101 Chore Reward Ideas for Kids of Any Age

While every parent knows chores for kids around the house helps increase responsibility, they also know that rewards are a great motivator.

That’s why many parents use a reward system to give their kids a little incentive to get their work done.

If you’re looking to relieve your own workload a bit or just want to show your kiddos what a good job they’re doing, these chore reward ideas for kids are just what you need.

Smiling little girl washing dishes as a chore

Should Chores Be Rewarded?

This is a big question parents face as they’re figuring out how the chore system will work in their own home.

If you’re on the fence about whether or not chores should be rewarded, you’re not alone!

When it comes to figuring out if chore rewards are right for your family, consider the three basic incentive options to choose from:

No rewards. Some parents believe that positive affirmations and praise are the only reward their children should get for completing their chores. When implementing this method, your child will receive no rewards for completed chores and will instead learn about creating healthy habits and becoming a valuable member of the family. When beginning to introduce chores to younger children, this method is a great option that will allow them to understand the importance of helping out around the house without the work being tied directly to a reward.
Money. Another popular option for rewarding your kids for doing their chores is an allowance or payment for chores. Some families give their child a weekly allowance if al their chores are completed, while others pay on a per-chore basis. This method works well for older children who already understand the importance of contributing to the household workload.
Activities and tangible rewards. Instead of giving your kids money for a job well done, you can also offer weekly and monthly rewards in the form of activities, toys, or other desired items. Weekly chores can be rewarded with a small incentive, like staying up late or extra screen time, while monthly rewards are higher value items, like a new toy or video game.

How Much Should You Pay for Chores?

Giving your child a monetary incentive for finishing their chores is one of the most popular reward ideas.

In addition to providing your kids with a little extra motivation for finishing their daily tasks, paying for chores is a great way to help improve their financial literacy.

Earning money for chores helps them learn how to manage their money, how to save for the things they want, and the real cost of the things they want to buy.

But if you’re not sure how much to pay your kids for their chores, the general rule of thumb for an allowance is $1 for each year of age on a weekly basis.

Or if you want to pay per chore, it’s a good idea to take the chore’s difficulty and time commitment in mind when assigning a price tag. Harder jobs that take more time can earn more pay, while quick, simple tasks will earn less.

And don’t forget to let your child know how much each chore is worth before they start working.

After you decide on a pay rate, you’ll need to figure out if you’ll pay your child directly after they finish their work for the day or let them accumulate their earnings to be paid weekly. And whether they’re receive a stipend if all their work isn’t completed.

Another option for paying your kids for chores is a hybrid of the weekly allowance and pay-per-chore methods.

With this option, you give your kids an allowance on a weekly basis for doing basic chores around the house. And they can earn additional money for doing extra, more involved chores, like shoveling the driveway after a heavy snow or helping out with spring cleaning.

Need chore ideas for your kids? Check out these posts:

Activity Chore Reward Ideas

If you’re not interested in paying your kids for completing their chores, offering them fun activities as a reward for a job well done is another great option for chore rewards. But coming up with activities that will motivate your kids can sometimes be difficult.

If you’re stuck coming up with some good chore rewards, try offering some of these fun activities to your kids:

Going out for ice cream
Family movie night at the movie theater
Bowling with the family
A night out with mom or dad
No-chores pass for one day
Their favorite dessert
Mini golf with the family
Staying up one hour past their bed time
Extra screen time
Cooking their favorite dinner
Dinner at their favorite restaurant
A trip to the bakery
Extra time at the park
Picnic at the park
Backyard campout
Extra TV time
Baking their favorite cookies
Picking out their favorite candy at the store
Playdate with a friend
Trip to the zoo
Trip to the amusement park
Read them their favorite book
Watch their favorite movie
Watch their favorite show
Go for a bike ride
Go swimming
Do a scavenger hunt
Messy play with slime or playdough
Visit grandparents or other family members
Jump on the bed
Do a science experiment
Make a special breakfast
Eat a special snack after school
Spend the night at a hotel
Family game night
Extra bed time story
Trip to the library
Build a blanket fort

Small Chore Rewards

Activities aren’t the only way you can reward your child for doing their chores!

These small chore rewards are a great way to help keep your kids motivated to continue doing their household tasks each day.

Stickers
Stamps
Bubbles
Sidewalk chalk
Glow sticks
Crayons
Colored pencils
Small toys
Bouncy balls
Candy

Monthly Chore Reward Ideas

A full month of chores deserves a higher value reward, which means you’ll need to come up with some good ideas that will excite your kids.

These monthly chore reward ideas are perfect for giving your kids some extra incentive for completing all their chores during the month.

Apps for their phone or tablet
Video games
A new toy
Board games
Books
Sleepover with friends
Dollar store shopping spree
Clothing
Shoes
Jewelry or accessories
Art and craft supplies
Headphones
Posters
Sticker sets
Coloring books
Sports equipment
Gift card to their favorite store

Chore Rewards for Teenagers

Getting your teenager to do their chores sometimes feels like a chore itself. But with a little bit of motivation, your teen will be sure to finish their daily to-do list!

These chore reward ideas for teens are a great way to encourage your older child to get their work done at home each day:

Staying out past their curfew
Driving to a new place on their own
Sleeping in
Extra money for gas
Tokens for the car wash
Decorations for their bedroom
Extra time with their friends
New clothes or shoes
Gift cards to their favorite store
Cell phone privileges
Allowing them to use your car
Concert or event tickets
New electronics
Manicure/pedicure or spa day
Opening a checking account in their name
Movie tickets
Inviting friends over

Using this list of chore reward ideas for kids is a good starting place for showing kids that there are rewards for completing tasks and being responsible.

Talk to your kids and find out if there are any specific rewards that motivate them that they’d add to this list to give them the most motivation possible to complete their chores.