The best age-appropriate chores for kids

It's true: Chores are good for kids.

"Helping with chores contributes to a child's self-esteem," says Kelley Yost Abrams , Ph.D. in developmental psychology and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board . "They can feel competent in completing the task and good about themselves for participating as an important family member."

Helping out around the house teaches responsibility, gives your child a sense of accomplishment and pride, and helps them learn practical skills. Doing chores solidifies that your child is part of the team, while gently underscoring that they're not the center of the universe. Plus, most busy parents can use the help!

It helps to have a positive, fun frame of mind when talking about chores - Kelley Yost Abrams, psychologist

It's never too late to start assigning jobs to your child. But the earlier the chore habit begins, the more your child will come to think of it as just another part of family life.

Age-appropriate chores for kids

Chores can start as early as toddlerhood, but it's important to keep tasks appropriate for your child's age. If a job is too difficult, your child might get frustrated and be unwilling to follow through. As your little one grows, they can manage more complex tasks and those that can be done independently.

Don't underestimate your child, either. Some parents fall into the trap of doing things for their kids out of habit – even long after the kids can do it themselves. Or, you may reason that it's just easier and faster to do it yourself. But you're doing your child a disservice by not getting them involved. Even toddlers can help tidy a room, for example, while older kids can make a sandwich for their lunch box.

Chores for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds:

Chores for toddlers and preschoolers can reinforce the important cognitive skills they're mastering, such as counting, learning colors, and categorization. Picking items up and packing them away also supports their gross and fine motor skills.

Here are some good chores to assign:

• Put toys and books away
• Help "set" the table by choosing the correct number of plates, silverware, and napkins
• Bring their plate and cup to the sink after meals
• Put dirty clothes in the hamper
• Pair up matching socks from the clean laundry hamper
• Wipe up spills
• Organize art supplies
• Sweep floors

Chores for 5-year-olds and 6-year-olds:

Kids are able to manage slightly more complex chores as they enter elementary school. Most early-elementary-age kids are enthusiastic about pitching in – at least at first. They may need gentle prompts and reminders to keep routine chores going.

In addition to the tasks above, 5- and 6-year-olds can:

• Keep their room tidy
• Make their bed
• Set the table
• Sort clean laundry
• Water plants
• Put out dry food and water for pets
• Get their own snacks from the fridge or pantry
• Clear their own plate at dinner
• Clean the bathroom sink with wipes
• Dust around the house
• Unload utensils from dishwasher
• Pick up wet towels
• Empty smaller wastebaskets

Chores for 7-year-olds and 8-year-olds:

At this stage, kids can take on a little more responsibility – say fully emptying the dishwasher or tackling a bigger share of the household cleaning.

In addition to the chores above, your 7- or 8-year-old can:

• Take out the garbage
• Empty the dishwasher
• Help with yard work, such as by raking leaves
• Help make their lunch
• Clear off the table after meals
• Wipe down kitchen counters
• Bring in mail
• Clean the cat's litter box
• Clean sinks
• Carry in groceries
• Organize bookshelves
• Entertain a younger sibling for brief periods

Chores for 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds:

At ages 9 and 10, kids can be expected to work independently and take on even more around the house.

Kids can manage all of the tasks above, plus:

• Load and unload the dishwasher
• Put away groceries
• Help make meals
• Vacuum and mop floors
• Walk the dog
• Fold and put away their own laundry
• Wash the car

How to make a chore chart for kids

Many families find it helpful to create a chore chart or checklist that clearly defines everyone's role and makes tasks easy to visualize. This is especially helpful for little kids, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics .

To make a chore chart:

• Write your child's name and the chores they're responsible for. You can also make it a family chore chart with everyone's name and tasks.
• You can use printable chore charts, a white board, a magnetic chore chart, a big piece of paper, or whatever works best for you. Make sure the chore chart is in a spot where your child can easily see it.
• You can divide chores into daily or weekly tasks (for example, making the bed might be a daily task while watering the plants happens weekly).
• Mark when tasks are completed. To make it fun and visual, use colorful stickers.
• When starting out, consider introducing one chore at a time per child to prevent kids from becoming overwhelmed, says the AAP.

Some families have daily chores that are done separately and weekend chores that everyone does at the same time. Decide ahead of time whether family members can swap jobs periodically or whether kids can sometimes choose which tasks they want to do.

For young children, you might consider adding even more detail: Some chore charts use illustrations to show both the task and exactly how to do it (such as clearing a plate from the table, scraping it, and rinsing it with water).

"Using pictures and breaking down tasks into smaller steps makes a chore less overwhelming and confusing," Yost Abrams says.

Key Takeaways

• Doing chores teaches responsibility, gives your child a sense of accomplishment and pride, and helps them learn practical skills.
• Keep chores age-appropriate so your kids don't get frustrated and give up.
• Making a weekly chore chart can help keep things on track.

How to make children's chores a success

1. Don't negotiate. Once you've explained how to do the job, it's best not to leave any room for arguing about it (which kids will often do)! Show how you expect a task to be done and where all the necessary implements are kept. If you choose to make a chore chart, that can help everyone keep their jobs straight.
2. Be understanding. If your child is refusing to do a chore, "the first step is to try and understand why," says Yost Abrams. Sometimes there are legitimate sensory issues that need to be addressed, she says. For example, some kids dislike the feeling of soap and water when washing dishes. Offering a choice (such as dusting and sweeping rather than doing dishes) can help minimize power struggles. Just like adults, kids feel empowered when they have some control.
3. Try not to be a micromanager. Don't do the chore over the "right" way for your child unless something is really wrong and you can constructively show them how to improve. For example, "The bathroom really looks good, but let me show you a trick to clean the mirror without streaks."
4. Praise a job well done. "It helps to have a positive, fun frame of mind when talking about chores," says Yost Abrams. Kids thrive on positive reinforcement, too. Even with routine jobs, find ways to offer praise, letting your child know that you noticed and appreciate their efforts.
5. Be consistent. Of course, every family has weeks when the regular schedule goes out the window. But in general, have your family stick to the program. "Consistent routines make it easier for everyone to cooperate with what needs to get done," says Yost Abrams. Doing chores at the same time every day or week can also help solidify them as part of your family's rhythm.
6. Think about discipline. To get kids to chip in, positive encouragement and natural consequences ("Once you finish your chores, we can all go to the playground") are usually more effective than punishment, Yost Abrams says. But if your child still resists or outright refuses to do their chores, it's okay to enact certain consequences, such as withholding screen time.
7. Consider your stance on rewards. Some families offer rewards or special treats for doing chores consistently and well. But experts have mixed feelings on this.

Some believe that this defeats the purpose of chores, which is to teach the value of contributing to the household and developing a sense of pride in a job well done.

But it's totally up to you. Some parents find rewards effective, some don't. Some choose to make chores part of an allowance, and some offer money only for bigger, extra chores, such as raking leaves in the fall or washing the car. As with all things parenting, ultimately only you can decide what's best for your family.