Looking for an easy way to keep kids engaged and responsible this summer? A summer chore chart helps create structure during long days at home while teaching valuable life skills. Whether you have young children or tweens, assigning age-appropriate chores can reduce screen time, encourage independence, and help the entire family work together.
Free Kids Summer Chore Chart (Printable + Tips!)
School’s out for the summer and my kids are so excited to do nothing! Or so they think. Annabelle is 12 and Ailey is almost 10 so it’s important they learn about responsibility and accountability. We want our daughters to have ownership over their day and how much fun they have in it. These skills are so crucial for their teenage/college years.
With the hopes of teaching them some of life’s most important lessons, I’ve created a summer chore chart. We are calling it a Summer Checklist though – just like our school year checklist. We use a checklist as a guide for stress free mornings before/after school.
What’s New for the Summer Chore Chart
- Age-based task ideas updated for ages 4–12
- Tips for digital vs. paper chore tracking
- New printable design with pastel colors + icon options
How to Use This Chart With Your Kids
It is not easy finding a kids chore system that works for everyone! I have based our chore chart and reward system off the way Brandon and I run our household. IF the children want to do certain activities THEN they will need to earn it by completing tasks around the house. This simple chore checklist will help our kids become working part of our household. It will also teach them the value of their work and how to earn what they want.
Benefits of a Summer Chore Chart
Thomas Lickona, Ph.D, author “How to raise kind kids”
“Our children won’t become responsible unless they have responsibility. And like everything else, that starts in the home.”
Build Routine & Responsibility
Annabelle and Ailey don’t really enjoy cleaning their room or putting their dishes in the sink after a meal. I have to remind them almost every day to do both tasks … unless there is an incentive involved. The summer chores we request of the children are good mannered behaviors or habits we would like them to develop. Brushing teeth and applying sunscreen should be a part of my daughters’ daily summer routine. The earlier kids learn to help with daily duties, the more likely they will continue to do the same as they get older.
Free Up Mom Time + Reduce Stress
I do not want to be a Cruise Director or Captain of Fun for my kids all summer. With the big sisters home it should be easier on me as a toddler Mom – they can entertain their little sister, right? A summer chore checklist frees up time for me to do my own chores and also reduces the workload around the house.
Summer Chore Ideas
Once we have adjusted to our new summer morning and evening checklists, I will be adding a few chores to their daily routine. Downtime can be dangerous with energetic sisters! We want our daughters to help with cleaning the living areas of our home, such as the kitchen and family room. Vacuuming, unloading/loading the dishwasher, dusting and cleaning windows are all age appropriate chores.
Chore Ideas by Age Group
My four year old is not a huge fan of chores, but she will help when the feeling strikes or a really great incentive is presented. Age appropriate chores for a toddler are putting away toys or helping with simple tasks like dusting, wiping up spills, and putting clothes in a hamper. My older daughters, ages 9 and 12, have a wider selection of chore ideas.
Chores for Ages 4–6
- Put toys in bins
- Water indoor plants/outdoor planters with supervision
- Help feed pets
Chores for Ages 7–9
- Make bed every morning
- Empty dishwasher (plastic items)
- Dust low shelves
Chores for Ages 10–12
- Fold laundry and put away
- Vacuum common areas
- Pack their own lunch/snacks
Check out this post for more age appropriate chores.
Free Printable Summer Chore Checklist for Kids
Reward Ideas That Actually Work
Rewards are pretty important when it comes to children and chores around the house. If you want your kids to step away from an activity to complete a task of YOUR choosing, then you may want to offer an incentive for the behavior. The more times a child completes a checklist, the more routine the behavior becomes!
Screen Time, Treats & Outdoor Fun
The incentive for completing the morning checklist is 30-60 minutes of screen time OR playing in the playroom/outdoors. The incentive for completing the evening checklist is 30 minutes of screen time before bed OR at some time the next day. Like many children, my daughters are motivated by screen time, which ranges from a television show, Nintendo Switch game, learning app or facetiming a friend. My daughters also like to earn a quick treat (popsicle/lemonade) or outdoor fun (water chalk) for completing morning/evening chores.
