How to Make a Dry Erase Toddler Chore Chart

Ready to put your eager helpers to work? Check out how to make this DIY dry erase toddler chore chart.  Just want to print and go? Grab a free printable toddler chore chart with pictures!

After dealing with a bit of behavior issues with my three year old, I was feeling run down and enslaved.  By the time my husband came home from work, I was at the end of my rope with the kid.  I simply wanted to run from the house to return when she went off to college.  Sure, I’d miss the good times, but I wasn’t feeling like there were too many of them.

Finally, I’d had enough and knew something had to change.  I decided that I no longer wanted to hear “I want” and the ensuing tantrums when things didn’t go her way.  From now on, she needed to earn things.  I discussed with my husband my idea that she needed to earn the coins she was taking to bed every night, and we decided that we would tie in her behavior to learn to be responsible and respectful of us.  Most importantly, I wanted a FREE toddler chore chart that I could customize.  I admit, I don’t like paying for things if I don’t have to.  So, I created a chore chart for toddlers.  Then, I printed it at home and turned it into a dry erase chart, seeing as how I’m in love with making dry erase activity books.

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Coming Up With the Dry Erase Chore Chart for Toddlers

After much thought, I decided on a few chores that weren’t hygiene related, as those need to be done without monetary incentive.  I’m not sure why most people believe a toddler chore chart should include hygienic activities.  Additionally, I found that giving a toddler chores early on becomes a huge sanity saver when trying to manage housekeeping.

Together, hubby and I devised a monetary reward system for the chores.  At the time, we wanted her behavior to be tied to the money she was earning, we decided generally how and when we would take away her earnings.  We give her check-marks through the day with a task completion and tally up the coins before bed.  Behavioral issues lead to loss of money throughout the day.

Implementing the chore/reward system went  “well” the first day.  By well, I mean that the first night, she lost all her coins for being disobedient and testy.  She went to bed the first night without a single coin, then proceeded to lose story time, and finally lost signing and cuddling time.  She learned from that first night that we were no longer messing around with her attitude, and that it was going to effect more than just mommy and daddy.  Surprisingly, because we had a decent plan set into action, I also had the least frustrating night for myself.  I finally had something to give and take away as a result of her good and bad behaviors!

*Disclaimer: Affiliate links are included in this post.  Making a purchase after clicking my clicks may earn me a small commission, which helps me to continue running this blog and bring you fresh, new content.Let’s get on to the chore chart making!  These steps will help you to make a chore chart for your child, which is appropriate and personalized for your child(ren).

Creating Your Printable Toddler Chore Chart

1. Decide on the chores you feel appropriate for your child.

At three, I decided my child was capable of making her bed, assisting with laundry (sorting and/or folding), putting her dishes by the sink, picking up her toys, putting away her books, and helping with dinner (she asks to help most nights anyway).  These are great chores for toddlers.

2. Open an MS Word document and create a table.

Create a table in Microsoft Word when you’re ready to start working on your toddler chore chart!

1 column for the chores themselves and 7 more for each day of the week.  I had 7 rows which included the title row and 6 chore rows.  To insert a table, click on the INSERT tab, then click TABLE.  Select a 7 row x 8 column table (or as many rows as you need). You can resize these after selecting images.  NOTE: Be sure to set your page orientation to LANDSCAPE for best results.

Your table will look like this:

3.  Create Headings.

In the first row, type in your headings.  Here, I chose to center and bold the column titles.

4.  Find Images for your Toddler Chore Chart.

Now, it’s time to find some images for your chart.  These are great visuals for your little learner to help understand their chores.  You may or may not decide to include a short word description of the chore in addition to the picture.  For now, I’m leaving that part off.  To insert images into each cell, click in the first cell you wish to fill.  Click the INSERT tab, then click Online Pictures.  Here, you will search for an image using Bing Image Search.  You’ll see my first chore will be “Make Bed” so that’s what I typed.  You may have to use a combination of search terms to find an image you like best.  Repeat these steps to find images for all the chores.

Completed Toddler Chore Chart in Microsoft Word

Here’s what my chore chart looks like with images.  Of course, yours may look a bit different, depending on the images you chose.  Note: I had to re-size images to try to get the rows somewhat even.:

5. Put some finishing touches on the chart before printing.

Add a line at the top of the toddler chore chart with your child’s name, widen the columns and center the table on the page, etc.  Do whatever makes your toddler chore chart special and personal to you!

6.  Print & insert into a smooth page protector.

I recommend Avery Diamond Clear Secure Top Sheet Protectors to cover the toddler chore chart, making it both dry erase and protected.

Sale

Avery Diamond Clear Secure Top Sheet Protectors, Super Heavyweight, 2-Pack, 50 Page Protectors (86009)

• Keep contents secure in the protective sleeve with convenient top flap; perfect for holding nonstandard size papers and important items
• Get a crisp, clear view of the contents of your documents with diamond clear page protectors featuring a polished finish for high clarity
• Ensure your documents stay protected with long-lasting super heavyweight sheet protectors for all of your frequently referenced items
• Ideal for long-term storage, papers and photos stay neat and clean with non-stick polypropylene material that is acid-free, archival-safe and won’t lift or transfer ink
• Perfect for protecting and displaying important documents, recipes, photos, scrapbooking pages and more; includes 50 sheet protectors total

$17.33

Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

7. Use Dry Erase Markers to check off chores.

To complete the dry erase toddler chore chart, we use dry erase markers like those from Crayola.  Check off or draw smiley faces when your toddler completes a chore.

Crayola Dry Erase Marker

• Wiper clean markers
• Bold and bright colours
• Low odour
• Smooth-writing
• Washable so mess

$14.50

Buy on Amazon Price incl. tax, excl. shipping

2016 UPDATE: We’ve since updated to the Melissa and Doug magnetic responsibility chart.  It’s still customize-able for most needs, and includes extra blank magnets for adding your own, less common chores.  Now that she’s 5, we’ve also devised a separate system to deal with behavior issues.  We now use the consequence and reward jar system to punish for bad behavior and reward for the good.  She can still earn her coins for the day by doing her chores, and we don’t pile negative on to the bad days by also taking away coins for the work she completed (unless her consequence slip happens to determine otherwise).

FREE Printable Chore Chart for Toddlers

Not interested in recreating the wheel?  Or you just like my chore chart?  Sign up for my newsletter for your own (editable) toddler chore chart printable with pictures for FREE download!

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