Age-appropriate chores for young children (and older children) are so important – with or without a chore chart! They help raise children that work hard and are not spoiled.
As Lythcott-Haims said: “By making them do chores — taking out the garbage, doing their own laundry — they realize I have to do the work of life in order to be part of life. It’s not just about me and what I need in this moment.
If kids aren’t doing the dishes, it means someone else is doing that for them, and so they’re absolved of not only the work but of learning that work has to be done and that each one of us must contribute for the of the whole.”
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When everyone pitches in and does their part, they add their contributions to the family. It is a life skill that they will never lose (and you can teach it without using a hard-to-manage chore chart).
Kids Who Do Chores Grow Up To Be More Successful & Happier Adults
Do If you really want your kids to grow up to be successful, happy, and responsible adults? Give them Chores. Science proves it’s the key!
In the longest-running study in history, the Harvard Grant study set out to determine: “DOES DOING A CHORE REALLY BENEFIT A CHILD?” The answer was yes. The study proves that kids benefit from chores.
This study started in 1938 and has continued this day.
A study that has spanned more than 80 years has to be taken seriously, right? The researches of the study found that people need to have two things in their lives to be successful and happy as adults:
1- LOVE
2- GOOD WORK ETHIC
“And what’s the best way to develop work ethic in young people? Based on the experiences of the 724 high-achievers who were part of the study (including people like future-President Kennedy and Ben Bradlee, the Watergate-era editor of The Washington Post) there’s a consensus.
A “pitch-in” mindset
“[The study] found that professional success in life, which is what we want for our kids … comes from having done chores as a kid,” says Julie Lythcott-Haims, in her 20XX TED talk.
“The earlier you started, the better,” Lythcott-Haims continued. (You can see her whole TED talk here.) “[A] roll-up-your-sleeves- and-pitch-in mindset, a mindset that says, there’s some unpleasant work, someone’s got to do it, it might as well be me … that that’s what gets you ahead in the workplace.” -Bill Murphy Jr, Inc.com
The High-Achievers all had a “pitch-in” mindset
The best way to teach children to have a good work ethic is to teach them to do chores, and expect that they complete them well.
Another study, by the University of Minnesota research team, spent over twenty years studying the best predictor of adult success. They also found that it was based on chores.
More specifically, they found that if they had begun doing chores at an early age… as young as 3 or 4, they were the most successful. Those children had learned about work ethic at a young age.
Remember… It’s never too late to start. 
Children need responsibility and these Age-Appropriate chores for kids by age are great for teaching responsibility & hard work.
While I gave up on our chore chart for kids, I found a solution that is so much better!
Why Do Kids Need To Help Out by Doing A chore (or several)?
- They help kids feel needed.
- They give them a feeling of importance.
- They help children learn responsibility
- They teach independence.
- They create a work ethic in our children that will help build that character that we want them to have.
- Helps to cut back on entitlement.
- Family chores help kids learn to work together.
- Children learn to help out the family, leaving more time to PLAY as a family. If your children learn to help now, you will have children that will be able to work later, allowing them the ability to work hard and keep a job or work hard to keep their marriage strong.
As hard as it is, do not do everything for your children! Let them do what they can. Remember the quote: fish for me & feed me for a day…. teach me to fish & feed me for a lifetime.
Children need to be taught how to do the chore first.
Before I begin with our list of age-appropriate chores for children, you need to know that your children were not born knowing how to do these tasks. You must walk them through it, teach them how you want it done.
Young children will be watching you in order to learn how to do the tasks correctly, but your older children may attempt it on their own.
I always suggest walking them through the household tasks before expecting them to do it well on their own. Do this with each chore until you have gone through them all (just do one or two a day).
Do I need a Chore Chart?
I gave up on chore charts a long time ago. Why? It is because I found chore charts for kids were more work than they were helpful. I had tried chore apps that let kids earn points, we tried a chore pad, we tried assigning chores by days of the week, etc…
When we were using a chore chart, I felt like I was constantly trying to keep rotating them, etc… I had tried finding great ideas on blog posts and in books, but nothing seemed to be what I was looking for.
