Household Chores for Kids

Keeping your house clean requires all hands on deck. If you have kids, you probably hope that you can get them to help clean up, or at least take a break now and then from making a mess. Getting kids to do chores around the house can be a mixed bag, though.

You want to give them something appropriate for their age. Otherwise, they might just make things worse, albeit in potentially comical ways. What kinds of chores can you ask kids to do?

The following list offers a few ideas for age-appropriate chores. Every family and every child is unique, of course, so you might adjust your approach and expectations accordingly.

Chores For Kids

A few pointers before we get to the chores themselves:

• Be consistent: Whatever chores you decide to assign, keep a consistent schedule for all of the kids.

• Start them young, but ease them into it: Many chores are probably beyond the ability of young children, but there’s bound to be something they can do. If they can’t work the dishwasher yet, for example, ask them to help clear the table.

• Mistakes will happen: Remember that they’re learning all of this stuff. Don't expect a perfect job, and be patient if they mess up.

• Give credit where it’s due: While you don’t want to draw too much attention to mistakes, you always want them to remember what it feels like when they do the job well.

Preschool and Kindergarten (Ages 3 to 5)

• Wipe up spills

• Water plants

• Pull weeds

• Pour themselves a bowl of cereal

• Put away their toys

• Dust with a feather duster

• Stack magazines or catalogs

• Fill a pet's food and water bowls

Early Elementary School (ages 6 to 8)

• Set and clear the table

• Sort clean laundry

• Make their bed

• Sweep floors

• Rake leaves

• Carry groceries into the house, as long as they aren’t too heavy

• Help with packing their lunch

• Help with preparing meals

• Walk the dog, either in the backyard or with adult supervision, unless the dog weighs more than them

Late Elementary School (ages 9 to 10)

• Use the vacuum cleaner

• Mop the floor

• Help rinse the dishes

• Put groceries away

• Fold and put away their own laundry

• Sew buttons on clothing

• Make their own breakfast

• Basic cooking using the microwave or toaster

• Remove trash bags from the indoor trash cans

Middle School (ages 11 to 13)

• Wash the dishes and load the dishwasher

• Use the washer and dryer

• Wash the car

• Clean the bathroom sink

• Put the trash bins out for pickup

• Prepare simple meals

• Babysit younger siblings while an adult is present elsewhere in the home

High School (ages 14 to 17)

• Iron clothes

• Mow the lawn

• Clean the shower, tub, or toilet

• Deep-clean the refrigerator and other appliances

• Perform simple auto maintenance tasks like checking the oil level and tire pressure

• Care for pets without supervision

• Prepare complex meals

• Babysit younger siblings for short periods of time without supervision

Keeping Kids Accountable For Chores

Let’s also talk about how to make sure the kids do the chores assigned to them. You’ll need something that can visually remind everyone of their assignments and note when they are complete. A dry-erase board placed in a central location like the kitchen could do the trick.

You might draw a chart with everyone’s responsibilities for the week, which they can check off upon completion. The check marks mean that the chore is that child’s responsibility.

In this chart, two chores are assigned to the 16-year-old, and two to the 11-year-old. All three children are responsible for the last two chores.

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