How to Make a Digital Chore Chart for Kids (3 Easy Options)

The short answer: A digital chore chart is a checklist your kids can tap off themselves on a tablet, an old phone, or a screen on the wall. You can make one for free with an app like OneNote, use a dedicated chore app, or get a smart display that runs the routine for you. Start with just a few chores, add pictures for kids who aren’t reading yet, and finish the list with a reward.

Every family hits the point where the well-intentioned routine falls apart. Some days the kids are lucky if I do their hair. When that happens in my house, I don’t add more to the list. I shrink it. My kids’ daily list started with just three things: get ready for the day, clean up your toys, and spend an hour doing something educational. If your list is long and nobody’s finishing it, try cutting it down.

Then I ditched the sticker chart (ours was torn and thrashed beyond saving) and went digital. For some reason, tapping a checkbox on a screen motivates my kids more than stickers ever did.

Option 1: A Free Checklist App (What I Started With)

I used OneNote, because it’s free, works on just about any device with WiFi, and syncs automatically. I can add something to a list from my laptop, and it shows up on the kids’ devices while they’re walking around doing their jobs.

• Make the checkboxes: select a line and press Ctrl+1 on a computer, or tap the checkbox button in the mobile app.
• Give each kid their own page, so nobody’s checking off a sibling’s jobs.
• Add pictures next to each chore for kids who can’t read all the words yet.
• Reuse it: the next morning, uncheck everything and the list is ready to go again.

Option 2: A Chore App

If you want more structure, like rewards, points, or allowance tracking, a dedicated chore app does that work for you. Before you pick one, check three things:

• Can kids check off chores on their own device?
• Does it work on both iPhone and Android, if your family has both?
• Is there a subscription, and what’s free without it?

Option 3: A Smart Display

If you’d rather your kids didn’t need a phone or tablet at all, a smart display can sit on the counter or in a bedroom and run their routines for them. I recently tested the Cozyla Routie. Cozyla sent it to me free to review, and they didn’t pay for the review. It costs $139. Routines, calendar, to-dos, and the clock are free, and voice reminders, a star reward system, and a few other features come with a $60-a-year subscription. It has no camera and a physical switch to turn off the microphone.

Don’t Skip the Reward

When the jobs are done, my kids get to ______ (play with friends, do the slip ‘n slide, watch a movie, go swimming). I add a picture of that day’s reward at the bottom of the list. It’s a small thing, but it cuts way down on nagging, and it saves my vocal cords too, if you catch my drift.

Want chores and practices in one place? Here’s how to set up a family Google Calendar that everyone can see.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best free digital chore chart? A free checklist app like OneNote works well, especially if your kids already have a tablet or an old phone. Give each kid their own page and add pictures for non-readers.

Can kids check off chores without a phone? Yes. An old tablet works, or a smart display like the Cozyla Routie, which doesn’t need a phone at all.

How many chores should be on a kid’s chore chart? Fewer than you’d think. My kids started with three daily items. A short list that gets finished beats a long one that doesn’t.

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