Finally, one day I tossed our chore chart, chore chart templates, chore chart printable, and chore chart ideas. I made these chore cards instead and I’ll never go back to another chore chart again. The Chore Cards that we made were my best idea to date (I hope that doesn’t sound braggy… it’ just works so well!) and I’ve NEVER looked back.
How do the chore cards work better than a chore chart?
Our kids do a chore (or several) in exchange for screentime (and even if you don’t use the screen-time part, the chore cards alone are a life-changer!) The job listed on the card are household tasks or outdoor tasks that need to be done.
NOTE: In our house, if they do not want screen time, they still need to help out. They can use their screen time minutes for something else (whatever you decide).
Swap Chore for Screen Time Cards
How do the Cards work in place of a chore chart?
The cards are cut up and placed in a basket or jar. 
The basket or jar is then placed somewhere so the kids can easily reach it (we keep ours in the pantry). When it is time to help out, they grab the basket themselves & bring it to the table. They close their eyes, reach in and pick from the basket. It is such a simple way to give out children’s chores & to maintain a routine.
Chore Amount for each age group:
This is split into different kid chores by age
- The 3 and 4-year-old will pick out one chore.
- A 5-6-year-old will pick out two cards
- A 7-8-year-old would pick out two to three cards
- Ages 9 & above get three cards from the basket & some few more difficult ones
Chore Ideas for tween & teens: Age Appropriate Chore List for 9 years to 12 years
I have our older sons pick several chore cards, as they are much older. You can also keep a basket for their chore cards, separate from the younger children.
I often hear the question: Do you have a chore list that 12-Year-old can follow? Do you have a chore list for what a 13-year-old be doing? What tasks and jobs should a 14-year-old be doing?
My Answer: Pretty much any chore, as long as they are responsible enough to do it safely. At this age, a child can handle doing the more difficult tasks and they deserve the confidence from you to try. Be sure to give them rules and show them exactly how to do it.
Examples include:
- Cleaning the garage
- Being assigned a bathroom to take care of
- Clean & detail vehicles inside & out
- Mowing the lawn (to be honest, our sons love to cut the grass)
- Clean glass items that may be too fragile for younger children
- Take the dog on a walk
- Scrubbing windows or floors
- Washing the car
- Yardwork
- Ironing Clothes
- Cooking breakfast, making lunch, helping with dinner
- Setting the table without being reminded.
- Help a younger sibling with something.
- Babysitting a younger sibling.
- Changing their sheets
- Washing (or at least folding) laundry
- Do something to help you while they are learning the important skills to become an adult. (Example: making the grocery list for the week in order to learn to budget & plan.)
Does a daily responsibility count as a chore for kids?
In our house, our kids have daily responsibilities that are not “a chore”.
Examples of responsibilities include:
- Make bed
- Clean up after eating
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper
- Put clean clothes away
- Unload the dishwasher as a team
- Get dressed and brush your teeth without being asked.
- Keep your shoes in the shoe basket.
Then, they have extra chores that they can pick from the basket to earn Screen Time.
How Often Should Kids Do A Chore?
In our house, the kids’ responsibilities occur daily. However, if our kids want screentime, they will also have to find the time to do the task on the card to earn the screentime minutes.
This usually means that our kids are doing extra tasks to earn screentime daily (even if they save time for the weekend)
You can pick how often they do their chore(s): daily chore cards or weekends only? Maybe you choose for your children to or maybe they get more in the summer when they are out of school, etc…
You need to do whatever fits with you, your schedule & what you want for your family.
CHORE IDEAS:
Remember, as I stated above, “make your bed”, “clean your room” and “empty the dishwasher” are not considered to a “CHORE” in our house.
They are daily responsibilities. They are not on this list, because they are habits. We do them daily & they just help to keep the house running smoothly.
Printable Chore Chart by Age:
Age grouping for chore ideas lets your child succeed at their specific task because it is based on their development. You’re welcome to use this chore list for kids (free printable) as a jumping off point to find good chores for kids.
This chore chart by age is simply to let you see some examples of the chore or jobs that your children are capable of, with a little practice and a demonstration by you.
You are welcome to print this Chore Chart template for kids. Just click here to send me your information & I will e-mail you the free chore chart pdf.
