What a chore chart does for a family
A chore chart sets out who does what around the house: laying the table, emptying the dishwasher, taking out the recycling. Instead of repeating the same requests every evening, you agree once and everyone knows the deal. Some families call it a job chart or a responsibility chart; the idea is the same.
- Fewer arguments: every child knows what is expected of them today and this week. “Whose turn is it?” comes up far less often.
- Independence: a chore done regularly soon gets done without help, and children take responsibility for a small part of shared family life.
- Fairness: once everything is written down, you can see whether the work is evenly spread, between the children and between the parents too. Nobody has to keep it all in their head.
- Recognition: a finished chore gets noticed. With stars and an agreed reward, an obligation becomes something to work towards.
Chores for kids by age
Even young children can help if the chore suits them. The table shows examples that work in many families. Treat them as a guide rather than rules: some children want to take on more early, others need longer.
| Age | Suitable chores |
|---|---|
| Ages 4 to 6 | Tidy away toys, put cutlery and napkins on the table, carry dirty clothes to the laundry basket, water plants with a small watering can, pair up socks |
| Ages 7 to 9 | Lay and clear the table, put away the cutlery from the dishwasher, tidy their own room, feed the pet, clean shoes, pack their own snack for school |
| Ages 10 to 12 | Vacuum, bundle paper and cardboard for recycling, take out the rubbish, hang up and fold laundry, help with the cooking, look after their own bike |
| 13 and over | Wash their own clothes, cook a simple meal once a week, do the shopping from a list, clean the bathroom, mow the lawn, keep an eye on younger siblings for a short while |
How to share chores fairly
A chore chart works when everyone feels it is fair. That depends less on the number of chores than on how much work each one involves, and on whether everyone had a say.
- Weight by effort: vacuuming takes more work than watering the plants. Give bigger chores more stars than small ones, so it is not just the count that matters.
- Rotate the unpopular ones: chores nobody likes change hands every week, so the bathroom does not always land on the same child.
- Decide together: talk the chart through as a family, for example on Sunday evening for the week ahead. Children who chose their own chore are more likely to stick to it.
- Be specific: “tidy your room” means something different to a child than to an adult. Write down what it includes and when it should be done by.
- Parents join in: adults can collect stars too, so every child sees that the grown-ups do their share.
- Keep rewards within reach: a reward that is months away loses its appeal. Set small and bigger rewards, so there is always something close.
How the chore chart works in JH FamilySync
In JH FamilySync, chores live under Tasks in the Everyday section, together with stars, rewards and a jar for every family member. Tasks with stars are part of the free version.
- Open Tasks
Tap Everyday at the bottom of the screen, then Tasks. On a computer, Everyday is in the sidebar on the left.
- Add a chore
Tap the plus button, or New task on a computer. Enter the chore under “What needs doing?” and pick who takes it on under For whom?. Worth in stars sets what it earns: 0 to 20 stars, and at 0 it does not count. A date under Due is optional.
- Agree on rewards
The first time, tap Set the first reward; after that, Rewards. With Set a reward you decide what you are working towards and how many stars it costs. The app suggests common rewards with a price, such as extra screen time for 15 stars or a movie night for 50. Under Who is it for? you choose who a reward applies to; if you select nobody, it applies to everyone.
- Tick off and collect
When a chore is done, tap the circle next to it. If the chore is assigned to exactly one family member, the stars go into their jar, even if a parent ticks it off; otherwise they go to whoever ticks it off. The jar shows how many stars are still needed for the next reward.
- Redeem
Tap a jar to see that family member’s rewards. When there are enough stars, claim the reward with Redeem; after a confirmation, the stars come off the total.
The treasure chest next to the jars opens as soon as someone has enough stars for a reward. Below it, a podium shows who has done the most overall. Redeemed stars keep counting there, so redeeming never feels like falling behind. The podium appears once at least two people in the family have collected stars.
Alongside Tasks, the Everyday section holds other tools for the whole family, such as the shared shopping list, the family meal planner and the packing list for family holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Is the chore chart in JH FamilySync free?
Yes. Tasks with stars, rewards and redeeming are all part of the free version. The free version covers up to four family members; beyond that you need Premium, which costs CHF 2.00 a month or CHF 20 a year and covers the whole family.
From what age can my child take part on their own?
An account of their own, and with it their own jar, is possible from age 13; under 16, a parent’s consent is needed. For younger children, a paper chore chart on the fridge works well, and the examples by age above help you choose suitable chores.
Who gets the stars if I tick off a chore for my child?
The family member the chore is assigned to. If it is assigned to nobody or to several people, the stars go to whoever ticks it off. If you reopen a finished chore, the stars are taken back.
Can adults collect stars too?
Yes. Every family member with their own account has a jar, parents and grandparents included. The podium counts what each person has collected in total.
Do chores repeat automatically every week?
No. In JH FamilySync a chore is a task that gets done once. Add recurring chores again, most easily once a week. “Clear done” then removes the ticked-off chores; the stars already collected stay.