Most preschool kids can’t read words on a to-do list, but they can follow a job schedule that uses pictures to represent age appropriate tasks.
The Benefits of Chore Charts for Children
Preschoolers are in a stage of growing independence and learning how capable they are. They like to try new things and experience success. Preschool kids can learn to contribute to others and to the household by doing age appropriate jobs such as feeding pets, setting the table and doing simple cooking tasks. Although it’s easier for parents and adults to do all of the work in a home or classroom, it’s best for children to start doing chores as soon as they are able.
In addition to teaching independence, doing age appropriate chores helps young children feel needed. When children feel significant and needed at home or school, they are less likely to misbehave. “In the family or preschool, a wonderful way to encourage social interest (link) is by sharing chores or the work of the family does together,” write Jane Nelsen, Cheryl Erwin and Roslyn Duffy in Positive Discipline for Preschoolers (Three Rivers Press; 2 Rev Sub edition 1998). Making a picture to do list that uses pictures helps children learn pre-reading skills and know what jobs are to be completed each day.
Finding Images and Pictures for Visual Job Schedules
Visual images for chore charts can be computer graphics, pictures from magazines, simple drawing or actual photographs of a child completing a job. Even simple stick figure drawings will do. Preschool kids will be learning pre-reading skills as they follow a list of picture instructions.
The Do2Learn website offers a free selection of pictures for everyday tasks such as getting dressed, eating meals and toileting. A variety of websites offer clip art and graphics (some for free and some for a cost) that work well for making picture chore charts for children.
Making a Picture To-Do List
There are many ways for making a picture job schedule for preschool kids, pre-readers or children on the autism spectrum. Pictures can be glued in order from top to bottom or left to right on a piece of cardboard or tag board.
If parents want the to-do list to have flexibility, it’s best to mount the individual pictures on separate index cards or pieces of cardboard. Velcro or magnets attached to the back of each card will allow for children or parents to change the schedule or put the tasks in a different order if needed. Then the schedule can be mounted on a Velcro compatible strip or a refrigerator or magnet board.
For a portable version, punch holes in individual cards and loop the job schedule together for a flip style chore chart. Flip over chore charts for children can be stored on hooks on the wall or on a magnetic hook on the refrigerator. Job schedules and to do lists can also be made to hang on a door knob as a reminder to complete chores.
Tips for Making a Picture Chore Chart Successful
Children are more likely to take ownership over a daily to-do list that they helped create. Parents can involve children in finding pictures for a chore chart and assembling the chart. It’s best for parents to allow children to do as much as possible in creating the chore chart and choose child involvement over neatness and attractiveness.
In Chores Without Wars (Taylor Trade Publishing, 2005), authors Lynn Lott and Riki Itner recommend to “skip the stars and sticker rewards, as they aren’t needed.” Routine charts and reward charts are not the same thing. Instead Lott and Itner recommend a family teamwork approach including taking time to properly train children on how to complete age appropriate jobs.
Making a picture chore chart for children can be fun for adults and children and can start children on the road to independence and contributing to a family teamwork approach to housework. Visual schedules can be made for morning routine charts, bedtime routine charts, a clean bedroom routine chart and more. Delegating age appropriate chores teaches children life skills, builds confidence and helps children feel needed in a positive way.
Kelly Pfeiffer - Kelly Pfeiffer teaches Positive Discipline workshops to parents and trains child care providers on various child development topics.
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