How to Motivate Your Kids to Do Their Chores

It’s not always easy to get your kids to do chores. However, it’s important that they do them so that they can learn responsibility and how to keep a household clean. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can get kids to help out around the house without having to nag them. Here are some ways to motivate your kids to do their chores.

Set A Time Limit

No kid wants to feel like they are having to do chores all day. This is why you need to set a time limit for how long your kids do chores. For example, have them work for 20 minutes picking up a room or putting away the laundry. When this time is up, then they can move on to the next task. You may be surprised to find just how much your children can get accomplished in a short amount of time.

Use Chore Lists

Children respond well to seeing their names and their responsibilities listed on a chore chart where they can easily see and check off their chores. They take pride in completing and taking on more difficult chores as they get older. Take advantage of their enthusiasm when they are young so that they can develop good habits as they become older and more able to do more things.

Rotate Them

Your kids may not be doing chores because they are bored. If they are responsible for the same things each week, it’s difficult to stay motivated. This is why you need to rotate their chores. It’s also a great way to discover which chores they like and which ones they excel at.

Give Them Praise

Your kids might not be doing their chores because you aren’t praising them enough. Many children thrive on praise. They want to please you, and they will do their chores if you tell them that they are doing a good job. Don’t just assume that your kids know that you are happy about them completing their chores. Tell them you are on a daily basis.

Offer Incentives

Pretty much all kids love incentives. You can use this to your advantage when it comes to chores. Offer them incentives on a consistent basis. If your child likes awards, visit Trophy Outlet to get them a trophy or some kind of prize. If your child is motivated by experiences, take them to see a movie or visit a zoo after they’ve completed their chores for a specified amount of time without you having to prompt them to do so. Use incentives sparingly because they need to learn that not everything has an incentive tied to it. The sooner kids get into the habit of contributing to the family unit by participating in chores, the happier everyone will be.

There are numerous ways that you can motivate your kids to do their chores. By utilizing some of the tips mentioned above, chores will no longer be a battle. They will become something that both you and your children can be proud of.

By Emma Sturgis

Emma is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2