Chore Chart for Multiple Kids
March 15, 2010 by Alison
Are you ready for this?…
This is going to be the LONGEST tutorial you’ve probably ever seen, but don’t fret…it’s going to be worth it! An organized classy chore chart is headed your way. Can you even guess what this chore chart for multiple kids is made out of??? Yep, 2×4′s … another 2×4 decor idea. I LOVE how this turned out because I can leave it on my counter and it matches my home decor.
We’ve included a free pdf template for the chores too!
It also has a subliminal message for my kids to read all week, “Chores are fun”…one day they will agree…
If you missed the ever exciting tutorial on how to use a miter saw you are in luck…I just posted it earlier today. Check it out..it really is a fun read:)
Okay, on with the show:
Chore Chart for Multiple Kids
I cut with the miter saw 5 blocks of wood
4 of them were 3.5 x3.5 squares
1 of them was 8 inches long
I drilled one hole into the top of each of the 3.5 by 3.5 blocks. Do you like my band-aids? I was so glad this shot really brought out the 3 band-aids that I was lucky enough to be wearing during the making of this craft. Anyway, I used a 7/8 bit (as shown in the picture…nice shot Missy) and started drilling.
I ended up sandwiching the block I was drilling in-between 2 others just so I didn’t end up with more band-aids. A clamp would work well too! Ya, I’ll tell you in a minute why I have so many band-aids…
Then I had to put a little shoulder into it because I hit a knot and I had to make it work. Really…most of the time you don’t have to lean into it as much…I guess I’m a tad weak and needed a little oomph to get through that knot.
I finished the 3 holes in the three 3.5×3.5′s (there is a picture below).
The next hole I needed to make was a bigger one. I used a longer 2×4 because a small piece would have just spun and no hole would have been created. I was using a 2 inch bit for this one.
Here is an action shot. Look at the wood shavings fly…O and do you like my slippers:)
My bit wasn’t long enough to go through width of the 2×4 so I used my drill bit and made a hole to go through the entire board so when I flipped it over I knew where to place the 2 inch bit.
I flipped the 2×4 over and am sticking the 2 inch bit into the hole I just drilled. Giving me a guide to match up the bottom and the top. Keep reading…it gets better.
My band-aid story: I was making a sign for a friend and I was in a hurry and the drill bit wasn’t in the entire way. It slipped and caused me to wear band-aids. I wish I had some cool life saving story, but really it’s just me being in a hurry with a tool…I’m glad it wasn’t the miter saw:) Tools are great, but you have to be careful. O, I sound like my mother! I’ve been working with power tools for over 3 years and I think this is the worst of the injuries. I get hurt worse using knives in the kitchen…I will leave the cooking posts to Shelley! Really just be careful and you’ll be okay!
AHHHHHH…it worked. Honestly I didn’t know if it would work, but it did. YEA!
I had to add this picture of my little guy. And don’t worry I don’t let him out to play with the saws. He had been sleeping (hence the bed head)but as soon as he was up, he wanted to see what was happening. Look at his chipmunk cheeks…LOVE it!
Okay here is the top shot.
THREE 3.5×3.5 inch boards with a 7/8 inch drilled down a little over half way.
One 3.5×3.5with a 2 inch hole drilled through the center.
One 3.5×8 inch block under all of the above 4 blocks.
Mod podge the paper on. I used an amazingly sophisticated tool to cut a hole into the paper so the Popsicle sticks could fit down into it…a Hannah Montana pencil.
I sanded the blocks and stained the edges. For more exciting steps on perfect mod podging you can find it in our 10 steps to perfect mod podging.
Apply the vinyl (your kids’ names and chores are fun). If you need vinyl or a vinyl lady check out our vinyl 101.
You can thank Missy for figuring out how to make a template for the Popsicle sticks (they are for the thicker ones, like tongue depressors). There are 4 sheets and they are color coded. Why color coded? I was invited to go to a class a couple weeks ago on the topic of a ‘house of order’ by an amazing lady named Julie. After her class, I felt pumped up about house cleaning, dejunking, and doing laundry (really…).
I always have felt chores were ‘another thing’ to do on my list of ‘to do’s’ that never were crossed off because there was always something else to clean.
