Free printable chore chart for kids

A chore chart in words works once a child reads. Before then, "feed the dog" is a shape on a page, so this chart puts a photo next to every job: their bed, made; their toy bin; the dog's bowl. It is the weekly chart from our Photo Chore Chart, free as a single page.

What's in the free file?

• Page 1: setup and a week on the chart. Take four photos, print and glue, laminate and hang, then how the checks and stars work.
• Page 2: the chart. A landscape page headed "my week of jobs", with a box for your child's name.
• Four job rows. Each row starts with a 1 inch square photo frame and a line to write the job on.
• Seven check circles in each row, one for each day, Monday to Sunday: 28 in all. Each is about 0.8 inch across.
• A star row along the bottom, labeled "star day", with one bigger circle (about 1 inch) for each day.
• Two sizes: US Letter and A4, as two files. Every frame and circle prints at the same size on both.

There are no cartoon kids and no clipart. The pictures on the chart are the ones you take.

What goes in each part of the chart?

Which jobs fit a young child?

Pick jobs your child can do on their own, or almost on their own. Here are examples from two health sources, by age:

The free chart has four rows, and a row can stay empty until you are ready for it. For a school-age child who hasn't had chores before, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests adding one new task at a time, because a long list can be overwhelming.

How to take the job photos

1. Take each photo from your child's eye level, about 3 feet off the floor, the way they see the bed or the bin.
2. Show the finished job, or the thing the job is about: the bed made, the toy bin with its lid open, the dog's bowl by the wall.
3. One subject per photo, on a plain background. A handout on making visuals from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) at Vanderbilt University makes the same point: one item, a plain background, the child's point of view.
4. Take all four on the same day, in the same light, so the chart looks like one set.
5. Print them 1 inch square. Twenty-four 1 inch photos fit on one 4 x 6 print, so one print covers this chart and five more.

How to make the chart

1. Print page 2 at "Actual size", background graphics on, so the frames stay 1 inch. Hold a ruler to the 1-inch line at the bottom to check.
2. Glue a photo into each frame and write the job on the line next to it. The CSEFEL handout's reason for words with photos: everyone who uses the chart calls the job the same thing.
3. Laminate the chart, or slide it into a sheet protector, so a dry-erase marker wipes off at the end of the week.
4. Hang it at your child's eye level where the jobs happen most: the kitchen, the fridge, or their bedroom door.
5. Keep a dry-erase marker or a sheet of stickers nearby, out of reach of younger brothers and sisters.

How does a week on the chart work?

Each morning, look at the chart together and say the jobs: "Bed, toys, plate, dog." When a job is done, your child checks that day's circle in that row, or adds a sticker. On a day when all four rows have a check, a star goes in the star row: your child draws one, or picks a star sticker.

The AAP describes a chore chart or checklist as a visual reminder that keeps the whole family on task, and suggests posting star charts or chore lists on the refrigerator or in your child's room. It also says to praise the effort your child makes on each task, not the outcome, and not to expect perfection: a bed made by a four-year-old is a bed made by a four-year-old.

Do each new job together a few times before it goes on the chart, so your child knows what "done" looks like. At the end of the week, wipe the chart clean, swap a photo if a job changes, and start again on Monday.

What is the difference between the photo and text versions?

The photo version is made for children who don't read yet; the text version fits more jobs on a page. Our full Photo Chore Chart has daily, weekly and family charts in both versions, with Monday and Sunday starts.

Our visual schedules for kids page has charts for the rest of the day. When one job is the hard part of the day, a first then board shows just that job and what comes after it: "First toys away, then park."

Frequently asked questions

What age is a chore chart for kids for?

Cleveland Clinic's list of chores starts at ages 1 to 2, with putting toys away and carrying a cup to the sink. This free chart uses photos, so a child doesn't need to read to use it; the full set adds text charts for readers.

How many chores should be on a kids' chore chart?

Our free chart has four rows, and a row can stay empty. For a school-age child who hasn't had chores before, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests adding one new task at a time, since a long list can be overwhelming.

Why does this chore chart use photos?

A child who can't read yet can still recognize a photo of their own bed or their dog's bowl. The word goes on the line next to the photo, so everyone at home uses the same name for the job.

What is the star row on the chore chart for?

It has one circle for each day. On a day when every job row has a check, your child adds a star there, drawn or a sticker. It is a mark for the day, with nothing to save up or trade in.

Can I use the chore chart for more than one child?

Print one chart for each child, so each has their own photos and name. Our full Photo Chore Chart also has a family chart with three children side by side.