Chore tracker worksheet

Looking for a printable chore tracker? Whether you’re a family therapist, individual counselor, or couples therapist, a chore tracker can be a helpful tool to support your clients. 

This article gives mental health therapists a brief overview of their benefits, example ways to use chore sheets, and a free downloadable chore responsibility chart that you can save to your electronic health record (EHR).

What is a chore tracker?

A chore tracker helps to manage, coordinate, and keep track a variety of household tasks, including:

• Food preparation: Tasks include food planning, shopping, meal preparation, and cleaning.
• Cleaning tasks: Household chores to keep the house clean, organized, and well-maintained.
• Household maintenance jobs: A list of house-related tasks to maintain the home, like window cleaning, yard maintenance, cleaning the gutters, taking out the trash, and repairs.
• Task list: These kinds of tasks are things like running errands, picking up medication, going to the bank, calling a utility company, etc. 

Chore sheets can be used by parents to help their children develop core skills for adulthood and to take responsibility for household chores. 

Additionally, couples can use a chore tracker to fairly divide chores and maintain an equitable relationship.

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Chore tracker examples

There are a range of chore trackers available, depending on the types of task and preferences of the family, such as: 

Interactive chore charts 

Digital trackers or apps are a great way to keep track of chores. The apps typically allow the users to tailor the chore lists, send reminders, and track progress.

Chore chart point system 

Gamifying charts by using a reward-based system, like stars or points every time the assigned person completes the task, can be another approach for a chore tracker. 

Physical charts 

This type of chore responsibility chart lists tasks, who they are assigned to, and completion dates. 

Physical charts are usually printed on paper or written on a whiteboard in a visible place in the house, like the refrigerator or kitchen area.  

What to include in a chore tracker

Chore sheets should include logistical information like:

• The specific task, which may require a list of sub-tasks—this can be especially helpful for children or people with ADHD so the task feels less overwhelming and doesn’t require extra thought.
• The person responsible for the task.
• The frequency at which the task needs to be completed. For example, taking the trash out every Tuesday night and bringing the garbage cans in on Wednesday afternoon.
• A way to track progress, such as a point system or checkbox which signals the completion of the task to everyone in the house, and reduces the feeling of being “nagged” or that you need to parent your partner about completing the task.

In addition, you may want to have regular reviews of your chore tracker, such as a monthly evaluation, to assess if tasks are being distributed fairly or if they need adjusting.

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Benefits of using a chore tracker

Chore trackers have many benefits, including:

Reduces conflict 

Having clear boundaries about who is responsible for each chore reduces confusion, promotes fairness, and establishes clear expectations, which can minimize conflicts. 

Improves executive functioning 

Chore sheets are a great way to keep track of daily responsibilities and build sustainable routines. Trackers can reduce feelings of overwhelm by breaking down tasks into more manageable chunks. 

Dividing chores in this way can be particularly helpful for children or for people with ADHD, as they may struggle with executive functioning which involves prioritizing tasks, task switching, remembering instructions, and self-regulating.

Teaches valuable life skills 

By using a fun reward system, chore charts can be a way for children to learn valuable life skills like time management, developing a work ethic and independence, learning accountability, and preparing for adulthood. 

Promotes family unity 

Chore sheets help families and partnerships to develop strong bonds by working together to achieve a common goal of a clean, organized, and well-maintained home. 

Motivates participation 

By using a point-based system, children may be more motivated to complete the chore knowing they will be rewarded when it is completed.

Sources

• Busy Kids. (2023). What is a Chore Chart, Who is it For, and Why it Works.
• Tepper, D. L., Howell, T. J., & Bennett, P. C. (2022). Executive functions and household chores: Does engagement in chores predict children's cognition? Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.
• Weber, S. J., Mulvaney, S. A., Faiola, A., Brown, M., Koyama, T., et al. (2023). Commercially Available Mobile Apps With Family Behavioral Goal Setting and Tracking for Parents: Review and Quality Evaluation. JMIR pediatrics and parenting.

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