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25+ Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids (That Save Mom’s Sanity!)

Raising kids with a good work ethic means starting while they’re young. These 25+ age-appropriate chores for kids will help your kids understand the value of hard work. Plus, when kids do chores, that means less for mom–it’s a win-win!

I was raised by a single dad, so I had to learn how to do household chores at a young age. I was determined to let my boys be kids for as long as possible. So, I put off requiring them to do chores for a long time.

little girl with a mop and bucket

A fellow homeschooling mom encouraged me to give them chores. She’s a mom of 7, so she has some experience. She told me that if something ever happened, and she needed to be away from home for a while, she had complete confidence that her older kids could take care of the house.

Finally, I took her advice and started assigning chores to my two boys. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that it was a life-changing experience.

My boys were seven and ten years old when I first assigned chores to them. And I wish I’d started much earlier.

Before my kids did daily chores, I was overwhelmed with cleaning every day. They were required to put away their toys (sometimes), but other than that, I did the rest of the cleaning.

Now, they each have a couple of chores they do every day. They’re required to do them before they get any screen time which is great motivation.

They don’t always do their chores without complaining, but they are learning that we all have to do things we don’t like.

What is a Good Age to Start Doing Chores?

I fully believe that kids should be kids. They have a lifetime to be adults and do adult things.

But one of our jobs as parents is to teach them to be responsible, functioning members of society. Kids need to start learning responsibility and good habits while they’re young.

Most kids can start doing simple chores around the age of two or three. Now, we’re not talking about long-term cleaning projects.

Toddlers have very short attention spans. If you give them a job that takes longer than a few minutes, they’ll probably lose interest or forget altogether.

Start small, but be consistent. Give your two or three-year-old simple tasks they can do. When they’re done, offer praise and show approval for what they’ve done.

As they get older, their chores can become more detailed. They will come to learn that good work has rewards–even if those rewards are just kind words from Mom or Dad.

list of age-appropriate chores for kids

Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids of All Ages

Kids are often capable of more than we realize as parents. Or, maybe they grow up faster than we want them to!

You want to make sure that you’re not giving kids tasks that are too hard for them. But at the same time, they need to be challenged.

Here are over twenty-five chores you can assign to kids of all ages to help them succeed while contributing to the family and home. These chores are designed to teach responsibility, independence, and important life skills.

Chores for Toddlers (Ages 2-3)

At this stage, chores should be simple and fun, focusing on basic motor skills and following instructions.

The toddler years are a great time to demonstrate how to do a job and do it well.

  • Pick Up Toys: Encourage toddlers to put toys back in their designated spots after playtime.
  • Put Dirty Clothes in the Hamper: Show them how to place dirty clothes in a laundry basket.
  • Dust Low Surfaces: Use a small cloth or duster to help them wipe down lower shelves or tables.
  • Help Feed Pets: Assist in scooping dry food into the pet’s bowl.
  • Wipe Spills: Hand them a cloth to wipe up small spills they make during meals or play.

Encourage your toddler to take responsibility by managing their own spaces. Help them learn that each of us must take care of our stuff and clean our messes.

Chores for Preschoolers (Ages 4-5)

Preschoolers are ready for more responsibility and can start learning to take care of their belongings and help around the house.

  • Make the Bed: Teach them to straighten their bedding each morning.
  • Set the Table: Show them how to place utensils, plates, and napkins on the table for meals.
  • Water Plants: Let them use a small watering can to water indoor or outdoor plants.
  • Help with Laundry: Involve them in sorting clothes by color or putting clothes into the washing machine.
  • Clean Up After Meals: Have them clear their own plate and utensils from the table.

Preschoolers can still do toddler-appropriate chores, but these stepped-up chores add to their responsibilities.

Early Elementary (Ages 6-7)

Kids in this age group can handle more complex tasks and start contributing more significantly to household chores.

  • Vacuum Small Areas: Allow them to vacuum small rugs or their bedroom.
  • Sort and Fold Laundry: Teach them to fold towels, socks, and simple clothing items.
  • Take Out Trash: Have them empty small trash cans into the larger bin.
  • Put Away Groceries: Involve them in organizing and putting away items after grocery shopping.
  • Wipe Down Surfaces: Provide a spray bottle with water or a mild cleaner to wipe down counters and tables.

At this point, kids can begin to understand their contribution to the household. If you choose to give an allowance for chores, now is a good time to start. (We’ll talk more about allowances in a minute.)

Middle Elementary (Ages 8-9)

At this age, children can take on more independence and responsibility, handling chores with less supervision.

  • Load/Unload Dishwasher: Show them how to properly load and unload dishes from the dishwasher.
  • Sweep Floors: Give them a broom to sweep the kitchen or other hard floors.
  • Help Prepare Simple Meals: Involve them in cooking tasks like making sandwiches, washing vegetables, or stirring ingredients.
  • Organize Personal Space: Encourage them to tidy their room, organize bookshelves, or declutter toys.
  • Clean the Bathroom Sink/Counter: Teach them to wipe down the bathroom sink, counter, and mirror.

By the time kids have reached this age, they are truly making a difference in your home! With proper training + encouragement, they can handle many household tasks on their own.

