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 9-12 can usually handle
Between nine and twelve, most kids can manage their own routine with little reminding: keep their room tidy, put away their laundry, pack their lunch, and look after a pet. They can take on real household jobs too, like loading the dishwasher, taking out the trash and recycling, and vacuuming a room. Sharp knives and anything on the stove are still a job for a grown-up, or something to do together.
This is also an age when kids want more independence and more say. Involving them in writing the chart helps a lot. Agree on what each chore means, when it should be done by, and what happens on Pay Day. A chart they helped build is one they're more likely to follow.
Chore ideas for ages 9-12
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 and tidy the room
- Put away their own laundry
- Change the bed sheets with help
Kitchen
- Load or unload the dishwasher (a grown-up handles sharp knives)
- Pack their own school lunch
- Wipe the counters and table
- Help with dinner prep, like washing vegetables or measuring
Pets
- Feed the pets and refresh the water
- Walk the dog
- Wash the pet's bowls
Outdoors
- Rake leaves
- Take out the trash and recycling
- Pull weeds
- Bring the bins back from the curb
Helping others
- Vacuum a room
- Fold and put away family laundry
- Sweep or dust the living room
- Help a younger sibling with a chore
Keeping it fun
- Hand over the planning. Let them decide the order and time they do their chores, as long as they're done by an agreed deadline.
- Swap jobs. Trading a chore with a sibling for a week keeps things fresh and teaches negotiation.
- Pair chores with something they enjoy. A favourite podcast or playlist while vacuuming makes the time go faster.
- Offer extra-earning jobs. Bigger one-off jobs, like washing the car, are a way to earn toward something they're saving for.
When a chore gets missed
By now, a missed chore is worth a short conversation rather than a reminder every time. Ask what got in the way. Often it's a busy day or a job that isn't clearly defined. Agree on a fix together, like moving the chore to a different day. If chores are paid, stick to what you agreed: undone chores don't earn. Being consistent matters more than being strict.
Making the chart work
Tweens often prefer a chart in their own room to one on the fridge. Either works, as long as you check in regularly. The Pay Day row is a good moment to talk about money: how much they earned, what they want to save for, and whether they'd like to give some away. Our allowance calculator can help you plan the numbers.