Giving your child household chores at a young age is one of the best things that you can do for them. It instills good work ethic and builds a sense of responsibility that will stay with them for their whole life! Check out these two free printable chore charts for 8 year old’s below, and read further to find out some great tips for implementing this into your daily routine.
These printable chore charts are not only a perfect solution for little ones but also older kids as well!
What are the benefits of giving your child household responsibilities at a young age?
Boost their confidence and self-esteem
Involving younger kids in your household cleaning operation will not only help them feel a part of the team, but also gives them insight on how the house is actually run. This is such an important skill to learn and will go with them as they grow up and eventually move out on their own!
A great way to encourage them to help out with daily tasks
Use this chore chart system to involve your young children to start helping out with the daily (sometimes mundane!) tasks that keep your household going. Sometimes as a mom, it gets overwhelming real quick at how many different things need to be done throughout the day.
Walk the dog, do laundry, clean up the dried play-doh on the table from last night, clean up the spilled juice in the fridge, etc etc etc 😉
Have your child help out with some of the easier tasks that need to get done to help save your sanity, mama. It is good for their character and good for your soul to have some breathing room – just all around a win-win situation!
Sense of accomplishment
By having a clear set of responsibilities to complete on a daily basis, your child will soon realize how good it feels to be productive in this way and have an important part in the household systematics.
Setting clear expectations
Having clear expectations on what your child needs to complete for the day will set them up for success so that there is no doubt or confusion when it comes to ‘who does what’ in the house.
Prepare them for the ‘real world’ and develop good habits early on
Giving your child some household duties at an early age will help them so much and stay with them for a lifetime! The earlier that good habits are established, the easier they are to maintain and will just become a part of them as your child grows up.
This is a perfect time to talk with your child about how keeping up with these good habits can play a huge role in mental health. Helps lower stress levels, a more relaxing environment, makes your home a more joyful place to be, etc.
Encourage these open conversations with your child so that they can recognize the importance of keeping a tidy home.
Best way to introduce chores to children (and it not be like pulling teeth!)
Giving your child a list of chores can seem daunting, especially if they are unfamiliar with household tasks. But it doesn’t have to be scary or intimidating!
Start small
Before diving head first into the world of responsibility (because ew, who REALLY wants responsibility right?! 😉 ), start small and test the waters for a few days with a few tasks. You don’t want to overwhelm your child because then they will quickly put the brakes on and may shut down on you before you’re able to get any traction for a routine to be put in place.
Give simple tasks at first
Things that we do everyday without thinking may be overwhelming to little kids if they’re not used to doing them, so make sure to give easy, specific tasks when first starting the chore routine.
Ask them to do simple tasks like clearing the table after dinner, taking the trash out, or starting a load of laundry… Shoutout to the kids like my son who is OBSESSED with helping with laundry. If I could just get him as excited to pick up his toys as he gets when pouring the laundry soap into the machine, that would be GREAT. 😉
Get the entire family involved
Start a daily routine that involves everyone in the family getting involved. Try to do this at specific times of the day to make it easier to stick to and give a clear expectation for your child. This can look like different things for different families such as:
- If everyone gets up in the morning at the same time, have each member of the family spend some time first thing making their bed.
- After each meal have one child clear the dishes while another washes, and another puts away, etc.
- Each member of the family is responsible for one animal in the family (works best if you live on a farm and have multiple animals to care for).
- Do a nightly reset with your family – have each member take a room and do a quick 10 minute reset. Pick up any toys or clothes, fold blankets left out, do a quick floor sweep, etc.
Establish a reward system (This might be the most motivating factor! 😉 )
Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING will motivate your child more than a special reward to look forward to! This can be as simple as letting your kid pick out some ice cream at the store, or you can have them work up to a bigger goal – like a zoo trip or purchase of a new bike.
Whatever it may be, your child is sure to catch on quickly to the new chore system and even have enthusiasm towards it!
What is included in these free kids’ chore charts?
Two different designs to enjoy
Two unique designs are included in this free printable making it perfect for either boy or girl. A space at the top of each page is included for your child’s name.
Daily Chores Section
This section allows enough space to write in up to 7 daily tasks for your child to complete.
To the right of this section includes a place to mark off the task after it is completed each day (a perfect place to put stickers!).
Weekly Chores Section
On the second page there are 7 spaces to write in a weekly chore list, with a place to mark off or add a sticker when completed.
Goals & Reward Section
This section may be the most important one of the entire chart ;). Write in a set goal that the child must complete that week, and what reward they will get if completed. This gives not only a clear direction of what is expected, but also something that will motivate and give your child something to look forward to after completing their tasks!
How to use the weekly chore chart with your child
The best thing that I can recommend before implementing this chore chart is to include your child when filling it out!
Write down a separate list of important tasks that need to get done in the house daily, and encourage your child to pick out a few that they are interested in.
Then figure out the ones that might be ‘less important’ but still need to be done weekly, and have your child pick out a few of those.
Discuss the goal you have in mind for the new chore chart and write it in the goal section. Talk about the possibility of doing any extra chores and what that would mean for rewards. Figure out what the reward will be at the end of the week, (I’m sure your child will have lots of ideas at this point 😉 )
DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE CHORE CHARTS BELOW
To download the free chore charts, simply input your first name and email above. It will send you a confirmation email (once confirming, you’ll have direct access to the printables).
Chore ideas perfect for 8 year olds
These basic chores are perfect to get your child involved – even for younger ages.
- Making their bed
- Taking the trash out
- Loading/unloading dishwasher
- Getting the mail
- Taking care of the dog
- Dusting furniture
- Clearing the table after a meal
- Cleaning out the backseat of the car (taking what is theirs in the house)
- Sweeping floors
- Starting or switching over a load of laundry
- Helping to make a meal (alongside with you)
- Helping in the garden (weeding, picking, watering, etc)
- Wiping down the dining room chairs or high chair
- Folding their load of clothes
- Wipe down the sink in bathroom
- Pick up their toys each night
- Sweep off porch
- Do a nightly reset of one room
- Vacuum
- Pick up sticks in the yard
- Water flowers/plants
- Help strip their bed and wash sheets
- Wash windows
- Gather up the library books for the week to take back
- Fold any blankets left out at the end of the day
- Help come up with a list of meals for the week, what ingredients you need, help shop for them.
- Dry dishes and put away
- Help put away groceries
What can I reward my child with for doing daily chores?
Some fun rewards for your child could include:
- A ‘date’ out with mom or dad (get dressed up, let your kid pick where to eat, go see a movie, etc)
- Zoo trip
- New park visit
- Trip to an ice cream shop
- Item that they may have been wanting like bike, new toy, shoes, movie, etc.
- Go to movie theater to see new movie
- Play place like sky zone, arcade, etc.
- Trip to the dollar store to pick out a few treasures
- Go swimming at local pool
- Shopping date with mom to pick out a new outfit
RELATED: 28 Prayers Before Mealtimes for Kids (with free printable)
Final Thoughts
Adding a chore system into your child’s daily routine doesn’t have to be hard or scary! Make it fun with this free printable chore chart that will not only motivate your child to complete each task, but also establish good habits that will stay with them for a lifetime.
What are your best tips for encouraging your child to complete his/her chores? Let me know in the comments below!
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