Getting kids (and sometimes even adults!) to do household chores can feel like an uphill battle. But what if you could turn chores into a game the whole family actually enjoys?
Enter the “Reverse Chore Chart”—a fun and creative way to transform boring tasks into exciting challenges. Here’s how to set one up, keep everyone motivated, and make household responsibilities something your family looks forward to. PLUS download a free printable to ease your pain!
What is a Reverse Chore Chart? Unlike a traditional chore chart where tasks are assigned, a reverse chore chart gamifies chores by letting family members pick challenges, earn points, and work towards rewards. It flips the focus from “I have to do this” to “I want to do this,” turning responsibility into an opportunity for fun and connection.
Step 1: Create a Challenge List Start by brainstorming a variety of household tasks and breaking them into challenges. Make them fun, competitive, or timed. Here are a few ideas:
•Speedy Sorting: Who can fold the most clothes in 10 minutes?
•Sock Match Master: Match as many socks as you can in 5 minutes.
•Room Rescuer: Transform a messy room into a tidy space in record time.
•Dust Detective: Find and clean the sneakiest spots in the house (think under couches or behind furniture).
•Trash Toss Hero: Collect and take out all the trash in 5 minutes.
Pro Tip: Use a Whiteboard with Markers to write challenges and track progress in real time. It’s reusable, visual, and fun for the whole family.
Step 2: Design the Reverse Chore Chart Instead of assigning names to tasks, list all the challenges on a large board, whiteboard, or printable sheet. Leave space for each family member to write their name next to the task they want to tackle. You can also assign points to tasks based on difficulty—bigger jobs like vacuuming an entire floor might earn more points than something smaller, like wiping counters.
Organizational Tip: Print and laminate your free chore chart printable (download below!) and use Dry Erase Pockets so tasks can be reused weekly without reprinting.
Step 3: Set Up Rewards Decide on rewards that motivate your family. These don’t need to cost money—sometimes the best rewards are about time, attention, or privileges. Here are some reward ideas:
•Extra screen time
•Choosing the family movie or dinner menu
•A fun outing, like a trip to the park or an ice cream stop
•Staying up 15 minutes past bedtime
•Earning “chore currency” to trade in for larger rewards
Fun Suggestion: Use a Reward Jar filled with tokens or stickers for kids to redeem points toward rewards.
Step 4: Make It a Team Effort To foster teamwork, you can add a family challenge element. For example, set a goal to earn a certain number of points collectively by the end of the week, and if you hit it, everyone gets a group reward like a movie night or pizza party.
Step 5: Keep It Visual and Engaging A colorful, eye-catching chart can make all the difference. Use stickers, markers, or fun icons to make the chart pop. For younger kids, consider using symbols or pictures to represent tasks. If you’re tech-savvy, you could even create a digital version on a shared app or spreadsheet.
Creative Option: Use Reusable Stickers for tracking points or decorating the chart—it keeps things fun and interactive for little ones.
Step 6: Rotate Challenges to Keep It Fresh To avoid boredom, rotate tasks or introduce new challenges every week. Seasonal chores, like raking leaves or organizing holiday decorations, can be added for variety.
Seasonal Must-Have: Grab a set of Gardening Gloves for Kids for outdoor tasks like leaf raking or planting flowers.
Step 7: Celebrate Successes At the end of each week, celebrate everyone’s hard work. This could be as simple as verbal recognition during dinner or a small group activity like playing a family board game. The key is to make everyone feel appreciated for their contributions.
Family Fun Suggestion: Check out a Board Game for All Ages like UNO or Jenga to bring everyone together and cap off the week.
Benefits of a Reverse Chore Chart Promotes Responsibility: Kids learn that chores are a necessary part of maintaining a home. Encourages Teamwork: Challenges can be collaborative, helping siblings or parents and kids bond. Adds Fun to Routine: Turning chores into games reduces resistance and adds excitement. Teaches Time Management: Timed challenges help kids complete tasks more efficiently.
Bonus Idea: Pair your printable with a set of Colorful Markers for kids to personalize their names and points.
Free Printable Reverse Chore Chart To make it easy for you to get started, download our free Reverse Chore Chart template! It’s customizable, colorful, and ready for action. Just print it, fill in your challenges, and let the fun begin!
–> Chores Have Never Been This Fun The Reverse Chore Chart is more than just a tool for getting things done—it’s a way to bring your family together, teach valuable skills, and turn responsibilities into something everyone enjoys. Ready to try it out? Share your family’s favorite challenges in the comments below, and don’t forget to tag us when you post your Reverse Chore Chart in action!
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