Ok mama, time for some tough love. You need to get help with the chores at home. You deserve help. This free chore chart printable may get you one step closer to getting that help.
I don’t care if you are a stay at home mom, working mom or a single mom. It is time to bring in help. Who is the help? Your sweet family.
We mamas carry a big burden, and often times that means we try to do it all, even when we don’t have to do it all. We also seem to be the only ones that care that a mess even exists.
Talk to your spouse
First thing, talk to your spouse or partner. Tell them you need help with the chores at home, and ask him where he thinks he can help. He may surprise you!
I told my sweet husband early on in our marriage about how much I hate mopping the floors and cleaning the bathtubs. He totally volunteered to do these two tasks for me!
Turns out, he even enjoys mopping. (Weirdo.)
Talk to your kids about helping with chores
Our kids often want to help us more than we give them credit for. They love to be like us, and they like responsibility, even when they push back sometimes.
Talk to your kids about how they will be pitching in to help you more often. Like your husband, they may be more willing than you think.
A happy mama is a happy family after all!
Assign everyone their weekly tasks
Once you have spoken to your family, assign everyone their weekly tasks. Your kids are able to do more than you may think.
Need help? Download my free chore chart printable to get you started!
I learned my kids could clean the bathrooms at a fairly young age if I removed the dangerous chemicals from the equation.
Do they clean the bathroom like I would want it cleaned? No. If guests are coming over, I usually go behind them and give it a more thorough cleaning, but I do let them start it.
When we decided my kids would start cleaning the bathrooms, they were 4 and 5 years old. I created a homemade cleaning solution, and I gave them both their own washcloth.
I taught them how to clean the bathroom a couple of weeks in a row, and then they took over.
Related Post: A Cleaning Schedule That Actually Works!
Give your kids a zone to clean
Each month, my kids get a new zone to clean. This month, my little one is responsible for the dining room. My oldest is responsible for the living room. Every day, they must clean their zone. They don’t have to put stuff away for others, but they do have to take it to the bottom of the stairs for others to put away.
This system makes it painfully obvious when I’m the one leaving stuff lying around!
The zone system has worked great, as it makes them aware of stuff left behind. It also holds them accountable for their own stuff, as they don’t want to be called out by their sibling.
Each week, my kiddos have to dust, sweep and/or vacuum their zone. I’ve been so surprised by the pride they take in their zones!
My kiddo doing the living room carefully places the throw pillows in her own unique way each night before bed.
My other kiddo was found one day cleaning the candle sticks for the dining room! She even learned how to fancy fold napkins and set the table because she was so proud of her space.
Give your kids a space where they can take pride in their work, that’s not just their room.
Stop doing assigned chores for your family
This one is the kicker. If you want help with the chores at home, you have to stop doing the chores for your family!
Sometimes, this means letting your family work in their own time frame to complete the chores.
For example, I may want to get the floor mopped on Monday, but if my husband wants to mop it on Friday, then so be it. I will not be one to complain.
I am super guilty of doing chores when I want them done, even if others are willing to help. Don’t do this!
I have learned from years of stress and overwhelm that if I stop doing the chores assigned to my family, then they will get to them.
If you have to, remind your family of your agreements.
Don’t criticize how your family helps with chores at home
If you are lucky enough to have your family help with the chores, don’t criticize their efforts when they help.
Instead, praise them for their work. Just because they do it differently from you (a well-practiced mama), doesn’t mean they are doing it wrong.
Getting help with the chores at home means letting go of your expectations of perfect.
I like my bath towels folded a certain way and put into the linen closet a very specific way.
In the past, when I would get help with the towels, I would secretly refold them all and put them back into the linen closet the “right way”. Finally, I had to let it go.
Doing everyone else’s chores they so graciously helped me with was exhausting!
Train your kids how you want chores done
When you get your kids to help with the chores, don’t criticize them and then, help train them. They are helping! Your biggest hurdle is complete.
Now, train your kids to clean your preferred way, especially if they are young. If you like towels folded a certain way, take the needed time to teach them. Their future families will thank you for your efforts!
Have a mandatory pick-up every evening
One of the secrets to a clean house and having less chores to need help with, is to have a mandatory clean-up every evening.
Don’t do it when everyone is cranky and ready for bed. I recommend doing it right before bath time.
It doesn’t have to take long. The whole family can spend 10-15 minutes picking up and make a big impact.
Thank those who help you with the chores
I am a firm believer that household chores are part of being part of a family and household. I don’t get paid to do chores, and neither do my kids.
A simple thank you, especially to your husband, will go a long way. Believe it or not, they want to help you, but we have to let them!
If my kids want to make extra money, I request they do extra chores, that take the load off my list.
For example, my daughter had an upcoming book fair and wanted to buy her own book. That week, she did the dishes every night, helped with laundry and took over any extra feedings for our pets. These small tasks over the course of a week earned her an extra $5 for a book she wanted.
Allowance alternatives for kids doing chores
When your kids help with chores at home, you can reward them in ways other than an allowance, if that’s not your thing.
For example, you can set up a chore chart on the fridge or on a family command center. (Download my free chore chart printable for kids.) Once the kids earn so many checks you can reward them with alternatives like the following:
- An extra cartoon or half-hour of screen time for the week
- An extra dessert-type snack
- A half-hour or hour later bedtime
- A homework-free night
- Extra phone time to talk to friends
- A playdate for an extra helpful week
- Get creative! Sometimes, an extra reward is something as simple as a donut when we go to the grocery store or me surprising them with chocolate chip cookies on pizza night.
Chore chart printable for free: A simple chore chart for kids
Want even more help? Use this FREE chore chart printable to get started! It is the perfect chore chart for kids so they know how they can help you with the chores at home.
Use this chore chart template to explain to your kids what is expected of them. Kids love filling in the chore chart template. You can use stickers, special markers, or whatever motivates them!
I don’t pay my kids per task. I am a true believer that maintaining a home is a family responsibility.
If my kids do “extras” on the chore chart template, I will reward them for those tasks. The type of task dictates the reward. The bigger the task, the bigger the reward. Find what works for you!
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Hi Brooke,
Great tips! I especially like the premise that the chores one person loathes another person may love. I’ve tried this with my husband, but I haven’t yet asked my kids which chores they like. I’m going to do that immediately! Fingers crossed they say cleaning out the fridge, and schlepping paper grocery bags in the rain.