Let’s be real, getting young kids to help around the house can feel like trying to herd pigs. We know because we have a bunch of piglets right now, and it’s just about impossible to herd them! We’re juggling morning routines, household chores, and a whole bunch of to-do lists, and somehow we’re supposed to teach our children about responsibility along the way.
Enter the Visual Chore Chart — a calm, practical, and colorful way to bring some order to the chaos. Whether you’re a homeschooling mom, a working mom, or somewhere beautifully in between, this printable chore chart is a game-changer for your daily routine.
This page may contain affiliate links. To view my full affiliate link disclosure, click here. There are Amazon affiliate links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I make a small commission from Amazon links in this post. Find our privacy policy, terms of service, and more information about user data by visiting the links above.
This chart has been a perfect system for our family. It keeps everyone—young and older children alike—on the same page with their weekly chores, and it helps them feel a sense of pride in their assigned tasks. It’s especially helpful for younger children who need visual supports and visual cues to thrive.
We recently had our fifth baby boy, so as you can imagine, as often happens, our household’s routines and rituals have changed. One of the side effects of this was a lack of morning motivation to do the household chores that had become a habit for my older boys. Lately, I’ve needed to remind them to do their chores. Too often, their response was “I need to go to the bathroom” or “I will after…” As inevitably happens, the chores would be quickly forgotten.
The routines that we worked so hard to make into habits were quickly gone. One morning, I decided that enough was enough and went to get out our old chore charts. With a lot of protest, the charts were brought back, and I’m happy to say that the visual representation helped to bring back their consistent routines!
Let me walk you through how this visual chore chart can transform your routines and support your child’s development in a gentle, joyful way.
Why Use a Visual Chore Chart?
Visual chore charts are more than just pretty custom posters—they’re a practical and actionable way to support action in kids. The whole point is to give them visual reminders or representations with colorful pictures so they can see what’s expected. Most of the time, this is used with children who have not mastered reading skills yet. Giving them visual representations is a major factor in helping them succeed with a task.
This isn’t just for neurotypical kids either. Visual systems like these are often used in special education and even with older kids who benefit from having their daily chores laid out clearly. For young children, the picture-based format speaks their language and helps them understand specific chores without needing to read a whole list of chores.
Honestly, it’s also about reducing the mental labor on us moms. Instead of reminding each child about every single thing, the kids’ chore chart becomes the go-to tool. It’s like having a quiet, constant helper in the background.
Chore Chart Ideas
There are so many fun ways to customize this chart based on your family’s needs! In the download, you will get a Canva template that has squares that you can customize with your own chore needs.
Here are the chores already included in the download:
Feed animals
Find vacuum
Sweep
Make bed
Take our trash
Read
Put on pajamas
Take vitamins
Put away clothes
School work
Go potty
Clean up toys
Brush teeth
Clean dishes
Fold laundry
Bath or shower
Load dishwasher
Unload dishwasher
Vacuum
Get dressed
Feed fish
Put on diaper
Read Bible
Say Bible verse
Clean bedroom
Put away books
Water plants
Get eggs
Be Kind
Mop Floors
Feed Dog
Feed Cat
Water Plants
Wash Dishes
Put Dishes Away
Fold Clothes
Put Shirts on Hangers
Clean Bathroom
Take a Bath
Take a Shower
Clean up Artwork
Put Backpack Away
Clean up Sandbox
Clean up Playroom
Help Me Dinner
Peel Eggs
Done icon
The picture cards are great for younger kids who can’t read yet. You can also write each child’s name on their own chart to personalize it!
If you are looking for a check mark system for completed tasks, which gives a satisfying sense of control, check out this chore chart! It’s satisfying and gives a sense of control.
You can even laminate your chart or slide it into a protective sleeve and use a dry-erase marker for reuse. The thick dry erase varnish gives it a durable finish so it lasts through all the spills, sticky fingers, and everyday wear. Here is the laminator that we’ve used and loved for a number of years!
How to Use the Chore Chart
Using the chart is simple and customizable:
- Download and print your chore chart – there is a free printable chore chart available here.
- Choose the specific chores you want to assign to each child’s life stage.
- Cut and laminate the routine item cards
- Attach them with velcro!
- Celebrate when your kids complete their daily tasks—that sense of pride is powerful!
Everyone’s circumstances are a bit different, so I hope this chore chart gives you enough variety to cater to your unique needs! Whether you’re beginning with young kids or using it with older children, this is the perfect way to build life skills in the home!
The Visual Chore Chart!
Are you ready to download the visual chore chart? Yippee! Don’t forget that there is a free version available here. The visual chore chart for children is available through my Gumroad and Etsy shops. Thank you for supporting my small business!
So, mama, if you’re tired of repeating yourself, wondering how to keep up with everything, or just want to give your kids an optimal experience in learning responsibility, this visual chore chart is your new best friend.
Don’t forget to Pin for later!
