You may be wondering what might be appropriate ways to have your kids help around the house. Today I bring to you a great list of chores for different ages.
Kids can help more around the house then we often give them credit for. Chores teach responsibility, and they teach kids to be a positive contributing member of a family. Remember your child can do anything from his or her own list and younger.
Want more lessons on teaching kids responsibility, check out that portion of my character building series right here.
Great List of Chores for Different Ages
Kids will benefit from learning that they can contribute and have purpose within a family. Developing a heart to serve, work hard and find gratification in their labor reaps great rewards.
I know it can be hard to develop a positive attitude toward chores within a family. There will be push back. You will hear complaining. Sometimes it feels easier to just do it correctly yourself.
Despite the challenges, I encourage you to stick with it. It will benefit everyone in the end.
Parenting is intense work. It takes a lot of intentionality, hand holding and teaching, especially in the younger years. As we stick with it as parents, in determination and love, we can produce citizens ready to contribute positively to our world.
Teaching kids to do things well takes time and patience. In terms of chores, here is a resource that can help your kids to be thorough in their responsibilities.
List of Chores by Age
Chores for Kids Ages 2 1/2 – 3 1/2
- Wipe up their own spills
- Pick up toys
- Wipe baseboards
- Help set the table
- Dust
- Put groceries on lower shelves
- Sweep floors with handheld broom
- Run hand held vacuum over crumbs
- Help with hygiene – brush teeth, use toilet, wash body, brush hair
- Choose clothes
- Dress themselves
- Feed pet
- Help bake – dump and stir
- Match socks
Chores for Kids Age 4
- Empty wastebaskets
- Take out garbage
- Help make lunches
- Prepare breakfast
- Set & clear the table
- Make bed
- Pick up Room
- Mix juice
- Get the mail
- Help with Yard Work
- Hang up towel and washcloth
- Begin to fold clothes
- Hang clothes
Chores for Kids Age 5
- Help with meal planning
- Make own lunch for school
- Prepare simple breakfast and clean up afterward
- Pour drinks
- Tear lettuce for salad
- Clean mirrors and windows
- Wipe counters
- Separate whites and colored for laundry
- Sweep porch
- Answer phones
- Clean out Car
- Fold clothes
- Learn to tie shoes
- Put away outdoor toys
- Water Plants
- Peel Vegetables
Chores for Kids Age 6
- Choose clothes appropriate for weather or special events
- Cut vegetables with supervision
- Make simple food
- Gather wood
- Rake
- Pull weeds
- Straighten and clean drawers
Chores for Kids Age 7
- Care for your own bike (wipe it off, put it away, use a lock)
- Wash pets
- Train pets
- Get up and go to bed on their own
- Be in charge of lunch money and notes for school
- Iron simple items like napkins with supervision
- Scrub bathtub and sink
- Clean toilets
- Wash plastic trash baskets
- Remove sheets to take to laundry
- Fold laundry
- Help put sheets on the bed
- Put dishes in dishwasher
Chores for Kids Age 8
- Fold napkins and set table properly
- Mop floor
- Run own bath
- Change into play clothes without being told
- Sew buttons on clothes
- Sew tears in seams
- Pick fruit from trees
- Dead head flowers
- Clean up animal messes in yard or accidents in house
- Help paint
- Write letters
Chores for Kids Age 9
- Operate washer and dryer
- Use grocery list and comparison shop
- Cross street unassisted
- Prepare box mixes
- Prepare family meal with help
- Plan own party
- Lean about banking
- Learn to sew, knit or weave
- Make coffee, tea or juice and pour it
- Clean car inside and out
- Be responsible for pet
Chores for Kids Age 10
- Care for younger siblings with parents still home
- Handle small sums of money
- Mow grass with supervision
- Wash pots and pans
- Clean kitchen
- Keep track of own schedule
This is a great list of chores for different ages of kids. I hope it helps equip you on your parenting journey, which is one of my main goals at Meaningful Mama.
Obviously these chores build on one another. A child of the age 10 can do anything under their list or any of the previous lists.
All our children are different. Some will need more assistance and more teaching, while for others helping becomes more naturally. Stick with it in grace, patience and with the heart attitude of a teacher.
I made the mistake of assuming that things would come more quickly, not recognizing that this parenting thing really is a marathon rather than a fifty yard dash. Kids are experiencing life for the first time and things aren’t always intuitive, even if we feel like they should be obvious.
Enjoy the journey. It feels long in the midst of it, but we really do only get a short window to shape these kids in positive ways.
Note: This post was originally written in 2012, but it has recently been updated with a clearer outline and photos for the readers convenience.
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I love this! I am always looking for more ways to include the boys in the work that needs to get done in our house! Now if I could just let go of my perfectionist self a bit – ha! 🙂
Hahaha! I know. I gotta let go of some things too, although I wouldn’t call myself a perfectionist. I’m glad this is helpful. Thanks for commenting!
I’d take a look at Joon for Kids! Its my favorite chore app that turns chores into a super fun activity for my kids and also makes it easy to track. Plus it gives me like over 500 suggestions for age appropriate chores (which is honestly too much lol)
Good resource. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a great option for parents!