Chore list for kids by age: 66 age-appropriate jobs

What chores should kids do at each age?

Start with tasks your child can finish with a little help, then add steps as they grow. Toddlers join in with tidying and sorting, primary-age children take on regular daily jobs, and older children and teens can own whole areas such as laundry, meals or the bathroom. Chores help children feel capable and part of the family team.

The age bands below are a general guide, not a checklist. Children develop at different speeds, and additional needs, confidence and experience all matter more than a birthday. If a chore feels too hard, break it into smaller steps or save it for later.

Chores for ages 2–3

At this age chores are really about joining in. Expect help rather than results, work alongside them and keep each task to a few minutes.

• Put toys back in the box – make it a game: who can find all the blue ones?
• Put dirty clothes in the basket – a low, open basket makes it easy.
• Wipe up small spills – give them their own small cloth.
• Put books back on the shelf – a low shelf they can reach themselves.
• Help feed the pet – an adult measures, the child pours.
• Match socks – a sorting game that happens to be useful.
• Carry their plastic plate to the kitchen
• Water plants with a small can – outdoors or with a towel underneath.
• Dust with a sock on their hand – low shelves and skirting boards.
• Help unpack unbreakable shopping – tins in the cupboard, fruit in the bowl.

Chores for ages 4–5

Pre-schoolers and early school starters love being trusted with a real job. Show them once, do it together, then let them try alone.

• Make their bed – pulling up the duvet counts; perfection does not matter.
• Set the table – cutlery, napkins and plastic cups.
• Clear their place after meals
• Sort laundry into lights and darks – also a good colour-recognition game.
• Feed pets with supervision – check they have fresh water too.
• Tidy their bedroom floor – a five-minute pick-up before bath time.
• Wash vegetables in the sink – a step stool and a colander.
• Put clean clothes in drawers – label drawers with pictures to help.
• Pair shoes by the front door
• Wipe the table after meals – a damp cloth and a bit of practice.
• Put away cutlery (no sharp knives) – sorting forks and spoons into the drawer.
• Pull weeds with a grown-up – show them which plants to leave.

Chores for ages 6–8

Children in this range can follow a short sequence of steps and remember a routine. Many families introduce a simple chore chart around now.

• Make the bed properly – straighten the sheet, duvet and pillows.
• Empty small bins into the main bin
• Vacuum one room – a lightweight or handheld vacuum is easiest.
• Fold towels and tea towels – simple shapes to start with.
• Pack their own school bag – a checklist on the door helps.
• Help make packed lunches – choose fruit, fill water bottles, wrap sandwiches.
• Sweep the kitchen floor – a dustpan and brush for the corners.
• Water the garden or pot plants
• Put away shopping – cupboard items and fridge items sorted correctly.
• Load the dishwasher – adults handle knives and glassware.
• Wipe the bathroom sink – with a child-safe cleaner or damp cloth.
• Sort the recycling – paper, plastic, cans and glass into the right boxes.
• Rake leaves – in autumn, with a child-sized rake.
• Walk the dog with an adult

Chores for ages 9–12

Pre-teens can handle full jobs from start to finish and begin to manage their own belongings. This is a good stage to build independence.

• Load and unload the dishwasher – including putting everything away.
• Take the bins out on collection day
• Vacuum and mop floors – a room or a whole floor of the house.
• Wash, dry and fold their own laundry – teach them to check labels first.
• Clean the bathroom – toilet, sink and mirror, with gloves and ventilation.
• Make a simple meal with supervision – pasta, a salad or toasted sandwiches.
• Change their bed sheets
• Wash the car – a bucket, a sponge and a sunny day.
• Help younger siblings with their chores – teaching reinforces their own skills.
• Clear out the fridge – check dates, wipe the shelves.
• Write the shopping list – check the cupboards and note what is running low.
• Clean windows and mirrors
• Weed and tidy the garden
• Dust and polish furniture
• Cook a simple breakfast – scrambled eggs or porridge with an adult nearby.

Chores for teenagers

Teenagers can do almost everything an adult does around the house. Framing chores as life skills they will need when they leave home helps motivation.

• Cook a family dinner once a week – they choose the recipe and write the list.
• Do a food shop with a list and budget – a real lesson in prices and planning.
• Mow the lawn – after instruction on using the mower safely.
• Deep-clean the kitchen – including the hob and the inside of the microwave.
• Iron their own clothes
• Manage all their own laundry – from dirty basket to wardrobe.
• Babysit younger siblings for short spells – when you are confident they are ready.
• Wash up by hand, including knives
• Clean the bathroom top to bottom – bath or shower, tiles and floor included.
• Change light bulbs – with the switch off and a stable step.
• Help with painting or DIY – learning to use basic tools properly.
• Organise the garage or loft – sort, label and donate.
• Take full charge of a pet – feeding, walks, cleaning and vet reminders.
• Deep-clean their bedroom – under the bed, inside drawers, the lot.
• Plan the week’s meals – for the whole family, with everyone’s preferences.

How to build a chore routine that sticks

• Teach it, then step back. Do the chore together two or three times before expecting it done alone.
• Attach chores to existing habits. “Clear your plate after dinner” and “bag packed before bed” are easier to remember than a free-floating job.
• Use a visual chart. Pictures for younger children and a simple list for older ones, somewhere everyone can see it.
• Praise effort, not perfection. A lumpy bed made by a five-year-old is a success. Redoing it in front of them teaches them not to bother.
• Keep it short. A few minutes a day for younger children, more for older ones, is easier to keep up than one big weekend session.
• Decide your approach to pocket money. Some families pay for chores, others treat everyday jobs as part of family life and pay only for extras. Either can work if it is consistent.

Keeping chores safe

Supervise anything involving cleaning products, hot water, the hob, sharp knives, ladders or power tools, and follow the instructions on product labels. Store chemicals out of reach of young children even when they are helping. Move a child on to a riskier task only when you have watched them do it safely.

How to share chores fairly between siblings

Rotating jobs stops arguments about who always gets the worst one. Put this week’s chores on the chore wheel and have each child spin, with “Remove the winner after each spin” turned on so no job is dealt twice. If several children are the same age, spin names on the random name picker to decide who picks first, or use the who goes first wheel. When jobs are done and the kids want something to do, our list of things to do when bored has plenty for them.