She gave a whole new perspective on house cleaning. She said she felt blessed when she did chores. She was happy to do laundry because it was another way she showed love to her family. She was happy to do it because she had a washer and dryer to make it easier. We are hoping to get her to do a post for us (hint…hint). I really have never heard someone so positive on cleaning and household chores.
Anyway, back to the color coding. She divides her chores up into how long they take…how long they ‘should’ take:) Then, when assigning chores, the kids get to choose 2 two minute chores, 2 five minute chores and so on until all the chores are divided up evenly.
So, we put it into an easy format for you just to print them off on colored paper and easily attach them to Popsicle sticks.
All the 15 minute chores are on one sheet and I printed them on cream paper
The 10 minute chores are Yellow
The 5 minute chores are Red
The 2 minute chores are Green
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE PDF CHORE CHART TEMPLATE
After I printed them out I mod podged them onto the Popsicle sticks.
I sanded them down and then stained the edges. Next time I need to wipe my table off before I take a picture. The crumbs are from blueberry muffins during snack time!
The kids get to choose. I will sometimes cover the chore name so they ‘blindly’ get their assignments.
They get their own block, put their chores in it and get to work. Some of you will notice Davis’ chores…he’s two and can’t wipe out the microwave, but I had to make him one so when he can he will be given the opportunity one day:)
When they are finished with their chore, the Popsicle stick goes back into home base! It helps them keep track of what they’ve done and what they need to do. Also, it’s helped me because I know what chores to check up on to make sure they’ve been completed. I started making this as a gift for someone, but I liked it so much I decided to keep it! Another cool thing…it was super cheap…’thrifty’ to make!
And one more shot of it because there are so many wonderful pictures in this post that I didn’t want you to forget what the final project looked like!
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GREAT project!!! What a fun way to really get people involved! Plus it looks GREAT sitting out too.
.-= Maria´s last blog ..There really isnt anything wrong with me- =-.
Wow! I love it!!!! You are very talented….thanks for sharing! I hope to make this soon.
And your son is ADORABLE!
Clorissa
Can you explain to me how to do the chore template?
Thank you.
Just print it off. Cut around the Popsicle stick outlines and then glue those on to your Popsicle stick:)
I’m not a crafter, but my friend came up with, and we executed, a slightly different spin on your great idea:
http://www.themuppetfamily.com/2010/09/02/day-233-organized-crafting/
Thanks for the inspiration!
this link isn’t working either.
That looks cool but way too hard!
I love this idea! But I don’t have the tools or wood and it’s Sat. morning and I am inspired. I think I’ll try making it out of plastic cups & popsicle sticks and let the kids decorate them with markers. Maybe hot glue the cups onto some type of platform so they don’t get knocked over… Love the idea of sorting chores by the time they take. Makes it a challenging game, right? Great fun!
.-= Andromeda Jazmon´s last blog ..Autumn Psalm =-.
You should consider making these and selling them. I would totally buy it from you and know many others that would too. If you ever decide to do that let me know.
Aaaaah!! So, so, so cute!! I wonder if it being so cute will encourage my children to do their chores?:) Thanks so much for this post it is a fantastic idea – I will definitely be making my own!
.-= Aliessa´s last blog ..Teacher Gift Class =-.
I love this idea!! Totally going to make this ASAP!
Thanks so much for sharing.
.-= Mom and Pop´s last blog ..Eight is Enough =-.
I LOVE this idea and am planning on doing it in the morning! My one question: did you glue down your 3.5 blocks to the base board? It looks like it’s a no on the ones with the names, but what about the flat one? Thanks for the great idea!
Nope I didn’t. I give them the block with the sticks in it and they walk around the house with it so they can stay focused. They have to return it when they are finished…that way I know they are really done.
Can the jobs on the template be changed? I have other jobs and some aren’t on there or I dont need those. how do I change it, it wont let me delete what is there to create my own words.
Love this, so cute! Can I share with SonicScrubbers facebook fans?
of course! Thanks.
That is simply marvelous.You look like a professional chore chart maker.You should think about making it a career means as a business.You have got the potential.
If you have an iPad, there is an App that can help with organizing kids and their chores. Also has a checkbook window that gives them some accounting training! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ichores/id398902259?mt=8 iChores
If you have an iPad, there is an App that can help with organizing kids and their chores. Also has a checkbook window that gives them some accounting training! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ichores/id398902259?mt=8 iChores
LOVE this idea! What a great idea.
