PouchPrintable family chore chart
Quick answer
A family chore chart puts every person in the home on one sheet, parents included, so the work looks shared. List the weekly jobs, give each person their own column, and rotate the least popular ones. Print the sample below, edit the jobs, and talk it through together once a week.
One sheet for the whole home
A family chart makes the work visible. Kids see that parents also do dishes, laundry and shopping, and the work looks like a household effort.
Whole-family sample
| Chore | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make own bed | |||||||
| Clear own plate | |||||||
| Table setting | |||||||
| Kitchen cleanup | |||||||
| Laundryonce this week | |||||||
| Vacuumonce this week | |||||||
| Bathroomsonce this week | |||||||
| Grocery shoponce this week |
Setting up your sheet
- Hold a short family meeting and list every recurring household job.
- Let each person claim two jobs they do not mind.
- Split what is left by age and time available.
- Put parents' names on the sheet too.
- Print it and stick it on the fridge or the back of a door.
A sample split
| Person | Everyday | Weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Parent 1 | Dinner, kitchen cleanup | Grocery shop, bathrooms |
| Parent 2 | Morning routine, school bags | Laundry, yard |
| Older child | Table, own room | Vacuum, trash and recycling |
| Younger child | Own bed, plate to counter | Water plants, match socks |
This is only an example. Your split will depend on work hours, ages and what each person prefers. Match jobs to age: sprays, hot pans, knives and yard tools stay with adults, and younger kids vacuum or clean only with an adult nearby. For ideas by age, see chores by age.
Keeping it fair
- Rotate unpopular jobs every week or month.
- Be open about swaps: ask, don't just skip.
- Count all work, including cooking and planning.
- Let each person say when the load feels too heavy.
- Redo the sheet when school terms or work hours change.
Allowance and tracking
If you use pocket money, read money and chores before deciding which jobs get paid. Pouch is free and keeps pretend balances per child, with no account. The paper chart still does the family-wide view.
Questions parents ask
Should parents be on the family chore chart?
Yes, if you want it to feel fair. Seeing parents' jobs helps kids understand the full workload.
How do I assign chores in a family?
List all the jobs, let people claim what they like, then split the rest by age and available time.
How often should the family chart change?
Rotate shared jobs weekly or monthly, and redo the whole chart when schedules change.
What if someone doesn't do their job?
Raise it at the weekly check-in and ask what got in the way. Adjust the job or the timing if needed.