Kids routines · chore charts
Kids routines: morning, bedtime and chore charts
Updated · Done Enough
Kids routines are the repeated parts of a child’s day (morning, after school, bedtime and household chores) written as short charts your child can follow. Routine charts show the steps of their own day; a chore chart shows which household jobs they help with. Together they cut down on reminders: the chart says what’s next, so you don’t have to.
Practical tips for home routines, not medical or behavioral advice. Every child is different.
Which kids routine chart do you need?
| Chart | What it covers | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Morning routine chart | Toilet, dress, breakfast, teeth, out the door | Morning routine chart |
| After school routine chart | Bag away, snack, play, homework, free time | After school routine chart |
| Bedtime routine chart | Tidy, bath, pajamas, teeth, book, lights out | Bedtime routine chart |
| Visual schedule | Any routine or day, in pictures | Visual schedule |
| Chore chart | Household jobs, by day | Chore chart for kids |
| Reward chart | Stickers toward a small goal | Reward chart |
| ADHD routine charts | Short charts for the whole day (not medical advice) | ADHD routine for kids |
A kids daily routine at a glance
| Part of the day | Typical steps | Format by age |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Toilet, dress, breakfast, teeth, shoes, bag | Pictures under 7, words and times after |
| After school | Bag away, snack, play, homework, one chore | First-then for young kids |
| Evening | Dinner, tidy, bath, pajamas, teeth, book | 3 photos for toddlers, 5 to 7 steps later |
| Weekly | One or two bigger chores on a fixed day | Rotation for siblings |
Chart only the parts that cause friction. A calm afternoon doesn’t need a chart.
Chores: where to start
Household jobs have their own guides, so each one stays focused:
- New to chore charts? The chore chart for kids guide covers setup, a free printable, several kids, and allowance.
- Just want a layout to copy? Five grids in the chore chart template.
- Not sure what jobs fit? Full lists in chore chart ideas by age.
- Teenagers? A plain, adult-looking printable chore chart for teens.
| Age | A few chore ideas |
|---|---|
| 2 to 5 | Toys in a bin, clothes in the hamper, set napkins |
| 6 to 8 | Set and clear the table, tidy room, sort laundry |
| 9 to 12 | Load the dishwasher, vacuum a room, fold laundry |
| 13+ | Own laundry, clean a bathroom, cook a meal |
Five rules that make any routine chart last
- Few steps done daily beat many steps done sometimes. Aim for 4 to 6.
- Pictures for kids who can’t read yet. See how to make a visual schedule.
- Put the chart where the routine happens: bathroom door, bedroom, by the front door.
- A way to mark done: tick, sticker or flip card.
- Review on Sunday. Too hard, too many, or always skipped? Change it.
Routines for kids with ADHD
Kids with ADHD often know the routine but lose track of the next step. The same charts work better with three changes: visual cues placed where each step happens, short steps that take a minute or two, and immediate rewards right after a step rather than at the end of the week. Full examples, including a short and a “survival” morning, are in ADHD routine for kids.
Want ready-made cards?
The Done Enough shop has printable picture cards for morning and bedtime routines: the kids visual routine cards.
Kids arguing about which job to do first? Put the options on the task wheel and let them spin. For your own side of the housework, see the cleaning schedule and checklists.
FAQ
Where can I find a free template for a chore schedule?
Copy the weekly layout on this page: one row per chore, one column per day, a box to tick. Draw it on paper or build it in any spreadsheet.
What chores should kids do by age?
Roughly: toddlers put toys away, preschoolers set napkins and match socks, school-age kids set the table and tidy their room, preteens load the dishwasher and vacuum, teens do their own laundry and cook. Adjust to your child.
How to make a chore chart for 3 people?
Give each person a column or a color, list shared chores as rows, and rotate the least-liked jobs every week so nobody is stuck with them.
What are some examples of weekly chores?
Changing sheets, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, taking out recycling, watering plants, sorting laundry, and tidying a shared room.