Advice from a Child and Family Therapist

Credit goes to my 14 year old son. For this amazing idea to make family chores FUN. “Among Us” style.

In case you didn’t know… Among Us is a super popular online game. With a very simple premise.

You are the crew of a spaceship. But there is secretly an alien among you. Called “the Impostor.”

You’re trying to finish all the routine chores on the ship. (See where we’re going with this?) Before the Impostor kills you.

Fair warning for those who haven’t played: In the app, you are killed by being stabbed in the neck. Or shot. Or having your neck broken.

Always play online games yourself first. To make sure you’re comfortable with your kids seeing the graphics. These are very cartoonish, so I personally don’t mind them.

And of course, there will be no actual violence in the IRL version.

This game works well for our family of 4. Our kids are 9 and 14. And we’ve heard back from some of you who enjoyed it with younger kids too!

How to Play Among Us: Family Chores Edition

Get 20 or more post-its, notecards, or slips of paper. Write one simple task on each. These are the jobs that need to be done.

The tasks should be quick things that anyone can do. You may want to prep a little. By putting needed supplies where kids can reach.

It’s fun to include jobs that already belong to someone. So kids get the added bonus of having some of their chores done by others.

These are some of the tasks we used in our house:

• Refill the soap in the kitchen (I left the refill and a funnel on the table)

• Change the towels in the upstairs bathroom

• Find 3 pieces of trash and throw them away.

• Find something in a couch. Put it away (or throw it away).

• Empty the paper recycling.

• Change the cats’ water.

• Clean the litter box.

• Start a load of laundry in the washer.

• Pick up 3 things in [14 year old]’s room.

• Pick up 3 things in [9 year old]’s room.

• Find the cat and pet her (just for fun).

• Make [family member]’s bed.

• Put extra toilet paper in all bathrooms.

• Find 3 cups and put them in the dishwasher.

• Put away the markers.

• Turn off lights in a room that isn’t occupied.

• Put away the shoes on the doormat.

• Collect all towels from bedroom floors. Put in hamper.

• Sanitize the kitchen table.

• Hug Mom (hopefully she’s not the Impostor!)

• Hug Dad.

• Give someone a compliment.

• Sweep the kitchen floor.

• Sanitize all doorknobs on main floor.

• Wipe down kitchen counter.

• Straighten the rugs in the hall.

Gather all family members and explain the game. Put the tasks face down on a table. Each person draws 4 and keeps them private.

Next, get 4 playing cards (or notecards). Assign one to be “the Impostor.” Everyone draws a card and doesn’t show it to anyone.

The person with the Impostor card is the Impostor. Everyone else is a “crewmate.” The Impostor gets to fake doing his/her/their tasks.

To win, the crewmates must complete their tasks before the Impostor “kills” 2 people. In a family of 4 the Impostor must “kill” 2 people to win. In a very large family you may want to set a higher goal than 2 or even have 2 impostors.

The Impostor tries to kill where they won’t be seen and the body won’t be instantly found. (If your kids aren’t strategic, make a rule that you must be alone with someone to kill them.) Impostors win by killing 2 people before all tasks are done.

In our house we just said “you’re dead” to kill. And the person laid down on the floor where they were “killed.” We had a lot of fun trying to look dead.

Optional: Get a bell or other noisemaker (doorbell works). This will be your “report a body” button. Family members will use this sound to call a meeting when they find a “body.”

When someone reports a body, the family will gather for a meeting. Everyone but the “body” discusses who they think the Impostor is. If you’re right, the crew wins.

If you’re wrong, the Impostor wins. This will rarely happen in an in-person game. This part also won’t work for a family of 3.

At the end of each round, put back the tasks that weren’t done. Repeat the game until all tasks are done. You can put back any tasks that can be repeated (lights, hugs, etc.) if there aren’t enough in the last round.

Making it work for your family

You may need to modify. To make it work for your kids’ ages. And it does help to have played online at least once.

We had all played Among Us because our kids asked us to.

Our Licensed Child Therapists in Maryland say

When your kids ask you to play their online game with them, ALWAYS say yes. Even if you have to plan it for later.

Reading is required in our version, but get creative! Here are some ideas to adapt the game for pre-readers.

• Instead of different tasks, make every task “clean up.” Put a picture on the card to show what to clean up.

• Teach your child the steps to each task. Number the tasks, and put numbers on the cards.

• “Tag” instead of killing.

• Keep the tasks in rooms they feel comfortable in. (No scary basements.)

• Assign them a task buddy to help with their tasks. (You do need 4 people to play, so teams may not work in smaller families.)

Great for family chores with ADHD

We have a house full of ADHD. And this means chaos takes over. Easily and often.

There is always stuff. Where it isn’t supposed to be. But cleanup is boring and routine: 2 things that don’t work for ADHD brains.

We are always inventing games. To escape the battle of chore time. And this one is especially good.

Here’s why. It’s based on something my kids are actually into. It’s time limited. And we do it together.

Kids (and adults) with ADHD are often very socially motivated. It’s exciting to be part of a group. And face a challenge together.

Enjoy family chore time!

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