Pocket Piggy
Download the chart
A weekly chart with a box for every day and a Pay Day total at the bottom. Free to print as many times as you like.
What kids ages 4-5 can usually handle
Preschoolers and kindergartners can usually do a chore on their own once you've shown them a few times. They can make a simple version of their bed, put their own clothes in the hamper, set out napkins and spoons, and feed a pet with a pre-measured scoop. They're also starting to understand "every day," which makes a weekly chart genuinely useful for the first time.
Expect "done" to look a little different from how you'd do it. A lumpy duvet still counts as a made bed. Resist the urge to fix it while they're watching, because that tells them the job wasn't good enough. Instead, show them one small improvement next time. Keep the list short, around three to five chores a day, and keep instructions to one step at a time.
Chore ideas for ages 4-5
Pick a few from each area rather than all of them. Every family is different, so use these as a starting point.
Bedroom
- Make the bed (a simple version counts)
- Put toys away
- Put clean clothes in drawers
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Kitchen
- Set the table with napkins, cups and spoons
- Clear their own plate
- Wipe the table with a damp cloth
- Put away plastic dishes
Pets
- Feed the pet
- Fill the pet's water bowl
- Gently brush a calm pet with help
Outdoors
- Water the plants
- Pick up sticks in the yard
- Help carry in light shopping bags
Helping others
- Sort laundry into lights and darks
- Match socks
- Help unload unbreakable groceries
- Dust low shelves with a dry cloth
Keeping it fun
- Let them tick the box. Crossing off their own chore is half the fun. A special pen just for the chart makes it feel important.
- Use a timer. "Can we tidy the toys before the timer goes off?" turns a chore into a challenge.
- Work side by side. Folding towels together or setting the table while you cook is a chance to chat, and kids this age love grown-up company.
- Celebrate a full row. A complete week deserves a moment: a high five, a dance, or a mention at dinner.
When a chore gets missed
If a chore gets missed, keep it low-key. A gentle reminder ("I see the toys are still out, want to race me?") works better than a lecture. It's fine to let a box stay empty; the chart shows the pattern over the week, and a few gaps are normal. If you're paying for chores, a missed chore simply doesn't earn, and that's a lesson in itself. Avoid taking away money already earned, which can feel unfair to a young child.
Making the chart work
Put the chart at kid height and check it at the same time each day. Before bed works well: a quick look at what's ticked, and a word about what they're proud of. If you use the Pay Day row for money, keep it simple, like a few coins for a full week, and count it out together so the connection between chores and money is easy to see.