.png279.21 KB ā€¢ PNG File

To access the editable version, click here. Please make a copy first and edit as needed! šŸ˜‰

And when the cleaning is done, round up the fam, grab some popcorn, and dive into Popcorn Brainstorm for a brain-busting, laughter-filled good time that keeps the fun rolling long after the mops and brooms are put away. šŸ§½šŸŽ§