Summer Chore Chart for Kids

Grab the FREE Summer Chore Chart for Kids printable download + Tips and systems to make summer chores easier for the whole family this summer! 

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Balancing Work and Play

If we get up and head straight for a fun place it’s definitely more difficult to get our kids to do chores and clean the house. That leaves me feeling really overwhelmed. 

My parents raised us to work hard and play hard. That is, work hard first, then you’ve earned playing hard. I’m really grateful for parents who taught me early in life that after you’ve worked very hard during the day you’re free to go somewhere at night with your friends. I played night games as a child, I had a wonderful social life as a teenager. And I still earned money at a job and had a great GPA. I owe parents who taught me the balance of work and play! 

It’s all about tackling responsibilities and then earning a reward. Just like when an adult and earn a paycheck. 

That’s something I want my kids to learn young, and I’m convinced summertime is the perfect time to do that!

How to fit in summer chores and all the fun plans 

As we work through our summer routine and summer schedule, we plan something fun every day. Sometimes that’s more chill activities at home, and sometimes that’s taking my kids to a fun center I know they’ll love. 

No matter what it is, we do a summer chore system at works. It’s based on work to get your reward, with easy expectations and goals. 

Coming up with a daily routine, with a daily chore checklist helps kids feel that sense of pride and sense of accomplishment. We’ve found having a visual printable chore chart makes a huge difference! We are fans of a daily checklist you can stick in a laminator (or sheet protector) and use as a daily chore chart/ weekly chore chart. The satisfaction of checking off with dry erase markers and knowing exactly what is expected each day makes all the difference!

Summer Chore Chart for Kids

We made the summer chore chart for kids simple and easy to follow. Add the job(s) to the chore chart, and check them off when they’re done. 

If you do your job(s) for the day, you get to participate in the fun activity planned. If you don’t, you miss you. We plan a summer routine with at least a small fun activity each day. If you want to do the same, check out our 150 Summer Activities list! 

I promise it only takes one time of a kid missing out for them to learn you mean business and to get their stuff done every day. 

It’s also easy to promote positive parenting! 

“You get to join us at the park if your chores are done by 9:00! You can do this! Hooray for earning a park day!” 

Since we do fun things and outings every Friday, I like to make them earn it! If they follow their summer chore chart and complete jobs, they earn the big outing of the week. 

“Hey you did your chores all five days of the week, you totally get to join us at the trampoline park!”

Maybe you make a big activity or family outing with both parents happen on the weekend. Perhaps there’s a movie day with treats on Friday. You choose what works for your family! 

And on those calmer summer days at home, our kids know there won’t be screen time or friend time until we’ve completed our summer chore checklist.

Chores for Kids: Setting Expectations

We also like to make chores very logical and easy. For me, with younger kids, if they’ll clean up their own rooms every single day and put all the toys away, I’m pretty thrilled with them.

I may add in a smaller chore that’s age-appropriate. But keeping it simple so they knew what to do and what time they need to finish really helps. 

If you live somewhere hot as we do in Arizona, you may find you need to get out first thing in the morning to make certain activities happen before it’s too hot or to beat crowds. That’s no problem, just adapt to having kids earn for the next day. We often “put the playroom to bed” at night and my kids wake up to a clean slate and leave a clean slate when we leave. 

It’s a helpful routine that works with our schedule. We made sure our free printable summer chore chart had flexibility so families could make it work with their routine.

And we want to help you make summer chores happen without complaint and using the system to incentivize work and good choices. That’s why we made a chore chart printable to help you and your kids keep track of chores. 

Our Biggest Tip: Be Consistent

Remind them often what they’re earning. Be consistent so they know you mean business. 

If they miss out on a day, don’t cave in, let them know they get another chance for fun tomorrow! If you’re having a burnt-out day as a parent, call in your significant other that evening. See if grandparents can take a fun activity day. Or, let them know they get double the fun tomorrow! But follow through with the reward, and make sure they learn to earn it! 

I promise the desire to get to go on the donut run or play a game with mom will get them working faster than never-ending fights and threats. It’s been our biggest win to watch our kids be excited to clean up and help around the house. 

You got this! Start strong early on and keep it going all summer. Your housework won’t feel so overwhelming. Your “work then play” lesson will reiterate strongly all summer with repetition. And hey, it may be a habit that lasts long beyond summer! 

Grab the Free Summer Chore Chart Printable

Ready to start your summer chores and get your own system going? Be sure to grab our FREE Summer Chore Chart for Kids Here: 

 

Summer Chore List for Kids

If you’re scratching your head what kids can help with, here are a few ideas for summer chores kids can do. These work great for both older kids and young kids alike!

• Doing their own Laundry (sorting/folding/putting away)
• Unload the dishwasher / load the dishwasher
• Take out the trash
• Put out and put away the garbage bins
• Wipe the counters in the bathroom
• wipe the counters in the kitchen
• Do the dishes
• Dusting
• Vacuuming
• Picking up clutter in their rooms
• Clean bathrooms
• Wipe baseboards
• Help put away groceries

Like this free summer chore chart? You may like these posts too: 

Chore List for Kids: Chores for Toddler and Preschoolers

Summer Plans: Tips for Scheduling and Planning with Free Printable

Budgeting Summertime Fun