Kids Chore Examples:
- Clean the shutters behind the kitchen table (their food gets on these from their sticky hands!) 🙂
- Clean out everything UNDER your bed.
- Take sheets off of the bed (for younger kids) weekly
- Take sheets off and replace with clean sheets (older kids) weekly
- Do your laundry (older kids)
- Take your dirty clothes to the laundry room (younger kids)
- Wipe bathroom sink and vanity in the main bathroom & their bathroom.
- Clear & clean the table after dinner
- Sweep hallway upstairs with broom & dustpan
- Put away ALL shoes in the garage by the door (we have 3 spots for shoes – they each have their own baskets at these places, so its easy to do & takes a second to put them away)
- Clean the outside of the toilet (bottom too) in those same bathrooms.
- Sweep the kitchen floors
- Sweep the hallway upstairs
- Clean out the van (bring in all garbage, coats, shoes…) – I do this same chore on 3 cards, so they could even both get them & do it together. It’s a big job.
- Empty all garbage in the bathrooms and their bedroom into one big garbage bag (getting garbage from all cans)
- Bring the garbage can up from the street after the garbage truck comes (it might be heavy to take it down while it is filled, but even our four-year-old can bring it up for us when it is empty… and we have a steep driveway).
- Clean the steps with a broom and then a damp rag (wooden steps). If you have carpet- have them use a damp sponge to get the dirt or pet hair if you have a pet. Have them use a small vacuum if you have one (the tiny kind for steps & small areas)
- Pick up everything on pantry floor to keep the pantry organized (Some of our organized art supplies are in there, so coloring books and crayons end up on the floors if we don’t stay on top of cleaning it.)
- Sweep the front porch
- Sweep the back porch
- Dust furniture in the room that mom or dad pick (they use a sock on their hands)
- Pick up toys (even if you didn’t make the mess!)
- Organize the mudroom bench (see make a mudroom bench to see how we made it) – they hang up coats, put shoes in the right baskets, hang up their backpacks under the correct name…
I made this chart for you.
Age Appropriate Chore Ideas for young children
Younger kids tasks are a little difficult, due to a lack of development in certain skills. However, they can still help out around the house. Here is some information that may help:
For a 3-year-old… When our 3-year old would pull out a chore card, but I would make up one since he couldn’t read it. I would say something like “Please pick up the blankets and pillows that are on the floor, and put them away.” or “Can you put the ice cream away after I scoop it for dessert?” Something easy and safe that he can do without help.
Remember, children like being feeling like they are contributing to the family. They like to feel like they have helped to keep everything going. They also learn quickly that if they help out, everyone has more time to play and relax together.
I hope that helped you to create some ideas for jobs for your kids. 🙂 I would LOVE to hear what jobs you have your children helping within your home! I am always revisiting our cards and editing them to their ages.
Click here to print this list (below) for kids, and I will e-mail you this free chart/list. ☺️
More posts you might like:
I know that it is as much work to get your kids to help you as it is to just do it yourself, but I want to encourage you to read this post – STOP doing that for your kids. Try to remember that you are raising adults.
Here is the reward system that we use with our kids- it works wonders!
Here is the way that we teach our kids to clean their rooms… without reminding them!
Are your kids using electronics more & helping out LESS? It is time to try something new (and I promise this works): Swap a Chore for Screen Time
(Plus- You no longer have to feel guilty AT ALL about allowing your kids to have some screen-time… they are earning it.)
RELATED POSTS THAT ARE HELPFUL:
- Learn why we gave up on Chore Charts and opted for the Chore Cards instead.
- No Screen Time Until (free printable)
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Clarinda says
Oh I am going to come back to this when I create my kids list.
Becky Mansfield says
Great- thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Lee anda says
Hi I am going to bed in a couple of minutes and can you tell me some chores I can do before bed ?
Lee anda says
Hi I’m a kid and I go to bed I a couple of minutes.Canyou please tell me a few chores that I can do before bed?
Sarah @ gardenfullofdreams says
Me too, I like how she put all of these together. It’s amazing how industrious little children can be at a young age. In fact, my younger children are more motivated and seem to enjoy “helping” Mommy more often than my older children…When do they lose that helpfulness?