Long-Term Rewards
It is important to offer a range of incentives and rewards for summer chores. My daughters can earn bigger rewards for consistently completing their checklist.
- Swim at neighborhood pool
- Visit a new park
- Water Play (sprinkler, water balloons, etc.)
- Ice Cream Truck money
- Homemade ice cream sundaes
- Movie theater (at home or visit the real place)
- S’mores by the fire pit
- Visit the Ice Cream/Candy Store in the Town Center
- Special Dinner Request
- See more reward ideas on our Summer Bucket List
Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Chore Charts
What chores should kids do during the summer?
Summer chores can help children build responsibility while school is out. Simple age-appropriate tasks include making their bed, putting away laundry, feeding pets, unloading the dishwasher, tidying bedrooms, watering plants, and helping prepare meals.
How many chores should kids do each day in the summer?
The number of chores depends on a child’s age and schedule. Many families find success with 3–5 daily chores plus a few weekly responsibilities. The goal is to create helpful routines without making summer feel like a full-time job.
Should kids get paid for chores?
Every family handles allowances differently. Some parents choose to pay for extra jobs beyond regular household responsibilities, while others believe chores are part of contributing to the family. A summer chore chart can work well with or without rewards.
What chores can a 5 to 7 year-old do?
Children ages 5–7 can often:
- Make their bed
- Put toys away
- Match socks
- Feed pets with supervision
- Wipe down tables
- Help water plants
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper
What chores can an 8 to 10 year old do?
Children ages 8–10 can often:
- Empty the dishwasher
- Fold laundry
- Vacuum small areas
- Sweep floors
- Pack snacks
- Help prepare simple meals
- Take out small trash bins
What chores can tweens do?
Tweens can typically handle more responsibility, including:
- Doing their own laundry
- Loading and unloading the dishwasher
- Walking the dog
- Cleaning bathrooms
- Helping cook dinner
- Mowing the lawn (with supervision and when age-appropriate)
- Babysitting younger siblings for short periods
How do you make a summer chore chart successful?
Keep expectations realistic, make the chart visible, and stay consistent. Many parents find that pairing chores with privileges such as screen time, playdates, or special outings helps motivate kids throughout the summer.
Printable & Digital Chart Downloads
Every family works a little differently, and your chore chart should fit your lifestyle. Whether you prefer tech-free simplicity or digital convenience, here’s how to make the chart work for you:
Option 1: Dry-Erase Board Method (Hands-On & Visual)
Print the chore chart, then slip it into a plastic page protector or laminate it. Use dry-erase markers so your child can check off tasks daily—and wipe clean each night or week!
Supplies Needed:
- Laminator or plastic page protector
- Dry-erase marker
- Magnet clips (optional for fridge display)
Mom Tip: We keep ours on the fridge so it’s visible every morning. The girls love drawing a smiley face next to finished chores!
Option 2: Chore Apps (For Tech-Loving Families)
If your kids are old enough for devices, chore-tracking apps can be fun and motivating. They often include point systems, rewards, and customizable tasks.
Popular Apps to Try:
- Skylight Calendar – We are obsessed with our Skylight Calendar in the kitchen because it has a Task option to track chores, tasks, and rewards!
- Neat Kid – Neat Kid uses points instead of real money, making it suitable for younger children who may not be ready for financial management.
- Busy Kid – BusyKid is a chore and allowance app that streamlines the process from assigning chores to providing payouts.
Mom Tip: Make it a game! Let kids “level up” with points or unlock weekly prizes based on app progress.
PDF Download 2026 Summer Chore Chart
If you don’t have access to a printer, you can purchase a dry erase or magnetic chore chart online.
Want to print off any of the chore charts above? Check out 2025 summer chore chart for kids or one of my FREE Printable Summer Chore Checklists! Print off a core chart or checklist to either laminate or place in a dry erase folder.
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