# Home Duties & Chores Part of the Family Life Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/index.md) *Contributing at Home* > **3.** Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five) and do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them. Discuss with your counselor the effect your chores had on your family. This requirement is the longest one in the badge — not because it's the hardest, but because it takes 90 days of consistent effort. That's about three months of showing up, doing the work, and proving that you can be counted on. By the end, you'll have built habits that serve you for the rest of your life. ### Why Chores Matter Chores aren't punishment. They're practice for adulthood. Every time you do a load of laundry, take out the trash, or wash the dishes, you're learning responsibility, time management, and the satisfaction of a job well done. Chores also help your family run smoothly. A household is like a troop — when everyone does their part, things work. When someone slacks off, others have to pick up the extra weight, and that builds resentment. > **Did You Know?** > > A 75-year Harvard study found that the single best predictor of success and happiness in adulthood was whether a person did chores as a child. Not grades, not sports — chores. The researchers concluded that contributing to the household teaches a work ethic and sense of responsibility that lasts a lifetime. ### Choosing Your Chores The requirement says "at least five." Choose chores that are real, regular tasks — things your family genuinely needs done. Here are some categories to consider: **Kitchen duties:** - Washing dishes or loading/unloading the dishwasher - Setting or clearing the table - Helping prepare meals - Wiping counters and cleaning the kitchen after meals **Cleaning and organizing:** - Vacuuming or sweeping floors - Dusting furniture and surfaces - Cleaning bathrooms - Organizing shared spaces (living room, garage, mudroom) **Outdoor tasks:** - Mowing the lawn or raking leaves - Taking out the trash and recycling - Shoveling snow or clearing walkways - Watering plants or maintaining the garden **Laundry and personal care:** - Doing your own laundry (washing, drying, folding, putting away) - Helping with family laundry - Making your bed daily - Keeping your room clean **Family care:** - Caring for family pets (feeding, walking, cleaning) - Helping younger siblings with homework or getting ready - Running errands with a parent or guardian - Checking on elderly family members > **Tip** > > Pick chores from different categories so your 90-day experience is well-rounded. If all five chores are kitchen tasks, you'll miss the chance to show you can contribute in multiple ways. Talk to your parent or guardian about which chores would be most helpful. ![A Scout vacuuming a living room floor with a cheerful expression, with a checklist on the wall in the background](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/family-life/guide/scout-doing-chores?v=f39925be) ### Tracking Your Chores for 90 Days The requirement says to "keep a record." This is important — your counselor will want to see documentation, not just a verbal report. Here are some tracking methods: **Paper tracker:** Print out a chart with your chores listed down the side and dates across the top. Check off each chore as you do it. Simple and effective. **Digital tracker:** Use a spreadsheet, a notes app, or a chore-tracking app on your phone. Some families use shared apps so everyone can see who did what. **Calendar method:** Mark each chore on a physical or digital calendar. Color-code different chores for easy visual tracking. Whichever method you choose, be honest. If you miss a day, don't fake it — just note that you missed it and get back on track the next day. Your counselor will respect honesty more than a perfect record. Download: [90-Day Chore Tracking Log](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/chore-tracking-log/) ### Building the Habit Ninety days is long enough to turn a chore into a habit. Here's how to make it stick: **Habit-Building Strategies** — Tips for staying consistent over 90 days - [ ] Set a routine: Do certain chores at the same time every day (dishes after dinner, bed made before school). - [ ] Pair it with something you enjoy: Listen to music or a podcast while you clean. - [ ] Start small: If a chore feels overwhelming, break it into smaller steps. - [ ] Track your streak: Seeing a row of checkmarks on your tracker is motivating. - [ ] Don't aim for perfection: Missing one day doesn't erase all your progress. Just pick it back up. ### Discussing the Effect on Your Family At the end of your 90 days, your counselor will ask you how your chores affected your family. Think about these questions: - Did your parent or guardian notice a difference? Did they have more free time or less stress? - Did the house run more smoothly? Were there fewer arguments about who does what? - Did your attitude toward chores change over the 90 days? - Did other family members start doing their chores more consistently because of your example? - What did you learn about yourself — your discipline, your preferences, your limits? > **Be Prepared! Falling Behind on Your Chore Log** > > Life happens. Sports seasons, school exams, family trips — there will be times when keeping up feels hard. > > - **Don't start over.** If you miss a few days, just pick up where you left off and note the gap. > - **Adjust if needed.** If a chore no longer makes sense (like raking leaves in summer), talk to your parent or guardian about swapping it for something else. > - **Be honest with your counselor.** They know 90 days is a long time. They're looking for genuine effort, not a flawless record. ### Explore More Resources [10 Chores for Teens That Teach Them to Be Responsible Lifelong (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hqchiy7qW4): A video exploring which chores are most valuable for building lifelong responsibility. [Family Chores (video)](https://vimeo.com/1114227688): An overview of how chores contribute to a healthy family dynamic. [Create a Household Chore Checklist in Word (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmA6tCO_3MM): A tutorial for creating your own digital chore tracking checklist. ![A close-up of a colorful wall calendar with checkmarks and stickers tracking completed chores over several weeks](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/family-life/guide/chore-tracking-calendar?v=c8aea352) --- - Previous: [Your Role in the Family](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/req2/index.md) - Next: [Individual Home Project](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/req4/index.md)