Many families use chore cards to get kids to help around the house without all the nagging. But chore cards can have another benefit as well. If you incorporate Spanish into your cards, they can give your kids some extra practice in mastering that language. In this article, we’ll help you get started with using chore cards to help teach Spanish.
What Are Chore Cards?
If your family already uses chore cards, feel free to skip this section. If not, it helps to understand how chore cards work in English before using them in Spanish.
Chore cards are pretty much what they sound like. Each card lists a task for your child to do. Different families have different systems for using chore cards. For example, it could simply be a rule in your house that your child has to complete the tasks on three chore cards that you put on their bulletin board each day. Or you could establish that chore cards have to be completed before screen time. Or you could tie chore cards to your child’s allowance. You get the idea. We recommend doing some research on parenting blogs to find an approach to chore cards that works for your family. It might also take some trial and error to arrive at the best system for you.
Why Use Chore Cards in Spanish?
Gaining fluency in Spanish comes down to one simple thing: practice. Because chores happen regularly, using chore cards will give your kids consistent exposure to everyday Spanish vocabulary. The more they use their chore cards, the more the Spanish words and phrases will become ingrained in their minds.
Where to Get Chore Cards in Spanish
You can buy ready-made chore cards in Spanish. Another option is to purchase printable chore cards that you can modify by adding Spanish vocabulary. (Some parenting blogs also offer free printables.) If you plan to add Spanish translations to pre-made chore cards in English, just make sure that they have a surface you can write on. We also recommend that chore cards for younger kids include pictures.
Make Your Own Spanish Chore Cards
Making your own chore cards in Spanish is more time-consuming. But, on the other hand, the DIY approach allows you to customize your cards according to the specific chores in your household, as well as your kids’ ages. After all, a 16-year-old can do different kinds of chores than a 6-year-old can.
Need some ideas for age-appropriate tasks for your Spanish chore cards? We adapted this list from the Child Development Institute.
Ages 4-5
- Make the bed. – Guardar los juguetes.
- Clear the table. – Juntar los platos.
- Put clothes in the hamper. – Juntar la ropa sucias.
- Dust. – Quitar el polvo.
- Put away toys – Guardar los juguetes.
Ages 6-9
All of the above, plus:
- Sweep. – Barrer.
- Rake leaves. – Rastrear las hojas.
- Load the dishwasher. – Llenar el lavaplatoss.
- Empty the dishwasher. – Ecoger los platos.
- Vacuum. – Pasar la aspiradora.
- Help with cooking. – Ayudar a cocinar.
- Put away laundry. – Guardar la ropa.
Ages 10-13
All of the above, plus:
- Wash clothes. – Lavar la ropa.
- Take out the trash. – Sacar la basura.
Ages 14+
All of the above, plus:
- Clean the bathroom. – Limpiar el bañoa.
- Mow the lawn. – Cortar el césped.
- Walk the dog. – Caminar con el perro.
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