Making your chart
- Choose how many children the chart is for and type their names. Empty name fields print a line for handwriting.
- With two or more children, pick one page per child or a single shared chart.
- Tap the chores you want on the chart and add any others in Your own chores, one per line.
- Set the first day of the week, the box style, a reward if you use one, the paper size and a color.
- Download the PDF and print it at 100 % or actual size, so every box keeps its size and nothing at the edge is cut off.
Choosing the chores together
A chart works better when the child had a say in it. Go through the buttons together and let them pick a few chores, then add the ones you need done. Read each chore out loud: if your child can tell you what finished looks like, it is clear enough. "Put toys away" can be checked at a glance; "be tidy" leads to a discussion every evening.
Start with a short list that fits into a normal day. You can always print a longer chart next week, and blank rows at the bottom leave room for a chore you agree on later. These are the chores you can pick on this page:
| Where | Chores on the list |
|---|---|
| Bedroom and clothes | Make the bed, Tidy the bedroom, Put dirty clothes in the hamper, Put clean clothes away, Help fold the laundry |
| Meals and kitchen | Set the table, Clear the table, Wipe the table, Help with the dishes, Help put groceries away |
| Around the home | Put toys away, Feed the pet, Water the plants, Take out the trash, Sweep the floor, Pack the school bag |
One page per child or a shared chart
One page per child gives every child a sheet of their own with their name in big letters at the top. Each page carries the same chores, so if the children do different jobs, make one chart at a time with different chores. Separate pages can hang in separate rooms.
The shared chart keeps everyone on one sheet. Under every day there is a narrow column for each child, marked with the name or its first letters, and each child has their own Total column and box at the bottom. It suits siblings who share most chores and a family that likes one sheet on the fridge. With many children the columns get narrow, so for four or more, separate pages leave bigger boxes.
Making it part of the day
Pick one moment to fill in the chart, such as after dinner or before bedtime, and do it at the same time every day. Your child marks the box for each chore that got done: a tick, a colored-in star, a sticker or a drawn face in the smiley. A day with an empty box is simply empty, there is no need to cross it out.
On the last day of the week, count the marks in each row together and write the number in the Total column. Add up the row totals and write the sum in the box at the bottom. If you use a reward, the line under the chart keeps it in sight all week. Then write the next date next to Week of on a fresh sheet.
Printing and reusing the chart
Plain printer paper is enough for a new chart every week, and old sheets can go into a folder if your child likes to look back. For a chart that lasts longer, laminate it or slide it into a clear sheet protector and mark the boxes with a dry-erase marker. Draw a test line in the margin first and wipe it off, so you know the marker comes off cleanly before you use it on the boxes. Landscape fits a fridge door well, while portrait gives every chore a taller row and suits a narrow door or a binder.
Small helpers for chore time
When two children both want or both avoid the same job, the random name picker settles who takes it this week. For a quick tidy-up race, set the online timer to ten minutes and see how many toys find their place before it rings. If the reward is a day out on a fixed date, the countdown timer shows how many days are left. For the grown-ups' share of the housework, the printable cleaning schedule lists daily, weekly and monthly jobs by room.
Frequently asked questions
Is the chore chart free?
Yes. Print a new chart every week, for your own family, a class or a group. There is no signup and no email form, and the only branding is one small line with our web address at the bottom of each page.
Can I add chores that are not on the list?
Yes. Type them into Your own chores, one per line, and they print after the chores you picked. A chart has room for 12 rows, so the counter under the field shows how many are used. A chart always has at least 6 rows: if you choose fewer chores, the rest print blank so you can write in a chore by hand.
What is the difference between one page per child and a shared chart?
One page per child prints a full chart for each name, with the name in the title and the same chores on every page. The shared chart puts all children on one sheet: every day and the Total column are split into a narrow column per child, labeled with the name or its first letters. With 4 or more children the shared chart always prints in landscape, because in portrait the columns would be too narrow to tick.
What goes in the Total column and the box at the bottom?
At the end of the week, count the marks in each row and write the number in its Total cell. Add up the totals and write the sum in the box at the bottom right, next to Stars this week (or Done this week and Smileys this week for the other mark styles). In a shared chart each child has their own Total column and their own box.
Why are some characters missing from the names or chores?
The PDF is drawn with a basic font that covers English and most Western European letters, but no emoji and no other scripts such as Greek, Cyrillic or Chinese. Those characters are left out, a few rare accented letters print without the accent, and a note under the field tells you when that happens. The preview shows the text exactly as it will print.
Do I have to fill in the names and the reward?
No. Without a name, the page is titled Chore chart and has a Name line next to Week of, so it can be filled in by hand. Without a reward, the chart prints a blank Reward line instead.