I read an online article about teaching your kids independence and maturity by having them do chores. I also have a dear, dear friend who has had her three boys cleaning, cooking, and washing their home like pros since they were just wee, little embryos toddlers. Toddlers.

And every time I see these cleaning little kiddos, or read another article on chores and responsibility, or get overwhelmed by all the piles of crap around my house, I remind myself to get my stuff together and teach my kids to do chores on a more regular basis.

It isn’t that I love cleaning so much that I hoard all the fun or something. (I kind of hate cleaning.) It is just plain hard to stay on top of keeping three kiddos on track with chores, get them to do them when I need them done, keep track of rewards or punishments, etc, etc, so I typically get really excited about a new “system” and then it peters out. Like in a day.

We’ve tried chore charts, apps to keep track of chores that award screen time, magnetic calendars, monetary rewards, time-outs, lectures, yelling, and bribery. And now, my newest attempt at managing chores: this lovely chore board that I thought up and made.

How it works:

Chores on the left are chores to do. Chores on the right are done. Kids know what is expected. Kids move the cards. I tally the cards & pay them at the end of the week.

There are also a stash of chores that I can add into their piles outside of their “regular” ones. I know. I am so serious about this.

To be honest, I had such a fun time making the board that I wouldn’t even really mind if it fails as a chore chart. I could always hang cute pictures on it.

Here’s how to make your own DIY picture holder chore board.

Supplies You’ll Need:

1. Wooden board – (you could make your own if you are so inclined or you could fork over $18 & a coupon to JoAnns like I did to buy this one)
2. Mini clips – I used 3 clips/child plus 4 additional clips for the board
3. Screws – 1:1 ratio with the mini clips
4. Paper for printing – I used a medium weight card stock.

Tools You’ll Need:

1. A screwdriver
2. A drill to make the screw-process 1000% easier
3. Printer & ink (or print online using one of many online services)

What to Do:

1. Chore Chart Printable. They are business card sized if you happen to have that sized paper laying around. I’ve also included some blank cards & blank name cards so you can add in your own chores/kiddo’s names.
2. Layout your chore cards & name tags & labels before drilling any holes.
3. Drill starter holes for all the screws and then screw in a clip in each hole. Easy peasy.
4. Pop in your chores in the clips.
5. Get those kiddos working (Good luck!)

Update: It has officially been one whole week of success with this chore system. Hurray! I recommend that you put some scratch-resistant backing pads on the back of the chore chart if you hang it so you don’t scratch the paint.