Kids Chores By Age

Small household jobs give children a way to take part in family life. This Harvard Medical School article discusses the value of chores. Below are starting points you can adapt to your child's abilities and the help they need.

My children enjoy small jobs, especially when they can work beside me. Two damp washcloths and an invitation to wash the floor once kept them happily occupied for a few minutes.

For us, making the job manageable and enjoyable has helped more than making it feel like a test.

I've used rewards that my children understand and enjoy. When they were under five, that might have been a coin, a small treat, or a mark on a chart. Later, I contributed about 25 cents to their Minecraft fund. Acknowledging their effort matters more than expecting perfect results.

Including toddlers

A toddler will need plenty of help. At this age, the aim is to practice putting things away together and make helping a familiar part of the day.

My mother-in-law suggested a simple job for the end of a car trip: gathering a few pieces of rubbish before everyone goes inside.

I turn it into a short game: "Let's see who can find five pieces of rubbish."

Stay beside young children and choose safe items for them to handle. A small, finished job can give them something concrete to feel pleased about.

These moments are also practice for the everyday skills children will use as they grow.

Use the age groups below as suggestions, rather than a checklist every child must complete. Show each task first, offer help, and adjust it to your child's readiness. Jobs involving cleaning products, cooking, pets, or younger siblings need appropriate adult supervision.

Suggested Kids Chores By Age

Age 2-3

Pick up toys.
Put safe rubbish in the bin.
Dust a low surface.
Put clothes in the hamper.
Wipe a baseboard with a damp cloth.
Help clear the car with an adult.

Age 4-6

Continue familiar jobs.
Tidy their room.
Make their bed.
Help set and clear the table.
Wipe the table.
Help feed pets and refill their water.
Put laundry and groceries away.
Empty a small waste bin.
Water plants.

Age 7-10

Continue familiar jobs.
Fold and put away laundry.
Help prepare a meal.
Help clean the bathroom.
Vacuum or sweep.
Take out rubbish.
Pull weeds.
Help care for the dog.
Load and empty the dishwasher.

Age 11-15

Continue familiar jobs.
Mop a floor.
Learn to prepare a meal.
Help in the garden.
Help clear snow when conditions are safe.
Help with younger siblings, with suitable supervision.
Learn to do their own laundry.

Age 16+

Continue familiar jobs.
Help with errands.
Help with transport when licensed and ready.
Learn the lawn care tasks appropriate to the equipment and conditions.

Printable Kids Chores By Age Chart