Part 2: Age Appropriate Chores For Younger Kids
When your child reaches about 2 or 3 years old, they are usually old enough to do some smaller chores. This is a good age to get started so they can begin learning personal responsibility. Keep in mind they won’t be able to do everything themselves, but it is a great age to have them help you with things and what I’ve found is that they really want to be able to help.
Two and Three Year-Olds
You can have your younger children start helping to pick up their toys and blocks when they’re done playing and start helping you make the bed. They won’t be able to completely do it on their own, but let them assist you while you make it. Kids at this age should also be able to help with spills, feed the pets with your supervision, and put their dirty clothes in the laundry basket.
Four and Five Year-Olds
When they get a little older, they can start doing more things on their own. This includes doing more of making the bed, being responsible for picking up things in the living room and bedroom, and getting dressed on their own. Children of this age should also be able to help with some things in the kitchen, such as stirring or putting dishes in the dishwasher. They can help outdoors by watering plants, raking leaves and putting them into bags, putting away groceries, and taking dirty dishes from the table and putting them in the sink.
What School-Aged Children Can Do
By the time your child reaches first or second grade, they should already be comfortable with doing chores and on their way to being capable of doing even more around the house. This includes chores they have already started doing, but now can do without supervision.
Six and Seven Year-Olds
Your children should now be able to make their own beds without supervision. It is okay if it isn’t perfect, but this is a good age to stop helping them. Here is a list of other tasks and chores kids at this age can handle:
- Writing thank-you notes
- Vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping
- Taking out the trash, with your supervision
- Folding and putting away laundry
- More food prep, with your supervision
- Cleaning up their room
Ages 8-10
This is a great age because your kid is starting to become more independent. They are choosing their own clothes, helping with laundry and dishes, and hopefully making their bed and cleaning their room each day. You can also add a few more chores, including preparing easy meals completely on their own, washing the car, and cleaning their bathroom.
Be sure to get your chore tracking/responsibility chart I spoke about in Part 1. We love this Magnetic Chore Responsibility Chart. It comes with an 8 pack of liquid chalk markers that allow you to color coordinate it for each child or each chore, whatever works for your family.
Of course if this isn’t what you’re looking for there are so many options for chore charts – I am sure you’ll find something that’ll work in your home.
My two year likes to feed the puppy, and she helps me clean out the lint from the dryer! She likes to help mommy.
Starting chores at an early age can help them get used to it, so they don’t feel resentful. It is good for them and for the parents, too!