Chores for kids by age

Which chores a child can do at each age

At 2 and 3, kids can put toys in a box, take dirty clothes to the hamper or wipe up their own spills. At 4 and 5, they can pull up the comforter, set out napkins and silverware or feed the pet.

From 6 to 8 they can clear their plate, fold their clothes or pack their backpack. From 9 to 11, empty the dishwasher, vacuum their room or take out the trash. From 12, they can run a load of laundry, cook something simple or clean the bathroom. Every child goes at their own pace: use the ages as a guide, not a test.

A few chores, always the same

A chart with three or four fixed chores works better than one with ten that change every week. What repeats becomes a habit, and habit is what makes them do it one day without being asked.

That’s why the tool suggests the chores for their age and keeps the ones from younger ages in a second block: if they’re 7 and still don’t pick up their toys on their own, start there.

How to use the chart

Print it and put it at their eye level, on their bedroom door or the fridge. Each day they do a chore, they check the box or add a sticker. At the end of the week, look at it together.

Show them each chore the first few times by doing it together. “Clean your room” is hard to understand at 5; “the cars go in the blue box” makes sense right away.

Allowance or no allowance?

Some families pay an allowance for certain chores and others prefer chores to be part of living together. Both can work. If you pay, it usually works better to tie money to extra jobs rather than the basics, like making the bed.