by Angela V Assigning chores to young children is essential. Helping out at home and learning useful life skills allows them to feel like they can contribute at home while they learn about responsibility at the same time. Simple things like asking them to clean their toys when they are toddlers, to doing their own laundry as they get older, will help them become self-reliant teenagers and adults as they grow up.
Both of our boys have a list of chores that varies according to their age. They usually have a schedule, and they know what they should be doing daily. Some days we find a bit of resistant following through with some of the chores, but they are usually pretty good at taking care of what’s on their list.
Age-Appropriate Chores for Children
Ages 2-3
– Assist in making their bed
– Pick up toys when playtime is over
– Bring dirty clothes to the laundry hamper
– Neatly pile their books
Ages 4-5
– Make the bed every morning
– Help set the table before dinner
– Water plants
– Clear the dinner table
– Clean small messes, such as picking up crumbs
– Help dust easy to reach surfaces
Ages 6-7
– Keep their bathroom tidy
– Sort laundry (try starting with just matching clean socks!)
– Help empty dishwasher and put dishes away
– Choose their daily outfit and get ready for each day independently (shower on their own)
Ages 8-9
– Help carry groceries from the car and help put away groceries
– Bring in the mail from mailbox daily
– Help sort recycling
– Assist in meal preparation (peeling potatoes, preparing salad, etc.)
– Clean their room independently
Ages 10-11
– Responsible for exercising pets once each day
– Wash dishes
– Swipe the floor after dinner every night
– Learn to use washer and dryer
Ages 12 and up
– Help wash family car (with supervision)
– Empty indoor trash cans, bring trash outside each week
– Babysit younger siblings
– Learn to use washer and dryer
I know some parents pay their children to do chores, however in our housework, they don’t get paid to help with the family housework. We believe that they need to feel like they are contributing to our family because they are part of the family and not just because they are interested in the allowance they get after doing their chores. They still get a weekly allowance, but it isn’t in exchange for them doing their chores.
Do you pay an allowance to your children to do their chores? Share your family’s experience below in the comments.
19 Comments on “Age-Appropriate Chores for Children”
TRhis is a great list and it’s good to start the kids at a young age to do chores, helps them to be responsible!!
All children should have to do chores, for one it gives them a feeling of helping and for another they do attain a feeling of responsibility and feel that they are a big and important part of the family.
Great list. We do get them to help with chores and no, no payment specifically related to chores! I agree. They should help because they want to, not because they want to be paid!
Thanks for this. My kids are already doing most of these suggestions (based on their age). I didn’t really consider them to be “chores” but rather things that they should just be doing. My 6-year old loves helping out at home. My twins do too, but aren’t as enthusiastic!
This is so helpful! Thanks for the post!
Nicely divided age group list.. definitely a time for everything, it’s a nice guide line so to speak
Great list, thanks.
I like this guideline. My daughter is 7 now and she is responsible for showering or bathing herself, keeping her room clean and occasionally helping with meals. She loves getting busy in the kitchen. We don’t do an allowance. Maybe one day.
This is a great list.
Great list of guidelines! I strongly believe in children helping with chores within their physical aptitude and mental understanding.
Your guideline is perfect! Our kids have always been eager to help out with chores from a young age. We do give weekly allowances and in the event they need extra they are good negotiators 🙂
Getting children involved in household chores is an important part of their development into responsible adults.
Great list of age-appropriate chores, doing chores builds their self esteem.
We never paid them to do chores but we always made sure we they got some spending money for treats when we had extra money. These are great tips though.
This is an excellent age appropriate list. We can’t expect them to do chores that are too hard for him.
Good List. My daughter is 13 and she is dreadful at cleaning her room and cleaning up after herself. I just try to constantly remind her to clean.
This a good list. A mother is not a maid, and in some households, you see the mom doing everything for the kids. This is not beneficial in the long run.
It’s kinda funny – we’ve never really turned our minds to it but we all pitch in whenever we need to (2 adults and an 11 year old)
I’m going to show this to my daughter. 3 kids, and she’s still doing most chores herself.
Thanks for the great tips!