Do your kids listen when you ask them to do something? Do they pick up after themselves? Do they clean the house, or help out with the daily chores???

I have to admit that my little kiddos didn’t do F-all in the chore department, until I made the most wonderful creation! I want to share with you what has worked in our house lately, to get all the above mentioned done, without all the nagging, yelling, or fighting with the kiddos, while encouraging them to help out around the house. Are you ready for it?!?!

It’s my interpretation of a chore chart (a FREE Printable chore chart)… I know, I know… I too hate the word chore, and I know that giving rewards for things that the kids should automatically be doing, without something to sweeten the pot, should be happening… but it’s not!! My kids are soooooo stubborn!! Well one way more than the other, but who’s naming names here… This “chore chart” thing is working!!  And I am so happy to see the kids excited to help out with everything around the house now. It’s GOLD!!

Although, I have wanted to give this printable chore chart a different name… Maybe the “Family Fun Game”… Lol… too corny?!?! What would you call it?? I need suggestions!!

So I thought I’d share our little “Family Fun Game” with you, so that you can gain some little helpers around the house too! I hope you find my FREE Printable Chore Chart useful in creating a better functioning household, by spreading the household “chores” among the family members, reducing your house work load, giving you more you time!! YES!! YOU TIME SCORE!!

DIY MAGNETIC SHRINKY DINKS PRINTABLE CHORE CHART TUTORIAL

Slight Disclosure: I created these printable chore chart symbols out of the free clip art available on CANVA. An awesome DIY Tool to create any type of document or digital image. I highly recommend CANVA to anyone who wants to get awesomely creative.

AND… Obviously my kiddos are currently still quite young… Corbin is 4 and Ivy is 2, hence the reason I decided to create a chore chart with symbols instead of words. If your kiddos are a bit older and you would prefer to use words instead of symbols, I highly recommend using CANVA for getting the job done!

Now onto the tutorial…

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• My Free Printable Chore Chart (Found in the Middle of this post, right before the photos of the kiddos)
• Ink Jet Printable Shrinky Dinks
• Tiny Magnets
• E6000 Adhesive
• A White Board – Or anything magnetic (Fridge, Metal sheet, Magnetic Chalkboard)
• Scissors
• Washi Tape – Or anything to create different sections on your magnetic board

METHOD:

Step 1: Download my FREE Printable Chore Chart, and add your child’s name to the editable section beside where it says “Kids Name:”. (Download can be found in the middle of this post, right before the photos of the kiddos).

Step 2: Print out My Printable Chore Chart Symbols and Stars onto your printer compatible Ink Jet Shrinky Dinks.

ALTERNATIVE IDEAS TO SHRINKY DINKS KIDS NAME: Use Letter Stickers to spell their name, use a photo of them, or write their name on the board with a dry erase pen)

Step 2: Cut out all the chore chart symbols, stars, and your kiddos name with Scissors. I decided to cut out my kiddos names with a star burst effect. You can be creative and cut yours out any way you like. Like this…

Step 3: Cook your Shrinky Dinks according to the instructions on your Shrinky Dink package. They will shrink to 1/3 their original size!! Like this…

They will go from this size…

… To this size!!! In only 2 minutes!! 

WARNING: Your Shrinky Dinks will do crazy things while they are cooking. It’s kinda horrifying the first time you see them shrinking, because it looks like all your hard work went out the window. But be patient… they will flatten out!

Here’s a video of the kiddos watching the Shrinky Dinks do their magic!! Please excuse the disgustingly messy oven. I cleaned it the next day!! wink

Step 4: Let the Shrinky Dinks cool and glue tiny magnets to the back of each Shrinky Dink with E6000 adhesive (I find this glue/adhesive to be the strongest). It takes over night to dry, but totally worth the wait!

I ordered these tiny magnets from Amazon. You can find them here!

Step 5: Create sections on your board for their daily chores, and the chores that they accomplish. If you have 2 kids like me, 2 pieces of Washi tape, one going horizontal and the other vertical, does the trick. Like this… (I used thin grey Washi tape)

Step 6: Put all your Shrinky Dink Chores and Stars on the board and have-at-er!!

AND DONE!! Here are the Free Printable downloads…

DOWNLOAD “PINK” CHORE CHART HERE

DOWNLOAD “BLUE” CHORE CHART HERE

I hope you and your family benefit from this FREE Printable Chore Chart. I am loving all the enthusiasm for helping out around the house lately.

Here’s How We Use This FREE Printable Chore Chart:

• At the beginning of the week we talk about an activity that the kiddos really want to do. And if they do their chores for the whole week we get to do the activity!
• Everyday we start with all the kids chores in the right hand boxes.
• The kids get to choose from all of those chores, which 7 chores they want to do that day (There are 16 to choose from, and some of them are very easy).
• Throughout the day, I give them opportunities to help and earn their chores. They have been very keen to help lately!
• Once they have completed the individual chore, they get to move that chore chip to their completed box.
• Before winding down for bed we count all the chores in their completed box, to make sure they have done at least 7. And if they do at least 7, then they get 1 star for that day.
• Once they have 7 stars we get to do the exciting outing that we were working towards!! 

Activity Ideas to Work Towards:

• Bowling
• Swimming
• Movies
• Go Carts
• Out for Ice Cream
• Zoo/Farm/Aquarium
• Science Center
• Library to get New Books
• Indoor Play Center

I’d love to hear some more ideas to add to our adventure arsenal!!! And if you recreate this FREE Printable Chore Chart, I’d love to hear how it’s working for your family.

Here’s to getting more help around the house, teaching kids to work towards a goal, all while having fun!

Until next time, enjoy creating memories, and creating beautiful things everyday!

XO JCL

P.S. Check out some more of our fun Kid Activities HERE!