This post is a follow up to an earlier post called Creative Chores for Kids where Randy and I shared our principles behind these silly chore ideas.
Go Fish
Does sorting all those socks seem overwhelming? Try the go fish/sock game. All socks needing to be matched are placed in a pile. You close your eyes and hold one up. It is a race to see who can find the match. Kids love this! A quicker version would be to have everyone race to get all the socks matched and see who can get the most matches. Hey, maybe the whole family could get involved!
Beat the Clock
Each child is assigned a particular chore. The timer is set. Children try to get their chore done before time runs out. Who doesn’t like to win at this game?
Pick a room – Any room
Our kids really liked this one. We wrote chores on 3 x 5 cards and taped them to the wall face down. They got to pick a room and do whatever it said on the card. However, occasionally they would get a silly card that would say something like, “ do 25 jumping jacks”. Another card might say, “this is your lucky day, no work needs done here today” or “no work necessary here, go help one of your siblings with their room”.
High Rollers
Another fun game we called “The Dice Game”. Simply list #2-15 with a chore beside each one and let the kids roll the dice. They get to do the chore listed by that number. The anticipation of what they will roll and chore they had to do made it exciting.
Look Who’s Talking
“I’m lost, please help me find my way home.” “Dust me, I’m dirty” These were the messages found around the house when the kids came home from school. It was a fun way to get some chores done and involve the kids! Yes, it took just a little time to write the notes, but it was a part of the creativity of it all!
Choreland
Make a simple board game from a large piece of poster board or whatever happens to be around (I think I used an old pizza box). Make it look similar to the game Candyland. Write chores along the way. Use your creativity with sayings such as “go forward to clean the bathroom mirror” or “go back to sweep the front porch”. After everyone rolls and everyone lands on a chore, let the chores get done and continue the game. Most kids like to play Candyland so why not create a version that gets some chores done!
Let’s Make a Deal
Anyone remember Monty Hall and his TV show Let’s Make a Deal? Label three grocery bags 1, 2 & 3. Each child gets to choose from three bags. Under each bag is a prop and a card telling what needs to be done. For example, put a pair of shoes under a bag with the card: “Here’s some shoes to run and run, till the vacuuming is done.” One bag had a small trashcan under it with the card: “Take a hike, Do not delay, Gather all the trash today!” Another bag had an empty pop bottle with the message: “Recycle, recycle, it needs to be done but when it is finished, see what you’ve won.” With a toy train under the bag: ‘This is your lucky day, to the bathroom chug away, clean the counters, clean the sink, then the bathroom will not stink”. Under one of the bags place a treat: “Oh sit back, relax a while, sip this soda with a smile”.
Slurpin Allowed
This was definitely our kids all-time favorite. Make a list of chores that need done. If they chose to do three chores, they got a small Slurpee. If they chose 7 chores, they got a medium and if they chose 12, they got a SUPER large Slurpee. Guess which one they always chose? There really isn’t much work on mom’s part. Just making the list and a little supervision. I can have 36 chores done in a short time. Go ahead give it a try!
