Streamline Your Household Responsibilities with a Custom Chore Template

Having a daily or weekly chore chart template is a great way to streamline household tasks. A chore chart template can refer to a chore checklist (chores written in list format), calendar, or chart with daily tasks you expect your child or other family members to complete. With chore chart templates for children, kids have a visual representation of their responsibilities, and parents can see what the child has or has not yet done. 

Customizing a chore chart template is beneficial because it means that you can choose the format that works for you and your child. Parents can adjust or change tasks more easily with some types of chore chart templates than others. For example, a dry-erase or laminated weekly calendar or chart may work better than a non-laminated printable chore chart if you want the option to wipe it off and change it each day. For additional ease, you can also use digital alternatives like Joon.

Joon is an excellent way to track your child's chore schedule and make household tasks fun for kids. How does it work?

Parents sign up with the Joon Parent App first and make a task list for their child. When kids complete tasks, they get in-app rewards that allow them to take care of a virtual pet of their choice (called a Doter), continue playing the game, and unlock other special features. Since parents must approve tasks for rewards to go through, the Joon app not only helps families like yours organize their child's responsibilities — it also motivates kids to complete them.

Click here to try it for free.

Why Use a Chore Template?

There are a lot of different types of chore templates. Regardless of whether you go with a chore list, chart, or calendar, here are some of the ways it can help your family save time:

• Reduces forgetfulness and nagging. Parents may spend less time reminding their child to complete a chore, nagging, or asking if they've finished it.
• Creates structure. Chores become part of a child's routine, so they expect to complete them. In turn, chores become a typical part of the day rather than a task they have to spend time adjusting to or understanding.
• Helps kids get the benefit of doing chores. Household chores can aid responsibility, work ethic, discipline, independence, and even self-esteem in kids.

Tools like a chore calendar, list, or chart can aid organization. Some adults even use a chore calendar themselves to aid household organization.

How to Create a Custom Chore Template

To create a chore chart template, first think about what kind of chart will be best for your child. Some customizations might also depend on factors like a child's age. For example, while a visual chore chart with pictures of each task (e.g., a broom for sweeping) could be key for a younger child, the list template may be more age-appropriate for an older child or teen. Once you know what kind of template is best, think about how to make it easier for you to keep up with. For example, do you want a dry-erase chart or multiple printouts of a chore calendar that you can fill out each week?

Tips for customizing the template to fit your household's specific needs include:

• Using a family chore chart template (rather than one for each individual child).
• Adding pictures to a chart or list (can be helpful for younger kids).
• Making a simplified check-off list template (no pictures - just words).
• Making a daily chore chart vs. a weekly chore chart.

If applicable, you may also consider what might hold your child back from completing chores. A family chore chart template, for example, may help a child who struggles to self-start. It could also help a child who asks, "Why do I have to do ___ if everyone else doesn't have to?" understand that their family members do have tasks, too. If they get overwhelmed easily, a daily chart or list could be better than a chart full of all of their weekly chores.

Implementing the Chore Template

Once you choose the type of chore chart you want to use, how do you implement it? Here are some tips for using a chore chart template effectively:

• Provide a timeframe for tasks (let kids know when tasks should be completed; write it down on the chart).
• Explain the chart to your child and confirm that they understand what they're expected to do.
• Combine the chart with a reward system (sticker charts or token systems are two examples).
• Teach your child how to complete tasks in small steps.
• Give kids reminders and guidance.

Life can get busy for parents and kids. Without structured daily tasks, it can be hard for many families to ensure that the home stays relatively tidy, that kids have adequate time for homework and other activities, and so on. Packed schedules are common for people with children. Between appointments, work, taking the kids to school, cooking, making time for activities like reading and outdoor play, caring for pets, and other responsibilities, it's too much to remember off the top of your head. Staying organized with a chore chart template for your child — or a family chore chart that includes the entire household's tasks — can help.

Tracking Progress and Making Adjustments

Tracking your child's progress in following the chart (e.g., whether or not tasks get done) is important. Why? Being mindful and regularly reviewing a child's progress can help you understand if and when you need to make adjustments. Parents may need to adjust tasks as their child gets older or make changes that help their child complete tasks. For example, if a child's struggling to finish a large task, you might need to break it down into several smaller ones.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a chore chart is simple. To evaluate the effectiveness of a chore chart, notice whether or not your child is finishing tasks and if they're running into any challenges. It is normal for kids to not complete everything without reminders and guidance right away. Some kids will need more help than others. Even if a child struggles with starting or finishing tasks at first, things should get easier with structure, praise, compassion, and reminders.

Joon as a Digital Chore Template

Joon is a great alternative to a typical chore calendar, chart, or list. While Joon is suitable for kids with or without ADHD, the app was built with the ADHD brain in mind. Kids with ADHD might get distracted during a task, have trouble self-starting, experience behavioral problems, or face difficulty taking in what others say (e.g., instructions), among other challenges. We're here to help. In fact, 90% of kids who use Joon finish all of their tasks!

Benefits of using Joon

Joon is backed by parents, teachers, child psychologists, and other experts. Here are some benefits of using Joon:

• Structure your child's entire day all in one place. You can add unlimited tasks with Joon, and the app is more than just a chore system. In addition to chores, you might include things like homework and personal hygiene or self-care activities.
• In-app rewards for positive reinforcement. Joon gives kids positive reinforcement in the form of in-app rewards, which motivates and encourages kids to finish their daily chores.
• Less work for parents. In addition to motivating your child through in-app rewards, we give parents and kids reminders to make task and chore management easier.

Joon is intended to promote self-esteem, independence, and task completion in kids. Many parents even say that it has improved their parent-child relationship.

Download the Joon Parent App here. 

Download Joon Pet Game on your child's device or a shared device here.

How to set up quests 

How do you set up tasks in the Joon app? Once you know what tasks (called "quests") you want your child to complete, download the Joon Parent App and follow these steps:

• Go to the "Quest" tab on the app.
• Select the blue "plus" button at the bottom of the screen.
• Tap "+ Custom quest" to make your own task or select one of our template options (these are pre-loaded, common household tasks, self-care tasks, school-related tasks, and others).

You can also tap "Saved by You" to pull up quests that you've added to your child's task list in the past quickly and easily. Once your child finishes tasks, you can approve them from the Joon Parent App. Kids then receive their reward for completing the task.

Have more questions? Read our FAQs.

Conclusion

Using a custom chore template can help your family keep track of children's household chores and related activities. Seeing that tasks are complete on the chart can give kids a sense of accomplishment, and checking the chart can become a part of your family's routine. Different types of chore charts or templates may work best for your child, depending on several factors. 

Apps like Joon are an ideal alternative to a physical chore chart template, with additional features that make chores fun for kids and promote task completion, among other benefits like independence and fun gameplay for kids. Making your own chore chart template or using an app like Joon can help your family stay organized and maintain structured routines.