When summer rolls around, your kids will be ready to relax without the stress of school.
And while giving your kids some free time is a great way to help them unwind when the school year is over, it’s also important to keep some structure in their day.
Keeping a list of chores for kids to be completed each day while they’re out of school is the perfect way to ensure your kids are productive during the summer months.
These summer chores for kids are an easy way to encourage your kids to pitch in around the house.
How to Get Kids to Do Summer Chores
If your kids thought they’d be spending their entire summer lounging on the couch, they’ll probably be pretty disappointed to learn that they’ll be doing chores.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have a few tricks in your back pocket to ensure those chores get done each day.
These simple tips are easy ways to help keep your kids motivated to complete their daily to-do list while they’re home on summer break:
- Make a chore chart. The best way to ensure your kids do their chores is to be sure the know exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. A chore chart is great for younger kids. And if you have older kids at home, a to-do list or chore app may be a better choice. Either way, be sure to list each of their chores and place the list in a prominent location so they’re sure to see it each morning.
- Offer rewards. Giving your kids rewards for a job well done is a great motivator. You can give your kids an allowance when they complete their chores or just offer them a simple reward when their chores are complete.
- Make sure there are consequences. In addition to rewards, it’s also important that your kids know there will be consequences if the chores aren’t complete. Letting your kids know what will happen if they don’t finish their summer chores is a simple way to encourage them to get their tasks done each day.
RELATED: 101 FUN WAYS TO REWARD KIDS FOR DOING THEIR CHORES
Daily Summer Chores for Kids
Keeping your kids busy while they’re inside is a great way to prevent boredom. And what better way to keep your kids from getting bored during the summer than with chores that teach them responsibilty?
These household chores are great options for kids to complete while they’re at home each day during the summer months:
Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Straighten their bed each morning
- Pick up toys and put them away
- Keep books and magazines neat and organized
- Put dirty clothes in hamper
- Sort dirty laundry by color
- Fold small towels and washcloths
- Match socks
- Feed and water the pets
- Water indoor plants
- Take dirty dishes to the kitchen after eating
- Wipe of the table and sweep the floor with small broom after eating
- Put away plastic dishes and silverware
Kindergarten and Elementary Schoolers
- Any of the chores listed above
- Make their bed
- Clean up and organize their room
- Put toys and books away when they’re finished with them
- Unload the dishwasher and put dishes away
- Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher or wash dishes after using them
- Assist with preparing dinner
- Set the table for dinner
- Clear the table after dinner
- Bring in the mail from the mailbox
- Take out the trash
- Fold and put away their own laundry
- Take the dog for a walk
- Vacuum or sweep the floors with a broom
- Use a Swiffer mop to clean the floors
- Wipe of counters in kitchen and/or bathroom
Tweens and Teenagers
- Any of the chores listed above
- Keep their room and bathroom clean and organized
- Household cleaning tasks (dusting, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, etc.)
- Wash, dry, and fold all laundry and put it away
- Prepare their own breakfast, lunch, and snacks and clean up afterwards
- Babysit younger siblings
Outdoor Summer Chores for Kids
Making sure your kids spend time outside is essential during the summer months.
And since there are a variety of great chores they can complete while they’re outside, they’re sure to get a lot accomplished during their summer break.
These outdoor summer chores for kids are great for keeping your kids busy and productive while they’re home:
Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Pick up sticks and other yard debris
- Put their outdoor toys away
- Clean their outdoor toys with soap and a scrub brush
- Assist with washing the car
Kindergarten and Elementary School Kids
- Any of the chores listed above
- Water the garden and flower beds
- Plant new plants in the garden and flower beds
- Pull weeds from the garden and flower beds
- Pick fruit from the garden plants
- Sweep the porch, sidewalk, and driveway
- Use a net to clean the pool
- Clean off patio furniture
- Clean swings and playset
- Take the trash cans and recyclables to the curb
- Spread mulch in the flower beds
- Take food scraps to the compost bin
- Clean doormats
- Clean pet waste from yard
- Fill bird feeders and clean bird bath
Tweens and Teens
- Any of the chores listed above
- Mow the grass
- Trim the hedges
- Wash the exterior windows and doors
- Vacuum and scrub the pool
- Clean out the garage and/or shed
- Clean outdoor tools
- Wash the siding
- Seed the lawn
- Edge the lawn
- Clean the gutters
- Till the garden
Additional Summer Chores for Kids
Giving your kids daily summer chores is the way to ensure they keep helping out around the house even when they’re on a break from school.
But sometimes, you need to give your kids a few extra tasks to complete to pass the time.
These extra chores are perfect for allowing your kids to earn a little extra money or to help them stay busy during their school break.
Decluttering
If your kids are at home each day, they can help by decluttering different areas of the house.
Common spots that may need clearing out are the closets, basement, garage, attic, pantry, kitchen cabinets, and bathrooms.
Let your kids sort and clean out the problem areas, then take a good look at what they’ve cleared out before removing it from the house.
Deep cleaning
Your kids can also help out by deep cleaning your house during the summer months.
There are a variety of simple cleaning tasks your kids can tackle during summer break, like:
- Cleaning light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Washing the window panes and frames (inside and out)
- Wash window and door screens
- Dusting and scrubbing the blinds
- Wash curtains and drapes
- Cleaning the stovetop and oven
- Scrubbing the inside of the kitchen cabinets
- Cleaning out and wiping down the refrigerator
- Washing comforters and pillows
- Cleaning the washing machine
- Vacuuming and deep cleaning the furniture
- Shampooing the carpets and rugs
- Scrubbing the baseboards, trim, and doors
- Vacuum under the furniture in each room
- Clear cobwebs from ceiling
Personal Care Chores
Since your kids aren’t getting up and going to school each morning, it might be difficult to get them to keep up with their personal hygiene.
Incorporating some personal care chores into their day will help them stay on track, even when they’re not at school.
These daily personal tasks are good summer chores for kids that keeps them in the habit of good self-care.
- Regular bath or shower
- Wash their hair
- Brush their teeth
- Brush their hair
- Get dressed
- Read for 30 minutes
- Practice their instrument and/or sport
- Play outside
To sum it up, yes, summer is the time for relaxing and not having to do school work, but that doesn’t mean chores don’t still need to be done!
Having a simple summer chores for kids list that your kids can easily complete each day will keep them productive throughout the summer and keep you from having to do all the work yourself.
