Consequences For Kids
Not Doing Chores

Sad-faced boy and girl with cleaning tools.

If your kids don't get the job done despite your planning and motivating efforts, be ready with positive reinforcement and natural consequences for kids not doing chores.

If you've given the kids age-appropriate chores and all you're getting is backtalk or non-compliance, it's time to take back control of the asylum from the inmates.

Here are several easy examples to keep you from looking like the bad guy. Instead, place the onus on the doer of the undone chores. 

It's crucial to have consequences ready to implement as soon as a chore is missed. This immediate response empowers you as a parent, reinforcing the seriousness of the family's chore system and helping children understand the importance of their responsibilities.

Truth and Consequences for Kids Not Doing Chores: Add Insult to Injury

Give more chores to the rule-breaker whose duties aren't done; the same goes for a child whining about her chores.

Take Away Privileges

Ground the scofflaw for the morning or the afternoon. Take away his TV privileges for the weekend. Call it the "no work, no play" rule.

Stand Firm 

Stand behind your rules - and your consequences for rule-breakers. The advantage of having rules is that you don't have to reinvent the wheel daily.

This approach instills confidence and reassurance, eliminating arguments. Say, "You know the rule, and you're in violation, buddy! No exceptions."

Use Natural Consequences

This technique requires some restraint and patience. It means that you allow your child to make a mistake and wait for him to experience the natural consequence of that mistake.

This approach fosters understanding and compassion while still applying common sense - don't let them do anything dangerous!

This technique is suitable for harmless things like putting off a chore for so long that a child must miss a social event to complete the task by its due date on Saturday.

Don't Get Mad

Even if your kids don't do their chores or give you a bad attitude, it's wise to apply discipline but keep your emotions in check.

Avoid anger at all costs. It gives kids a license to misbehave - and sends you tumbling back to square one.


You Might Like These:

  • Easy laptop cleaning tips. Ideally, laptop cleaning to remove bacteria and dust that can cause it to malfunction should be done weekly. Here's how to get the dirty job done in 4 steps.

    Easy Laptop Cleaning Tips

    Easy laptop cleaning tips. Ideally, laptop cleaning to remove bacteria and dust that can cause it to malfunction should be done weekly. Here's how to get the dirty job done in 4 steps.

  • Washing curtains and window treatments at home is a relatively easy and cost-effective solution. These cleaning tips can help get the job done.

    Washing Curtains and Window Treatments

    Washing curtains and window treatments at home is a relatively easy and cost-effective solution. These cleaning tips can help get the job done.

  • Deciphering upholstery cleaning codes. Fabrics that have absorbed a season's worth (or longer) of dirt, body oil, and germs need a bath to get them ready for another season of entertaining.

    Deciphering Upholstery Cleaning Codes

    Deciphering upholstery cleaning codes. Fabrics that have absorbed a season's worth (or longer) of dirt, body oil, and germs need a bath to get them ready for another season of entertaining.

  • Here is how to clean copper cookware. While it takes more time to clean copper, it's hard to argue the cookware's benefits aren't worth the extra effort to keep clean and polished to perfection.

    How to Clean Copper Cookware

    Here is how to clean copper cookware. While it takes more time to clean copper, it's hard to argue the cookware's benefits aren't worth the extra effort to keep clean and polished to perfection.

  • Furniture should be vacuumed regularly. But what's the solution to a chocolate stain on an ottoman? These furniture and upholstery cleaning tips can help.

    Furniture and Upholstery Cleaning Guide

    Furniture should be vacuumed regularly. But what's the solution to a chocolate stain on an ottoman? These furniture and upholstery cleaning tips can help.

  • Summer home cleaning tricks. It's summertime, and the living is easy. Cleaning should be easy as well, but often isn't. These home cleaning tricks can help pick up the pace.

    Summer Home Cleaning Tricks

    Summer home cleaning tricks. It's summertime, and the living is easy. Cleaning should be easy as well, but often isn't. These home cleaning tricks can help pick up the pace.

  • Brick is one of the most lovely design accents a home can have. Whether indoor or out, however, it gets dirty. Really dirty. Here's how to clean brick.

    How to Clean Brick

    Brick is one of the most lovely design accents a home can have. Whether indoor or out, however, it gets dirty. Really dirty. Here's how to clean brick.

  • Tips for cleaning earbuds and headphones of lingering earwax and surface disinfecting aren't only good practices for hygienic reasons. They may improve the sound quality.

    Tips For Cleaning Earbuds

    Tips for cleaning earbuds and headphones of lingering earwax and surface disinfecting aren't only good practices for hygienic reasons. They may improve the sound quality.