Parents, have you ever been at your wit's end trying to get your kids to do their chores? Sometimes, all kids need is something new and exciting to motivate them to do more chores!
You'll be able to keep up with all those pesky tasks without too much fuss if they're rewarded in a way that will make them happy. So check out these unique ideas and hopefully it'll help lighten the load!
1. Staying up later than usual
Do your kids love the thrill of staying up past their bedtime? They might just be more willing to help out if staying up later is one of your rewards. It's a good incentive for older kids who are used to having curfews, but are itching to stay up a little later.
2. Extra video game or internet time
This is a great option for teens and kids who love spending time on their devices. Offer them 15 minutes or an hour if they do some basic chores, like picking the toys up off the floor. For older kids you can promise more time on video games or online to motivate them to clean their rooms, do their homework, or help out around the house. Just be sure to set a time limit or your teens might play non-stop!
3. Special time spent with friends or family who are usually busy
Often, the most important thing for kids is spending time with the people they care about, so if you can offer activities rich in this experience then it's sure to be a hit!
Of course, we would love to give them all of our time, but when there's a practical limit on both on our time and money, assigning special time as a reward can be both fun and practical. So, instead of giving money or objects as chore rewards, give more of yourself and create more opportunities for your child to connect with those they love.
4. The fun fact reward
This is a great one for kids who enjoy learning new things. Have your child do something like feed the dog, then reward them with an interesting fact that they can put in their phone notes app for safe keeping. Your kids will also love sharing their new facts with their friends! It's not only fun but educational too!
5. Eating ice cream together
It's simple, but spending an afternoon going out for ice cream together is a lot of fun! It provides the tangible reward of yummy ice cream, while also giving time for you to talk with your child.
6. Outdoor activity of their choice
Going on a walk through the park or playing basketball are great ways to get some physical exercise all while providing that all important bonding time for you and your child. Let your child choose the location and activity, and watch their motivation skyrocket as they race to earn their reward!
7. Going out to get their favorite food
If your child has a favorite restaurant that they've been dying to go, or a special food they can't get enough of, take them out on an adventure to go get that food as a reward! It's an enjoyable experience for both of you to share, and will motivate them even more to do their chores so they can go out and enjoy it with you.
8. Special trips to see distant friends or family
It can be hard for kids whose friends and family live at a distance to deal with their absence, but there is a solution that is both fun and practical.
If your son or daughter has been missing their best friend or a relative from out of state, offer them a special trip in exchange for good work! Rewards like this can be very powerful motivators for kids, as there's often nothing they want more than to spend quality time with their loved ones.
Reminders
Have your kids help plan out what rewards are available so that they feel like it's an opportunity for input as well!
Your kids probably have some great ideas for rewards that you'd never have thought about before! Let them use their creativity to help you brainstorm ideas. It will have the added benefit of encouraging their independence, giving them a voice in family matters, and making them feel more vested in doing chores.
Reward yourself too - take time to relax after completing all of your tasks! You deserve it! :)
Don't forget to reward yourself! There's a lot we can learn from how we raise kids, and one of the most important is to take a few minutes to reward ourselves when we need it.
Be sure to have fun while working together as a team!
Kids want to spend time with parents who enjoy spending time with them, whether it's creating new chore rewards, working on chores together, or spending time together as a reward. Enjoy the entire process together and you can't go wrong!
Put your new custom rewards into the Quirl app for a seamless experience
So now you have a list of your new custom rewards all planned out, but how to put these rewards into
practice?
Luckily, Quirl, the allowance and chore app that doubles as a mobile game, makes everything straightforward for you, with the added bonus that your kids will love playing with the app!
After you create your Quirl account, simply head on over to the Custom Rewards section, where you can enter in all of the rewards you and your child have brainstormed. Then assign chores, an allowance, and watch your child's progress to their goal reward grow as they start checking off chores.
We hope that this post has helped you plan out a reward system for your kids. Keep in mind that often the best rewards are those which offer kids an opportunity to do something special with their parents and loved ones!
In the comments below, please let us know how it goes or share any other tips or tricks that have worked well for you in motivating your children. With love from our team here at Quirl, we wish you all happy parenting!