Age appropriate chores help your kids grow, learn and prepare.
Here are some tips to get started:
Chores ultimately become personal responsibilities, teaching valuable life lessons. Pick chores that your child will need to learn.
Choose tasks that your child is ready to perform and be sure to teach them with guidance and encouragement.
Make sure the list of chores is enough to keep your child busy, but not too busy relative to school, work and family life.
Ages 3-4
- Clean up toys
- Put dirty laundry in hamper
- Pull on clothing
- Wipe cabinets & baseboards (with wet cloth or sock on hand)
- Feed treats to pets
- Throw away own trash
- Clean up spills & messes
Ages 4-5
- Any previous chores
- Get dressed independently
- Make the bed
- Clean up their room
- Set & clear the table
- Load the dishwasher
- Feed pets
- Sort & fold laundry
- Put away small groceries
- Water indoor plants
- Prep snacks
Ages 6-8
- Any previous chores
- Wake up with alarm clock
- Prep small meals (sandwiches)
- Load dishes in dishwasher
- Wipe bath sink & counter
- Get the mail
- Collect household trash
- Fold laundry
- Weed the yard
- Manage allowance
Ages 9-11
- Any previous chores
- Load & unload the dishwasher
- Clean bathrooms
- Mop & vacuum
- Unpack the groceries
- Prep food for meals (measure, wash, peel, cut, etc.)
- Walk the dog
- Put away the laundry
- Rake leaves
Ages 12+
- Any previous chores
- Babysit (siblings or neighbors)
- Clean the house
- Mow the grass & shovel snow
- Wash the car
- Cook small meals
- Clean the refrigerator
- Take out the trash
- Make the grocery list
Iron
Ages 16+
- Any previous chores
- Wash & fold own laundry
- Cook full meals
- Organize the house
- Clean the garage
- Maintain yard care (lawn, bushes, walkway, etc.)
- Help with house maintenance (repairs, painting, etc.)
- Run household errands (if driving)
