Give them ownership
“The dishwasher is yours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday” works better than asking every time. Weekly jobs build responsibility.
- Home
- Chores by age
- Ages 9 to 12
Chores by age · Ages 9 to 12
Chores for 9 to 12 year olds
Between nine and twelve, kids can take real jobs off your list. They are ready for weekly responsibilities, not just daily habits, and many start to care about earning. This is a good age to connect chores to points or pocket money and let them save up for something bigger.
14 chores for ages 9 to 12
- Empty the dishwasher
- Load the dishwasher
- Bins out
- Hoover a room
- Tidy your room
- Fold the laundry
- Walk the dog
- Help cook dinner
- Make your packed lunch
- Clean the bathroom sink
- Homework done
- Change your bedsheets
- Wash up
- Sweep the kitchen
Make their chart
We’ve picked 6 chores to start with. Tap to swap them, add your own, then print.
Tips
Making chores work at 9 to 12
Let them earn towards something big
A goal a few weeks away (a trip, a game, a day out) keeps motivation going far longer than daily treats.
Teach it once, properly
Show how you want the dishwasher emptied or the sink cleaned, then step back. Accept their way if the result is good.
Keep it fair between siblings
Take turns on the unpopular jobs. A chart that shows whose turn it is ends most arguments before they start.
Questions parents ask
What chores should a 10 year old do?
A ten year old can empty and load the dishwasher, take the bins out, hoover a room, fold laundry, walk the dog, help cook dinner and keep their own room tidy. Aim for one or two daily jobs and a couple of weekly ones.
How much pocket money should a 12 year old get for chores?
It varies a lot by family. Decide what you are happy to pay each week for the full set of chores, then split it into points. Kids learn more from saving towards a goal than from the exact amount.
My 11 year old refuses to do chores. What can I do?
Involve them in choosing the chores and the rewards, make the rule clear (chores first, then screens), and keep it consistent. A visible chart turns it from an argument into a routine.
Want the chart to cheer back?
Score Your Chores is the same idea on your iPhone. Kids wake up their own Buddy, finish quests with a press-and-hold, and save points for rewards you choose. You approve everything in two taps. Free, no ads, no child accounts.