Chelsea says
Great ideas! I know I need to get my 3 year old involved more. Thanks for sharing. I’d like to invite you to our Organize Me! Sizzlin’ Summer Link Up Party at Get Your Crap Together!
Your Modern Family says
I’m glad that it was helpful! 🙂 Good luck!
Jamie says
This is great! My kids are 3 and 5, I am such a slacker when it comes to daily chore for them, although I do make them make their beds, clear the table, and pick up toys. I love the chore in a basket method, thanks for sharing!
Bugs and Beans
Your Modern Family says
🙂 thanks!! I hope its helpful (I was laughing at your slacker comment!)
Alison Wood says
Great idea! I like this better than a chart! My girls are awesome at folding clothes! I have also taught my four oldest kids to wash dishes. Sweeping the driveway is another one the kids help with.
I can’t wait to try this method instead of a chart!
Thanks for the idea:)
autumn eaton says
Great article thanks! I am changing up chores and the way we do things for my son now that he is not in Kindergarten anymore. Now what about allowances? Do you give those and how much?
carissa says
I’m 11 and this does sound fun.
Adrienne says
Great tips! My boys (4 & 6) have chores:
Feed dog twice a day – water too!
Recycling weekly
Laundry ( my 6 year old does this – brings the basket to the laundry room, puts in washer, adds soap, turns it on (with my help), switches it over to dryer, brings basket back up, helps fold and puts it away for him and his brother.
They also put groceries away, clear the table, sweep the floors, dust, and water the plants. I think I will a few more after reading this!
Your Modern Family says
Good ones!
Megan says
My two year old daughter takes her dishes (she has plastic plates, cups, bowls ect) and puts them away in her own drawer. She also washes her table after meals and helps sweep, wipe counters/ cupboards ect. She loves to clean! If she spills she says “wash” and grabs a washcloth or paper towel and cleans it up 🙂
Your Modern Family says
So sweet (& helpful!)
Mama Huggs says
I have a 15mo and a 2.5yo. Plus my brother-in-law lives in our house. He’s 16yo with a learning disorder so on some things he’s about 6yo and others he is 16yo. When did you start giving you baby chores?
Mama Huggs says
The 16yo helps with laundry & unloads the dishwasher. The 2.5yo puts his dishes in the sink and helps me put the soap (finish powerball or gel pack) in the dishwasher. He also helps me when I switch the laundry by pushing the wet clothes into the dryer or bringing me dirty clothes from the basket. What are some age appropriate chores I could give the baby to get him involved in helping?
Jessica says
I love this! I have tried to do chores a few different ways before, including the framed chart with a dry erase maker. It ended up becoming just another coloring board for the kids! I love that they feel some atoning by being able to pick their own chores and so I laughed when you said you make up the chore for your 3yo! I have one who is 3 and duh!… She can’t read lol I will def be trying this method! Thanks.
Do you mind if I share this on my blog? ( linked to this article)
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Of course not! If it is helpful to you, hopefully it will be helpful to others, as well. 🙂
Ps- your autocorrect made me laugh. You should see some of mine!! 😉
amlanders says
This is a great idea! Honestly, I have a hard time keeping up with a chore chart for my kids. This will be a very happy medium!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
I’m so glad that it helped!! 🙂 I”m the same way w/ the chore chart. 🙂
Sarah says
I love this idea. Right now I have our chores listed on a poster board and they choose the easiest one and do it over and over… This would help get some of the other chores done too! I offer 25 cents a completed chore. If the chore wasn’t completed correctly and they have to go back and re-do it, they only get 10 cents. And if I have to make them go back a 3rd time, then they just did the chore for free! I also charge 25 cents for lying (because they just wasted my valuable time) so they have to work hard save up money! lol
I have folding and putting away a basket of towels listed as a money making chore for my 7 yr old. And both my kiddos (4 and 7) wipe down the kitchen cabinets (the ones they can reach are the dirtiest ones!!). They also wipe down base boards and wood furniture with an old rag that I spray with pledge 🙂 They are quite helpful when guests are coming and I have a ton of catch up cleaning to do!!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Love the $ idea- thanks for sharing!
monique says
Cute…. and very helpful(i ended up here from another post but happen to read some of the comments and I have a suggestion (I did this when my kids were tiny (they are now almost 13 & almost 11)I did have chores for them but since the found read I would include a picture/clipart of the chore I wanted done (it worked….. mostly) it helped them to see it (it was written as well, for when they learned to read)
Just my 2cents.
