Age Appropriate Chores

Printable Chore List

Kids of all ages can participate in household chores. It can be fun and a great learning experience for kids to start chores at a young age. This chore list is a rough guideline of age appropriate chores for kids. Keep in mind that kids are different both developmentally and physically. Some children may be able to handle more than others, some less. You need to decide what chores are appropriate for your kids. It's a good idea to start small and add chores based on your child's readiness. It's even o.k. to start with one chore, especially if assigning chores is new in your family. We want our kids to succeed so we need to set up a system that supports success! If you'd like a postable, here is a printable chore list. You can also find a printable chore list on our page of Postems! And don't for get to check out our Chore Charts for younger kids and older kids! Check out our Family Chore Charts, too.

2-4 year olds

• help dust
• put napkins on table
• put laundry in hamper
• help feed pet

4-7 year olds

"Help" is the important word at this age. Many of the chores will be done as a helper and slowly kids can graduate to doing them independently!

• set the table or help set the table
• put away toys/things
• help feed pets
• water plants
• help make bed
• dust
• put laundry in hamper
• help put dishes in dishwasher
• water the garden
• help wipe up messes
• help with yard work (rake with child's rake or plant flowers, etc.)
• help clear table
• help put away groceries

8-10 year olds

• make bed
• water plants
• clean room with direction (important to give kids specific tasks so they don't become overwhelmed)
• set the table
• clear the table
• dust
• vacuum
• feed pets (depends on type of pet and how comfortable your child is interacting with the pet)
• help make dinner
• put laundry in hamper
• help wash car
• help wash dishes
• help load/empty dishwasher
• rake leaves
• take out trash
• mow lawn with supervision (depends on physical abilities of child)

11 year olds and older

• take garbage out
• set the table
• clear the table
• clean room with direction
• put away groceries
• clean the bathroom with direction
• clean the kitchen
• dust
• vacuum
• mow lawn
• feed pets
• water plants
• put laundry in hamper
• help with laundry and eventually start doing own laundry
• help make dinner/make small meals on own
• help wash the car/wash car
• make bed
• help with yard work
• shovel snow
• wash dishes/load or empty dishwasher