Chore wheel and weekly chore chart

How the rotation works

Most chore wheels spin each job to a random person, which feels fair but is not: one spin can hand the same child the bathroom and the trash on a single day. This one plans the whole week. Each chore is spread over its days, the heaviest jobs are given out first to whoever has the fewest points, and the one-point jobs fill the gaps. A job someone already has that week counts as six extra points against them, more than the biggest chore, so repeats only happen when there is no fair way around them.

Say a family of four has dishes every day (2 points), feeding the cat every day (1), vacuuming twice (3), the bathroom once (4) and laundry once (4). That is 35 points for the week, and the wheel shares them out within two points of each other, 8 to 10 points each. Whatever difference is left carries into next week, so over a month everyone does close to the same share. The table shows each person's points, how many days in a row they have finished every job they had (days with no jobs do not break a streak) and how many vetoes they have left.

Treat it like a game: the spin decides who gets the week's big job, points add up as jobs are ticked off, and a streak is something to protect. Some families add a small reward for the week's top streak; the chart only keeps score.

Starter chores by age

These are our own starting points. Children differ a lot, so change the age groups and chores to fit your house.

• Ages 3 to 4: put toys back in the bin, put dirty clothes in the hamper, feed the pet (measured scoop).
• Ages 5 to 6: wipe the table after dinner, set the table, match and fold socks, water the plants, make your bed.
• Ages 7 to 9: empty small trash cans, unload the dishwasher, sweep the kitchen, put away clean laundry.
• Ages 10 to 12: vacuum one room, load the dishwasher, take the trash and recycling out, clean the bathroom sink and mirror, help cook dinner.
• Teens: mow the lawn, wash a load of laundry start to finish, clean the bathroom, mop the kitchen floor, cook dinner.
• Adults: grocery run, clean out the fridge.

Anything a younger group can do, an older group can do too. The wheel only stops it the other way round: it never gives a job to someone in a younger age group than the job is set for.

Chore wheel questions

How does the chore wheel keep it fair?

Every chore has effort points from 1 to 5. The wheel hands out the biggest jobs first, each to the person with the fewest points so far, then fills in the small ones to even things out. Nobody gets the same chore twice in a week unless that is the only way to keep the points even. Anything left uneven at the end of the week carries over, so whoever did more this week gets a lighter week next time.

How do veto tokens work?

Each person gets the number of veto tokens you choose (one by default) for the week. Using one hands that job to whoever has the fewest points this week. The points move with the job, and the carry-over evens it out next week, so a veto is a real choice, not a free pass. Swaps are free: two people can trade jobs whenever both agree.

What chores suit which ages?

The starter lists are our suggestions, not rules. Ages 3 to 4 start with putting toys away and feeding a pet from a measured scoop; ages 7 to 9 can unload the dishwasher or sweep; teens can take on laundry start to finish, mowing or cooking a meal. Give each person an age group and the wheel never assigns a chore set for an older group. Keep an adult nearby for anything with heat, sharp tools or cleaning sprays.

Can the whole family see the chart?

Yes. "Copy family link" packs the people, chores and this week's chart into the link itself, after the # sign, which browsers do not send to any website. Open it on another phone or tablet to see the same week. Ticks you make there stay on that device, so one shared tablet on the fridge works best for keeping score.

Can I print it?

Yes. Use your browser's Print command once the week is spun: the page prints only the week, day by day, with a box to tick for every job and who does it, plus each person's points.

What is the dinner pick?

A small wheel for tonight's dinner. Spin it, and anyone who still has their one veto can strike the result and spin again. Once everyone has used their veto, the next spin is final.

For one-off choices, put any list on spin the wheel, or use the random name picker to call on someone; the team generator splits a big family into cleanup crews.