This is great. We recently started using the Nurtured Heart Approach with our parenting so instead of color coding the time for each chore, I will color code the corresponding reward for each chore then whomever chooses to do it will get that many credits at the end of the day! Thanks!!!
Thanks so much for this great tutorial! With permission from Alison, I will be selling finished block sets of this chart in my Etsy shop, http://www.allysatticcrafts.etsy.com Colors, names, and jobs can be customized. Head on over if you’d like one! 30$ finished. Thanks HowDoesShe!
What about unfinished? How much would it be just for the wood, I can podge it myself.
Hi there! On the pdf template, I didn’t see the 2-minutes chores. Could you post them for me? Thanx!
Check again. They should be there:) If not there is a blank page and they were designed for filling in the blanks:)
Ok.. so I totally wanna do this… I’m not crafty and don’t have a Michael’s to wander thru… we have a Hobby Lobby, so that will have to do, but what kind of paper is it? is it scrap booking paper? OR???
This is so cute! I hate the paper charts that hang on the refrigerator, this works great and is decorative too! Love it! Cant wait to make it and show it off to my friends they will be so jealous!
You spelled Mopped wrong. Moped is a motorized scooter.
ha ha. thanks.
For those who want to make this but not do the hard core carpentry – buy a set of wooden pencil holders or chipboard boxes, and screw them to a wooden base. Hey presto!
Brilliant!!
I love your website and your weekly newsletter. I get a lot of inspiration from you guys. I put a link to your blog on my blog and a picture of the 2×4 chore chart. Thanks for all the great ideas and for being willing to share them.
I am wondering if the vinyl you talk about is able to be printed in an inkjet printer?
No. The Vinyl we use is either from a personal craft cutting machine (silhouette, cricuit, etc) or you can buy it pre-cut directly from a vinyl supplier.
Hope that helps.
My children are too young to read the popcycle sticks… Any ideas on what I could do instead??
I have to tell you, that I have not made this project, yet…but my kids went wild for the chores laid out like this…I just cut the strips of paper from the template and they went to town… cleaning for 4 hours, no joke, without being nagged…actually the only fighting going on was when two of them wanted to clean the toilets…WTH…SO I went to work making the blocks…need to hit the craft store for more paper, nothing I have will work.
This is such a great, and super cute idea!!!
I love this! First baby on the way so I think when I need something creative to do on maternity leave, I’ll do this! (After the baby’s born, of course.) And there’s absolutely no reason that mom and dad can’t be put on there with the kids as well. Then the kids will know that you have your share of chores too!
how do you get the edges of the wood to look like that. i cant wait to make this. thank you so much
I just used a bit of stain:)
I love this idea!! Hopefully, my tweens will too. Thanks for sharing! <3
I’m not into woodworking but I love how this looks and think I could do it with boxes or something! Thanks for sharing! So pretty!!
Any way to make the templates so they could be edited? Just to add own personal chores (also change spelling of mopped)?
hi there… do you have a list of chores you could send me? I LOVE LOVE this idea… I have a hard time finding chores that are age appropriate. The chores I could see looked awesome!!
Thanks so much!
I just came across this last week and with some improvising made one similar. I hope it works to keep me and the kids organized when it comes to chores!
I love this idea and that chores get switched up a little – this could be a good thing for my ADHD’er. Hmmm. I’ll have to think about that one! I’m wondering for all the ladies out there that don’t have the tools or time to do this (like me)if there is a local craft shop that might have blocks of wood already cut. Or even some wood candle holders (minus the candle) which would have a whole cut in it already? The popsicle sticks seem manageable.
Just found this site and am excited about it! Thanks!!
This is by far the cuties chore chart idea I have seen. I will not be making my chore chart from scratch, however I will find a few small boxes I can paint myself and glue together. I will however, make the color coded popcicle sticks. Thank you so very much for this brilliant idea. I am excited about assigning chores to my three children now. I appreciate this more than you know.
Angia from Van Buren Twp, MI
I LOVE THIS!!!! I’m going to make it! What was the name of the paper you used, it’s my favorite!!!!