How to set up a chore chart for a blended family

Agree on the rules first

Before you assign a single chore, sit down as parents and agree on what counts as done, what happens when a chore is skipped, and what kids earn. Kids accept rules more easily when both parents say the same thing.

Assign by age, not by whose kid it is

Give chores based on what each child can handle. A 6-year-old and a 14-year-old shouldn't have the same list, but two 10-year-olds should. Our chores-by-age guide is a good starting point.

Plan around time at the other home

• Only assign chores on days a child is actually with you.
• Give kids who are with you fewer days a smaller list, not a harder one.
• Keep the same chore on the same days so kids know what to expect when they come back.

Make the rewards visible and equal

Use the same reward for the same work, for every child. When kids can see their progress, such as a jar filling with jelly beans, arguments about fairness drop.

Check in weekly

A short family meeting once a week is the time to swap chores, fix what isn't working, and celebrate what got done.