Answer
What chores are age-appropriate for kids?
From the American Academy of Pediatrics, for ages 2 to 12: 5–7-year-olds can make their beds and set the table, 8–10-year-olds can vacuum and help make dinner, and 11–12-year-olds can clean the kitchen and do laundry. Toddlers can pick up toys.
Open the chore chart calculator
Chores by age
| Age | Chores |
|---|---|
| Ages 2–3 | Pick up toys and books, Help wipe up spills, Help feed a pet, Help make the bed, Take dirty clothes to the laundry, Dust or mop a small area, with help, Choose an outfit, Help set and clear the table |
| Age 4 | Get dressed, Make the bed, Pick up toys and books, Set and clear the table, Help an adult prepare food, Carry in light groceries, Sort laundry by color, Match socks, Mop and dust, with an adult, Feed and water a pet, Hang up bath towels |
| Ages 5–7 | Make the bed, Set and clear the table, Put toys away, Put dirty clothes in the hamper, Help pack school lunches, Empty wastebaskets, Dust, Sweep floors, Sort laundry, Fill a pet’s food dish, Bring in the mail, Water plants, Neaten bookshelves, Wash plastic dishes, Weed and rake leaves |
| Ages 8–10 | Vacuum, Help make dinner, Make their own snacks, Walk a pet, Put away their own laundry, Put away groceries (plus the younger lists) |
| Ages 11–12 | Clean the kitchen, Change the bedsheets, Unload the dishwasher, Wash and fold laundry, Clean the bathroom and toilet, Wash the car, Cook a simple meal, with supervision, Watch a younger sibling while an adult is home (plus the younger lists) |
More questions
Should chores be paid?
Families decide; many keep daily chores unpaid and pay for extras.
What about teenagers?
Our sources stop at 12. Teens can learn any household job with teaching and supervision where safety matters.
Citing this? Link to https://tools.tidyandtended.com/answers/age-appropriate-chores/. Free to reuse with a link (CC BY 4.0).
Save to Pinterest · Download the pin image
