Children should have chores to do. This teaches them to be responsible and helps them grasp the concept of self-discipline. It will also give them a way to contribute to the home and teach them life skills.
It is also important to ensure that the chores are age-appropriate, a 2-3 year old cannot do the dishes for example. But maybe you are not sure what is age-appropriate for your child, so here we are going to talk about it.
Chores for Kids by Age (Examples)
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and other research children who do chores have a higher self-esteem, are more responsible, and can better deal with their frustrations. There are multiple benefits to having your child involved in age-appropriate chores, such as:
- Honing time management skills
- Increasing organization skills
- Helps them accept responsibility
- Provides them with the opportunity for success
- Helps them learn to balance work and play from early on
- And sets a good foundation for their independence
If your child has never done chores before, then the AACAP also gives you ideas for introducing the chores to your child or children.
- Have reasonable expectations
- Ensure a regular routine
- If your child is younger, focus on small tasks. For longer chores make them fun and cooperative.
- Make a star or reward chart
- Be a good role model
- Give positive feedback!
For our almost 3-year-old, we had finally introduced a chore for him to do. Our home is not very big, and we do not have shelves for our shoes. As such they get messy pretty easily.
For our toddler, we just assigned him the chore of organizing shoes. He gets such a kick out of it! Especially because after each set we clap and say, “yay baby!” and it makes him even happier to work on it.
Age-Appropriate Suggestions for Chores
When deciding the right chore for your child, you know them best. You know what they are capable of and what they are ready for. The following list of ages and chores really are only suggestions. Because no one knows your kids like you do.
Chores For 2-3-Year-Olds
- Picking up and putting away toys
- Unload smaller items from a dishwasher; with supervision
- Dust easy-to-reach areas
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper
- Put away their clothes
- Wipe baseboards with soapy water
Chores For 4-5-Year-Olds
- The previously mentioned chores
- Setting the table for meals
- Clear the table
- Water indoor plants
- Help feed pets
- Weed a garden
Chores For 6-8-Year-Olds
- All of the previous chores
- Help prepare meals (cleaning veggies, peeling potatoes, etc.)
- Clean bathroom sinks and counters
- Dishes
- Rake
- Fold laundry
- Put away laundry
- Sweep and mop
- Vacuum
- Collect garbages
- Clean microwave
Chores For 9-11-Year-Olds
- All of the previous chores
- Make simple meals
- Take garbage or recycling to the curb
- Get mail
- Clean toilets
Chores For 12-14-Year-Olds
- All of the previous chores
- Clean the bathroom
- Make a meal plan and meals
- Mow the lawn
- Supervise younger siblings
Final Thoughts
Kids may not always want to do their chores but helping them make it fun can be a big help. When the routine is in place they start to work a bit faster as well. Our children each have 2 chores. Each week the chore changes so that they can get a break from a chore they have grown bored of.
I set it up for 3 weeks, and when the third weekend, they go back to week 1 on their chore chart. The established routine has really helped our children mature.
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