Sit back and relax a little as your kiddos take care of the cleaning!

little girl taking clothes out of a dryer

Preteens (Ages 10-12)

Preteens are capable of handling more complex chores that require attention to detail and consistency.

  • Mow the Lawn: Under supervision, teach them to safely operate a lawn mower for small yard areas.
  • Take Care of Pets Independently: Assign them the full responsibility of feeding, walking, and cleaning up after pets.
  • Assist with Laundry: Teach them how to use the washing machine and dryer, including measuring detergent.
  • Help with Meal Prep: Allow them to help with cooking, following simple recipes and using kitchen tools safely.
  • Clean the Bathroom: Assign them tasks like scrubbing the toilet, tub, and shower, and cleaning mirrors and floors.

As kids get closer to being teens, they long for adult privileges. Now is a great time to teach them that more privileges come with more responsibilities.

Teenagers (Ages 13+)

Teenagers should be responsible for their own personal chores and contribute to the household in more significant ways.

  • Wash the Car: Teach them to wash, rinse, and dry the family car.
  • Cook Full Meals: Encourage them to plan and prepare meals for the family, including using the stove and oven.
  • Deep Clean the House: Assign tasks like mopping floors, dusting high surfaces, and cleaning windows.
  • Manage Own Laundry: Expect them to wash, dry, fold, and put away their own clothes regularly.
  • Grocery Shopping: Allow them to help with grocery shopping, including making lists, selecting items, and managing the budget.

One of our greatest task as parents is to raise our kids to be good stewards of their time, money and talents.

As they go through their teen years, they should learn how to function as an adult. When we take time to train and prepare them for the future, we save them so much heartache and uncertainty.

How to Get Your Kids to Do Chores

We’ve discussed that kids can do chores. But how do you go from “they can” to “they do?”

Consistency is Key

Establish a routine where chores are expected and completed regularly. It’s not easy to create a consistent routine, and it will require some work in the beginning.

Kids don’t automatically wake up and do their chores. They’ll need some encouragement and gentle reminders at first. But eventually, they’ll learn to make their own habits for chores.

Make it Fun

little girl washing dishes

Use chore charts, stickers, or rewards to motivate younger children. I like using charts for my boys, because it gives them a visual reminder of what they’ve done and still need to do.

You may choose to reward your kids for doing their chores. Some families allow kids to earn screen time, while other base allowance on chores done.

Using a sticker chart or checklist is a great way to help kids track progress to reach their goal and get a reward.

Teach First, Then Supervise

Show them how to do each chore correctly, then supervise until they can do it independently.

The saying, “Don’t expect what you don’t inspect” applies here. Your kids need you to show them how to do things right.

They probably won’t do a chore perfectly the first time, and maybe not for several times. It takes patience to help them learn. But once they learn, you can often sit back and watch the jobs get done!

Related: How Every SAHM Can Keep a Clean House in 30 Minutes a Day (+free cleaning schedule)

Encourage Teamwork

Involve the whole family in cleaning sessions to show that everyone contributes to the household. Remind kids that they are part of a team.

It’s true that having kids do chores will remove a huge burden from mom. But it’s important for them to know they aren’t slaves. We all work together to keep our home clean.

Set times when everyone cleans. Or show kids that while they have a chore list, mom does, too. It takes all of us working together to keep our house clean.

Should I pay my kids to do chores?

If you’ve ever asked this question in a mom’s group, I promise you’ve gotten a lot of different replies. The discussion might have gotten heated.

Paying kids to do chores is a controversial topic, and the answer is: it depends.

Some people choose not to pay kids or give them an allowance for doing regular household chores. Their though process is that adults don’t make money for things like washing dishes. Kids shouldn’t expect to earn money for simple household upkeep.

I can understand their point. But it’s not my viewpoint. I pay my kids an allowance for doing chores.

I want them to learn how to take care of our home and their things. But giving them an allowance also helps them learn to manage money.

But here’s the catch–they must do the chores to earn the allowance. We don’t accept the excuse “I don’t want to.” (Although that’s a really popular one!)

My kids are too young to have jobs and earn money. So, earning an allowance allows them to learn the value of hard work. It’s a concept I hope they’ll carry into adulthood!

family doing chores together

Chores for Kids Help the Whole Family

One of the most important parts of parenting is finding balance. Assigning chores to kids creates a sense of balance in your home and is good for everyone.

When kids do chores, they develop character and learn a sense of responsibility. They learn important skills that they will need to carry into adulthood–things like doing laundry, preparing meals and taking care of things.

When kids do chores, it also helps lighten mom’s load. You have so many responsibilities and tasks. It’s easy for you to think you need to carry it all on your own.

But passing some tasks (even small ones) to your kids lets you reclaim your time! If you have two kids who each do 20 minutes worth of chores each day, you’ll get back 40 minutes of time back.

You just might find time to read that book on your nightstand, try a new hobby, or take a walk outside.

Teaching your kids to do chores will be such a blessing to your family. Implementing these simple tasks will change the atmosphere in your home and allow everyone to share the burden of caring for your home.

Do your kids do chores? Let me know in the comments!

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