Trying out a new chore is a great way to empower kids and to help them feel needed and useful around the house. Together with your kiddo, come up with a few new chore ideas, then create a fun way to track your child’s progress with our DIY chore door hanger.

Supplies:

• Wooden door hanger
• Fine-tip permanent marker
• Masking tape
• Paper or paper plate to paint on
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush(es)
• Clothespins
• Glue or glue gun (parent/adult use only)
• 6 pairs of decorative flat buttons

Step 1:

Just below the opening of the door hanger, write “to do:” and “done:” with a fine-tip permanent marker.

Step 2:

Using masking tape, place tape to divide hanger into sides and to create clean, straight lines when painting. Masking tape can be placed vertically or diagonally.

Step 3:

Place door hanger on top of paper or paper plate for mess-free painting. Paint each section of your door hanger whatever color(s) you would like.

Step 4:

Once paint is dry, remove masking tape to reveal design.

Step 5:

Write the chores you would like to keep track of on one side of the clothespins, making sure to write them correctly so they will clip on the right direction.

Step 6:

Grown-ups, on the side of the clothespin that faces up when “to do,” glue on decorative buttons using a glue gun. (The buttons are a visual motivator for young ones!)

Step 7:

Turn the clothespins over and glue the matching button on the opposite side so the button faces up when pinned to the “done” side of the hanger.

Step 8:

Hang the chore tracker on their bedroom or closet door. Each day (or the night before) clip the chore clothespins on the “to do” side for that day. When they finish that chore, help them flip the clothespin over and clip it to the “done” side.