AWESOME ideas…… been reading quite a few thanks
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Great idea!!
Tina says
I think this is great, but apart from asking my children to take their plates to the sink after dinner they do very little in the way of chores, practically nothing. I would love to introduce this, but am a little scared if I’m honest at dealing with the reactions. My son is 9 and has adhd, my daughter is 7 and I have a 2 year old girl.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
i would do it… someone told me once to think about them when they are adults: doing chores now is teaching them to work hard at their jobs, keep their OWN house clean, etc… 🙂 you can do it!
Suzanne Holt says
Like the different perspective on chore charts. Thanks for sharing. Pinned.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Awesome. Glad it helped!
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says
Great idea’s and tips. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Jill says
These are great ideas to get the little ones involved in chores!
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Kathy says
When my daughter was young she was reponsible for making her own bed. Being only three or four years old, she could not do it very neatly. I would walk by her room and straighten it out. One day she told me ” you know Mom, when you fix my bed it makes me feel like I’m not doing a good job.” she was doing her best and I was telling her that wasn’t good enough. I never fixed her bed again.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
great advice
Jessica says
I have all our chores drawn as well–written on Popsicle sticks and some of them have a circled T on them (like folding laundry) if someone draws one of these sticks, they also draw a green stick that has a number between 10 and 30 on it (in increments of five). All the sticks are placed in a large soup can that has a smaller can glued inside it. Finished chores go in the little can so they don’t get drawn again. It makes chores a game (thank you, Ms Poppins) even for me!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Cute
Kristy says
Hi Becky, I have a very strong-willed 2.5 year old boy (oldest of two) who is definitely ready and capable enough to start chores. How do I even get him to start? Sometimes he cleans up willingly. Many times he just flat out says no or ignores me.if I don’t do it it’ll just sit around. I don’t know how to transition him into doing chores consistently without any fuss… To just make it “something you do”
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Just ask him- tell him “grab your plate” every time that he finishes eating. It just becomes a habit. Our daughter turned two in August and she just follows her brothers- it isn’t even like she knew that she had a choice- she just cleans up because it is ‘what we do’, so to say. I would just make it as common as using a fork. 🙂
Alexa Nernberg says
Great idea. Really like the cheat-sheet of age appropriate chores.
Jesse says
my son is 2 1/2. He helps feed his fish, pick up laundry and put it in the hamper, helps put the wash in and out of the washer (front loader) he picks up his toys, he ‘sweeps’ up with a hand broom, he puts dishes in the sink, heck, he will even carry mommy and daddy’s to the sink if we don’t get on it when he thinks we should, had to curb him from taking plates with food still in it! He throws out garbage when asked, picks up his bathroom toys. Some of these things he just naturally wanted to do, and we encouraged him and help him, they toys we make a game out of it. Lots of cheering. Now if potty training would just go smoother…
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
haha!! Try my POTTY TRAIN IN A WEEKEND method! 🙂
Brandi says
Question. What did you do when they wouldn’t do their chores? And, during school days when do you have them do the chores, before or after school?
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
They didn’t get ANY privileges. No snacks in between meals, no electronics at all, no playing with friends, etc…
On school days- they do the dishwasher as a group in the morning. They do the rest after dinner, all at the same time. 🙂
natasha says
My 15 month helps put toys away, well we help her. She thinks shes oretty cleaver lol
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
haha! love it.
Brooke says
I just found your site and I love it!
How do your children help unload the dishwasher? Most of the things I put in our dishwasher are stored in the upper cabinets: cups, plates, and tupperware.
Also, do you keep a stool near the sink so they can prerinse their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Oh! check out my series on 40 days to organization (I talk about how I have my kitchen organized). I keep their plates, bowls and cups in the lower cabinets. They do pre-rinse their bowls themselves. (They just open the cabinet door & stand on the bottom of it)
Tabea says
Dear Becky,
I’d LOVE to be only a little bit as organized as you are!
