Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids: Building Responsibility at Every Stage

As our children grow, we parents need to help them become mature and responsible little humans. To help them, we can assign age-appropriate chores around the house. Introducing chores to children has many benefits, including providing children with a sense of pride and accomplishment and giving you a bit of relief. So, where do you begin with chores for kids? We have many ideas that we think you will love and can use with your children!

Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids

Chores for Toddlers

Toddlers love to be helpers. They probably can’t sweep the floors or load the dishwasher yet, but they can certainly put their dirty laundry in the basket! whether for mom and dad or a sibling or grandparent. Also, if they receive high praise for a job well done, no matter how simple, it will encourage them to do more.

Here Are a Few Chores to Let Your Toddler Try:

• Getting diapers or wipes for their sibling
• Hanging up their jacket and putting away their shoes
• Putting away their toys when they are done playing
• Wiping up their spills
• Straightening pillows and blankets on the couch
• Assisting with loading and unloading the washer and dryer
• Helping get the mail from the mailbox

Chores for Preschoolers

As your toddler becomes a big kid, they can take on more significant responsibilities. However, this may include a bit heavier lifting and even doing safe things unsupervised. Also, you can likely teach your child to do tasks in a few steps at this age. So, consider asking their help to fold towels and put them away. It doesn’t have to be super complex, but it will build soft skills and help their confidence.

Here Are a Few Chores to Let Your Preschooler Try:

• Help to set the table
• Clear their dishes from the table
• Wash plastic and unbreakable cups and dishes
• Dry dishes and put them away in safe-height cabinets and drawers
• Wipe down the table and counters after meals
• Help with the family pet with things like feeding, letting them outside, or crating
• Lay out their clothes for the next day
• Make their bed
• Put backpack and school things in a designated spot
• Pack snacks and water bottles for school or daycare

Chores for Elementary School Children

When your child is elementary school-aged, they can help with plenty of chores. They can also do more heavy lifting as they become physically stronger. So, kids can start taking on more challenges like light cooking and using a vacuum at this age. Therefore, chores for kids who are in primary grades should be able to be done independently and with little supervision.

Here Are a Few Chores Your Elementary Schooler Can Do:

• Vacuum
• Take out the trash and recycling
• Pick up their room daily
• Take clothes out of the laundry and fold them
• Put laundry away in drawers and closets
• Help an adult prepare a meal
• Rake the yard and help pull weeds
• Water the flowers and grass
• Organize their toys and books
• Sweep the floors

Chores for Middle School Children

Chores for kids in middle school may become a bit of a challenge. Not that the work should be much more complicated, but getting the kids to do it can be challenging. Undoubtedly, as children age, they tend to want to do their own thing and may not want to take mom and dad’s direction. This may be a time when parents incentivize chores. The older a child is, the more independence they want, so giving a privilege or monetary reward, like an allowance, for going above and beyond is not necessarily bad.

Here Are a Few Chores Your Middle Schooler Can Do:

• Mop the floors
• Carry in and put away groceries
• Make and pack their lunches for school
• Help take care of younger siblings
• Take the dog for a walk
• Help older neighbors with tasks
• Manage their homework and school needs
• Do their laundry
• Clean the bathroom
• Dust the furniture

Chores for High Schoolers

When your child is high school-aged, they are genuinely on the brink of adulthood. However, they need to take everything they have learned and apply it in their daily lives. For them, it should be easy to remember to make their bed and take out the trash. It may not always happen, but hopefully, as they reach their teenage years, they will have had plenty of experience helping around the house, and nothing should be a big deal at this point.

Here Are a Few Chores That Your High Schooler Can Do:

• Wash the car
• Help with grocery shopping
• Go fill the cars with gas
• Babysit younger siblings
• Mow the grass
• Clean the windows
• Help cook family meals
• Run errands for adults
• Help with deep cleaning things like the garage or appliances
• Iron clothes and sew on buttons
• Get themselves up for school or work independently

There are loads of chore chart ideas for families. Without a doubt, they are a great way to stay organized and give kids a visual reminder about what they have accomplished and an idea of what they must do. Here are some of our favorites that you can use with your kids:

It is never too soon to introduce chores for kids. The earlier a parent starts to give their child responsibilities, the better. No, they may not do it precisely how you would, and it probably won’t be perfect, but they are helping and learning independence and self-reliance. Even if you must tweak their work, let them do it and give them a high five and a thank you. When a child is proud of their work and receives positive feedback, they’ll continue to do their best to make you proud. Soon, it will be second nature, and you won’t have to remind them to clean up their rooms ten times. Obviously, no guarantees!