If you've ever used printable chore charts for kids you know a big part of the job is keeping the fun in the process.

At the end of the day, what you are asking your child to do is to perform a task - a task the child probably doesn't want to do.

Quickly, motivation becomes the watchword when using charts with kids, which is also true for adults. Do you like to clean the bathrooms? I didn't think so. Well, neither do your kids.

Clearly, the bathrooms still must be cleaned. Looked at from that perspective it's in everyone's interest to make chore time go as smoothly as possible.

That being said, here are some easy ways to interject a bit of fun into using chore charts.

- Put on music.

Let the kids pick out the tunes and dance while vacuuming. More than one kiddo? Let everyone have a turn choosing the songs. Use your charts to note what type of music 1) makes everyone work faster and 2) makes everyone work more productively. Two very different insights that will help you with your future chore planning.

- Set a timer.

You'd be surprised how many chores can be completed in only 15 minutes. Not done yet? Set the timer again. Your young ones will get the message fast with this idea; speed up and get done quicker. Jot down on the kids' charts which chores can be completed in only 15 minutes. Write those on strips of paper and let people draw for those mini-chores next time around.

- Make it a contest.

This is about competition. Whether between siblings or you and your child, seeing who can dust their room the fastest is actually great fun. Let your children decorate their task charts and display the winner's for all to see.

- Prizes are good.

Use your chore charts to keep track of who does what chore all week and give out prizes accordingly. These do not need to be elaborate prizes; indeed, the best rewards are often time spent with Mom or Dad doing something one-on-one.

- Consider a barter system.

Give everyone a chart and let them fill out the chores they would prefer to do. Then compare notes and schedules. Perhaps Billy has a full week of soccer practices coming up and can make multiple beds in the morning but has no time for doing dishes in the evening. Let the kids determine a chore schedule for the week that works for everyone.

Keep on eye on this idea, though, and don't let one child dump all his chores on another child.

Printable chore charts for kids are excellent tools when used wisely and creatively. Put together your own adult chore chart and occasionally offer to trade a chore for the week with your child. This can be an eye-opening experience for a kid and is often more fun then doing the regular old chores.

Mix it up in your home when it comes to chores and show your kids what a little imagination can do.