Please tell me: how do you structure your family days: WHEN do you let your kids do their chores?
Lots Greetings from Switzerland,
Tabea
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Our kids do their chores before & after school. Before school: Make beds, put clothes away.
After school: Help with dinner/dishes/dishwasher, pick up toys.
I save the big chores for Saturday & we just spend a few hours doing them as a family on the weekend. 🙂
Natalie Medina says
What time do you have them pick out of the basket during the day. We are having trouble even finishing homework in time for bed let alone adding 2 chores. I really want to get them more involved but it just seems like there isn’t enough time. We haven’t even added activities yet. We have a 9, 7, and 3 year old. Thanks!!
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
I usually have them do them right after homework. Sometimes (if we have sports) we don’t do them that day… just the normal “clean your room, make your bed, clean up after dinner” type of chores.
Lynn Mathers says
For the most part I agree with everything you have said. Until I came to the chart that went by age grouping. Now as as a previous child of parents who followed your ideology, I spent the majority of my childhood being free housecleaning with my two brothers. We had a nanny as my parents were military officer and wife and had a reputation to display that perfect home. As a child counselor and special ed elementary school teacher, I can assure you that the amount of work you have these children doing is tantamount to abuse of the child labor laws and the bottom line is while I approve of designated childhood chores, if adults want to bring in children into the world, it is their responsibility to realize the increase in laundry, dishes, room cleaning, the household chores need to be devised between all people living in the home, parents are required to do the ironing, lawn mowing, and specific intrinsic chores that are deemed dangerous to children under certain ages by state (you mention none of this) and the bottom line is with the increase in school homework and your lists of chores, where on the Paget growth chart does manual labor fall into normal childhood growth? I can appreciate teaching responsibility to children as they grow, I also appreciate well mannered children, but what you profess as well developed childhood growth with appropriate responsibility needs to be reassessed with the demands on children outside the home beginning with school (pre-K, on), church (Wednesday night 6-8:15) after school (sports), etc. At what point do you feel a child has the time and the right to just be a child?
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
I completely agree- we only do these chores in the summertime. During the school year, we stick to the simple ones like unloading the dishwasher as a family and then usually one other 5 minute chore a day. 🙂
Diane says
Well we have 2 girls 10 & 12 yr old girls. We needs age appropriate chores for them .They haven’t had any up till now. WE know that it’s our own fault. Also we are aware that it’s not going to be easy .I mean yes we try to get them to clean up after themselves and do the basics but not without a yelling and struggling match for way longer than I care to admit. And even then I break and just end up doing it that way I know it gets done and done right ! I’m a fanatic about cleanliness and keeping a clean house and organization .Clutter freaks me out .I can’t handle things left out randomly around the house. I need help with having them pitch in and start contributing towards the household chores. How do I change there routine now and incorporate the chores that I have been doing for them for yrs now ??
Chrystal Creswell says
I love the chores you have come up with. I will be using your list this summer! There are a couple of chores that are good for the 4 and up age that my children do. We will have them wipe down the doors and door handles in the house. There are always spots on them from their sticky/ dirty fingers. Also we have the kids put out food and water for our dog. Thank you again for the list. I am looking forward in getting your blog emails.
Becky (Your Modern Family) says
Yay!
Jillian says
I started the cotton ball jar with my kids last week! Amazing results all! They really want to go to reptile land and are working hard to make that happen! Great idea to work with all my kids age 2, 3, and 10! They all love it!!
Jillian says
My 3 year old was really the only one that is difficult but he is doing great with this and love rewarding the others who always listen anyway!!
Sara Gebbie says
I absolutely love the reward jar idea, gives them something to visualize their progress for the week! The chart is amazing and the difference between habits and chores is a great distinction. Thank you!
Stridepost says
Thanks for the great information. Stridepost knows that kids chores teach responsibility and skills needed for a lifetime of success. This fantastic app provides motivation and rewards, is easy to set-up and has so many great cool features that both parents and kids love to use. It can be downloaded on the App Store or iTunes!