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Chores by age
Age-appropriate chores for kids
What can a four year old actually do? When are they ready for the dishwasher? Here is a practical list of chores by age, with a free printable chart for each age group.
Ages 3 to 5
Chores for 3 to 5 year olds
Little ones love to help, and this is the age to make helping feel normal. Keep jobs short, physical and easy to see finished. Pictures matter more than words, so every chore on the chart below has an icon a pre-reader can recognise.
- Put toys away
- Clothes in the basket
- Brush teeth
- Shoes by the door
- Help lay the table
- Help feed the pet
- Water the plants
- Pull the duvet up
Ages 6 to 8
Chores for 6 to 8 year olds
Six to eight is the sweet spot for chores. Kids can now do real jobs on their own, they love a system, and they care about fairness. A weekly chart gives them something to tick and gives you something to point at instead of repeating yourself.
- Make your bed
- Put clean clothes away
- Clear your plate
- Lay the table
- Feed the pet
- Pack your school bag
- Tidy your bedroom
- Reading time
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.
- Empty the dishwasher
- Load the dishwasher
- Bins out
- Hoover a room
- Tidy your room
- Fold the laundry
- Walk the dog
- Help cook dinner
Teenagers
Chores for teenagers
Teenagers can run parts of the house. The aim now is independence: by the time they leave home they should be able to cook, clean and look after their own things. Fewer, bigger jobs with clear ownership work better than a long daily list.
- Cook a family meal
- Do your own laundry
- Clean the bathroom
- Hoover the house
- Mow the lawn
- Wash the car
- Food shop with a list
- Change your bedsheets
Questions parents ask
What age should kids start doing chores?
Most children can start simple chores at around two or three, like putting toys in a box or clothes in the basket. The habit matters more than the job.
How many chores should a child do a day?
Two to four small daily chores suits most primary school children, with one or two weekly jobs added from about age nine.
Should chores be paid?
Families differ. Some expect everyday jobs as part of family life and reward extras, others link points or pocket money to all chores. Pick one rule and keep it consistent.
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.