Convincing kids to help with household chores can often feel like an uphill battle. From eye rolls to sighs, the resistance is real, so here’s how to lure them in with the 30-day chore challenge.
Related: Guide on chores for kids
What is the 30-day chore challenge?
The 30-day chore challenge is a structured way to encourage household chores over a month. It involves assigning specific tasks for each day of the month and creating a routine covering different home areas and various chores. The challenge aims to instil good habits, promote responsibility, and build life skills.
Tips to help your kids complete the challenge
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Discuss the chore challenge with them first. Get kids to participate in creating the challenge by coming up with ideas for daily chores they could do.
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Make chores age-appropriate - remember kids of different ages can do different chores so change them up and delegate (see below for ideas).
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Use a chore chart§ or app to remind them. Encourage accountability by using chore charts or apps to remind kids what chores are happening and when.
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Ensure chores build life skills - help your kids learn how to do chores properly so you can build their life skills.
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Encourage your kids with rewards and positive reinforcement. This could be anything from extra pocket money to days out and treats at home.
How could a 30-day chore challenge look for kids of different ages?
Younger kids
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Make their bed
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Clean their teeth
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Get dressed
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Put away toys
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Clear the table
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Set the table
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Water plants
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Sort laundry
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Match clean socks
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Sweep the floor
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Wipe surfaces
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Fold towels
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Empty small trash bins
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Tidy their room
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Put away groceries
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Empty backpacks
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Daily reading for their homework
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Help with meal preparation
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Dust low surfaces
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Hang up coats and bags
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Wipe up spillages
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Help with grocery shopping
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Replace toilet rolls in the bathroom
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Small tasks around the house
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Care for pets with an adult
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Weed the garden with an adult
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Pick up leaves in autumn
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Help wash the car with an adult
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Get the post from the front door
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Got to bed when asked
Tweens
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Make their bed
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Clean their room
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Vacuum or sweep floors
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Take out the trash
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Sort recycling
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Mop the floor
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Fold and put away laundry
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Change bed sheets
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Wipe down kitchen surfaces
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Load and unload the dishwasher
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Prepare simple meals with help
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Clean the bathroom
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Dust furniture
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Put clothes away.
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Water outdoor plants
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Rake leaves
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Wash the car with help
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Organise the refrigerator
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Plan and prepare a simple meal
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Help with grocery shopping
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Care for pets
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Outdoor chores
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Clean out the car
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Set the dinner table
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Clean and organise cupboards and wardrobes
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Wash and fold towels
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Help with younger siblings
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Assist with technology setup
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Create and maintain a chore chart
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Load and unload the washing machine
Teens
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Change sheets
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Do homework
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Walk the dog/clean out pets' cages
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Help younger siblings with homework
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Cook a meal
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Do extra shopping when needed
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Clean the bathroom
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Clean the kitchen
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Load and unload the dishwasher
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Dust and clean their rooms
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Tidy the shed or garage
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Wash the car
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Put their clothes away
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Bring all mugs and cups down from rooms
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Bigger outdoor chores
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Take the bins out on bin collection day
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Bring laundry down
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Empty the dishwasher and hang laundry
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Iron their clothes
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Putting clean laundry away
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Tidy rooms
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Babysit younger siblings
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Go grocery shopping
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Help with tech
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Clean baths and showers after use
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Care for pets
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Look after plants
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Mow the lawn
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Be good with their time management
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Remember to do their chores
Other chore challenges to try out
Speed Cleaning Challenge
Challenge family members to see who can clean their designated area the fastest. Set a timer and encourage participants to focus on quality cleaning within the time limit. The winner gets a small reward or gets to choose the next family activity.
Mystery Chore Challenge
Place different household chores in envelopes with varying difficulty levels. Have each family member pick an envelope and complete the chore inside. This adds an element of surprise and variety to the usual routine.
Team Chore Relay
Divide chores into smaller tasks and create a relay race. Each family member completes one task before passing it onto the next person. The first team to finish all tasks wins, promoting teamwork and coordination.
Chore Bingo
Create a Bingo card with different chores instead of numbers. Each family member gets a card and marks off completed chores. The first to complete a row or column shouts "Bingo!" and earns a reward.
Themed Chore Days
Assign a theme to each day of the week (e.g., "Kitchen Tuesday" or "Bedroom Wednesday"). Challenge family members to focus on chores related to the theme on that day. The person who completes the most themed chores by the end of the week wins a prize.
How can GoHenry help
Kids learn best by doing. So show them how to manage money for themselves with a GoHenry prepaid kids debit card. Available for kids aged 6-18, GoHenry is a safe way for kids to practise their financial literacy skills. There’s a companion app for parents which allows you to pay pocket money, monitor spending, top up when necessary and create saving pots. Money Missions is our in-app financial education tool, allowing your kids to explore various financial topics, from budgeting to saving and more.
