Task chart systems can be quite easy. In this article, I’ll give you some pointers on effective chore charts to use to teach kids important adult life skills and build self-confidence.

My children have been doing homework since they were little. At that time they worked together with mom folding clothes and picking up. Then we move on to new jobs, like arranging cutlery and dusting furniture. As they grew older, the tasks changed according to the child’s ability. They had the opportunity to clean the bathroom sinks, empty the trash cans, dust the window frames and vacuum the carpets.

Once they were able to do these tasks, usually at four or five years old, we moved on to a four-year-old chore chart. The four-year chart was simple and predictable, but it also presented new challenges every day. She helped the children learn multiple tasks each week and offered bonding time with older siblings and parents for some homework time.

Example of a four-year-old’s chore chart

• Monday- Laundry and cutlery, Dinner – Help the cook
• Tuesday – Windowsills, Dinner task – Help the cook
• Wednesday: vacuum family room, family yard work assignment, dinner: help cook
• Thursday- Empty trash cans and wash one, Dinner- Help the cook
• Friday- Help mom wash the bathroom floors, Dinner- Help the cook
• Saturday: Fishy Bathroom Sink, Family Yard Work Assignment, Dinner: Help the Cook
• Sunday- Rest day, Dinner – Help the cook
• Say “OK” to all other instructions as well.

At six years old, a chore chart, while still very similar to a four-year-old’s chart, requires more independence. And, because they are still quite young, there are still cases where six-year-olds should work alongside their older siblings and parents, allowing for bonding and further skill development.

Example of a six-year-old’s chore chart

• Monday – Laundry and cutlery
• Tuesday – Windowsills
• Wednesday: Vacuum Family Room, Family Yard Work Assignment, Dinner: Cook with Mom
• Thursday- Empty trash cans and wash one
• Friday- Help mom wash the bathroom floors
• Saturday: Fishy Bathroom Sink, Family Yard Work Assignment
• Sunday – A day of rest
• Say “OK” to all other instructions

A rotating system of chore charts could be used for children over the age of eight. The specific chore lists rotate each week from one child to another. The variety of tasks taught and the opportunity they provide each child for skill development and mastery is the primary reason for rotating tasks.

Example of rotating chore lists for two children over the age of 8 (change lists every week)

ROTATING TO-DO LIST #1 (sits in the front seat of the car)

• Monday: Cook night and floor, vacuum upstairs, empty trash cans, do laundry
• Tuesday: set the table and dishes, wash the small bathroom, dust the railing
• Wednesday: unload and clear table, wash window and blind, sweep garage porch, family yard work time
• Thursday: Cook the night and the floor, vacuum the stairs, wash the boards from dust
• Friday: Load the dishes and clean the sink, organize a cabinet or drawer, wash the kitchen chairs
• Saturday: Unload and clean up table, dog poop or kitty litter, tidy up toy room (ask mom), yard work

ROTATING TASK LIST #2

• Monday: set the table and dishes, wash the kitchen floor, wash the sheets, do the laundry
• Tuesday: Cook night and floor, wash entryway tiles, wash cabinet fronts,
• Wednesday: Load and clean sink, Vacuum basement, wash toy room floor, family yard work time
• Thursday: set table and dishes, wash basement bathroom, clean upstairs
• Friday: unload/clean table, clean main bathroom, clean mirrors and glass
• Saturday: Set the table and load up, dog poop or kitty litter, stove/sink/microwave, yard work assignment

The Stewardship System

I first heard about a management system from my good friend Diann Jeppson, who is a homeschooling and leadership guru. But, even though I had heard of a stewardship approach to doing chores, I didn’t feel like my kids were really ready for it yet. I knew that teaching certain skills would be the first step, then would come ownership of the tasks that needed to be done. A stewardship gives a child a deeper understanding of actions, as well as an appreciation for others who take action on her behalf.

Stewardships are necessary to teach someone leadership or self-government. To learn self-governance, a person must have a vision of what is possible and what must be done to solve a problem, as well as the skills to carry out the project. Stewardship assignments are the perfect mini-projects to develop these problem-solving skills and strategies. They are a vital component for healthy, motivated and self-confident children and adults.

The people who are regularly given stewardship from a young age are often the people who become great leaders. I recently made the switch to a stewardship task system because I want my children to have leadership opportunities.

How to Design Your Task Management System

For older children who have mastered basic household cleaning, the house can be divided into sections, then list in detail each small job that needs to be done daily and weekly in that section of your home (lists can be quite long, just think of everything you do in a week to keep a part of the house clean, and write it all down). Once the older children are taught how to properly perform cleaning tasks that are new to them in their assigned section, they are put in charge of one section. That means they make sure their assigned area chores are done daily or weekly depending on the mini tasks needed to keep it clean. (Making sure your stewardship is taken care of is a topic for another article, just know that it’s possible.) Stewards can be rotated as seems appropriate, weekly, monthly, even yearly if that makes sense to you.

In short, children who are taught how to do household chores correctly and, over time, given more responsibility to contribute to the family through their efforts, gain self-confidence, family ties increase and they learn valuable problem-solving and leadership skills. The keys are (1) to have a system that everyone understands, one that is tailored to the age and ability of the children, and (2) to train/teach the children in the skills they need to master to successfully complete their tasks.