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Make a fridge chore chart your kids can read

Practice: Saying who it's for. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You're updating the chore chart on the fridge after Sunday's family meeting. The kids read it themselves, and Theo (5) can't read yet, so every chore must start with an emoji he can recognize and use 5 words or fewer. Write exactly 3 numbered lines, one per kid, starting with their name, with each kid's chores after the meeting's changes. Under 60 words, plain text, nothing else. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Not saying who reads it. The AI writes for a grown-up, with phrases like "responsible for" and long chore names a 5-year-old can't use. Try: Tell it: "Kids read this. Theo can't read yet, so start each chore with an emoji and keep it to 5 words or fewer."
  • Asking for "a chore chart". The AI builds a big table with days of the week and bold headings, which won't print cleanly as a simple list. Try: Say the shape: "Exactly 3 numbered lines, one per kid, starting with their name. Plain text."
  • Missing the meeting changes. The old chart is laid out neatly at the top, and the AI may copy it and miss a swap. Try: Add: "Apply every change from the Nov 1 family meeting."
  • Letting maybes become chores. The AI tries to help and adds the make-your-bed idea, an allowance line or the vet visit. Try: Add: "Only chores that were decided. Nothing else."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 60 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each chore 5 words or fewer, no intro."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Says the kids will read it
  • Asks for emoji pictures
  • Applies the meeting changes
  • One line per kid
  • Asks for plain text

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