I’m often asked by frustrated moms for a list of chores that kids can do. Not surprisingly, these requests spike during summer vacation when many kids think that every moment of their day should be full of fun activities. Mom, meanwhile, often finds that “vacation” means twice as much work for her.
Pardon me while I push my bifocals a bit higher on my nose and get that cranky old woman look on my face.
Back in my day…
I guess you could say that I’m old-school. Back in my day, we didn’t have iPhones and PlayStations and the interwebs to keep us busy all day, every day when we weren’t in school. We had sticks and, if we were lucky, maybe a rock to play with.
Okay, I’m kidding about that last bit, but we really only had three decent channels to watch on TV — unless we got to hang out at the home of a friend with wealthy parents. If you wanted something new to read you had to hop on your bike and ride to the local library. Of course, you might stop at the park on your way to hang out with friends for a bit, but only until the streetlights came on — they were the universal signal to kids everywhere that it was time to get home.
These days, of course, most parents are terrified of letting their kids ride past the end of the block, much less hang out at the park unsupervised until dark. So the kids are home playing online, watching TV, and texting their friends all day, every day, unless their parents have planned some activity for them. Once school starts, kids get busy with homework and extracurricular activities and so do their parents, who wind up schlepping them to everything.
Chores Teach Life-Skills
Do you see what’s missing here? CHORES!
Out of 1,001 adults surveyed in the U.S. by Braun Research, 82 percent reported having regular chores and duties while growing up, but only 28 percent said that they require the same of their children, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Yes, it’s important for kids to have fun and enjoy their childhood. It’s important for them to play and explore, to socialize with peers, and to be exposed to a variety of activities and settings. But it’s just as important that they learn life skills. And do you know how they learn them? CHORES!
Pitching in around the house teaches kids the basics of cleaning, organizing, and even cooking — all things they’ll need to do for themselves one day. They don’t suddenly learn such things the day they turn 18 and move out of the house.
They learn them by having to do them while they’re younger, with parents around to help explain the steps involved and show them how to correct any mistakes they made. Seriously, you do not want your kid trying to learn how to run a dishwasher or broil a fish in the oven for the first time in their own apartment. That’s how floods and fires start, people.
Beyond just the how-tos of doing chores, kids who do chores also learn the work-ethic that is critical to their future success. Having chores that must be done before hanging out with friends, watching TV, or playing video games teaches kids that they must fulfill their responsibilities to earn their free time. Kids who grow up doing chores at home learn the skills they need for success in college and their early careers, get along better with others, and are more self-sufficient adults.
Besides, giving kids chores to do lets Mommy take a much-needed break!
Chores That Kids Can Do
Keep in mind that the older kids grow, the more chores they’re capable of doing. So, in addition to those listed under their age group, they should have mastered the tasks from earlier years.
Toddlers
Put dirty towels in the hamper.
Help make beds.
Pick up dirty clothes and put them in the hamper.
Pick up toys, books and games.
Wipe smudges off of doors.
3 to 5 years Old
Dust baseboards.
Dust cold air returns.
Dust mop the floor.
Dust picture frames.
Dust tables.
Feed the pets.
Empty the bathroom trash can.
Clean their room with help.
Strip bed linens.
Shake out the Welcome Mat.
Shake out the car’s floor mats.
Basic food prep (wash produce, tear lettuce)
Set the table.
Fold towels.
Sort and roll/fold socks.
Stack magazines neatly.
Straighten and fluff sofa pillows.
6 and 7 Year Olds
Dust lampshades.
Straighten book shelves.
Sort the recycling.
Vacuum edges of rooms with the crevice tool.
Wash baseboards.
Wash pet food bowls.
Wipe bathroom sinks
Use vacuum attachment under beds.
Polish front door knob and kickplate.
Help carry in groceries.
Clean spills in the refrigerator.
Clear the table after meals.
Neatly stack food storage containers and their lids.
Run the sweeper on the kitchen floor after dinner.
Unload the dishwasher.
Wipe appliance fronts
Wipe cupboard fronts.
Move clothes from washer to dryer.
Help hang freshly-dried clothing.
Sort laundry by colors.
Pull weeds.
Rake leaves.
Ages 8 and 9
Help hang freshly-dried clothing.
Sort laundry by colors.
Collect garbage from every wastebasket in the house.
Water house plants.
Wipe down bathroom sinks and faucets.
Clean tub/shower.
Scrub grout.
Clean their room on their own.
Put clean sheets on beds.
Get trash out of the car.
Clean the microwave.
Help cook meals (mix ingredients, cut vegetables, etc.)
Help put away groceries.
Put junk mail through the shredder.
Take out the kitchen trash.
Sweep front walkway.
Pull weeds.
Rake leaves.
Ages 10 to 13
Clean smudges on the inside of windows.
Sweep/vacuum dusty window screens.
Vacuum entire rooms.
Scrub toilets.
Polish bathroom mirrors.
Sweep garage.
Sweep/hose off deck or patio.
Wash patio/deck furniture.
Make meals.
Wash car.
Ages 14 and Up
Wash windows.
Clean any room in the house.
Clean ceiling fans.
Clean fridge/freezer.
Clean oven.
Iron clothes.
Plan grocery list.
Do weeks’ shopping.
Mow yard independently.
Babysit for other people for money.
Make Mommy’s martini
Okay, that last one I’m not willing to trust my teenager with just yet, but my college graduate daughter should have it down any day now!
Ready for the Printable?
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Note: This entry was originally published on June 4, 2012. It has been completely revised and reformatted for republication.
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I remember my Mom saying “If you are so bored, I can find something for you to do.” Usually that something would be chores added to the ones already complete. LOL
Funny how history repeats itself and I did the same with my children and now with my grandchildren when they are here during the summer months. Children learn quickly that when they chip in there’s lots more time for fun!
It took my son a long time to learn that lesson, but I’m sure glad he finally did. Of course, his real motivation came from wanting to earn money to buy video games, but then he realized I had more free time — and would play the games with him — because he’d helped.
That’s a really good idea to have that list taped to your door. You can just tell your kids to choose 5 to do each day and that will take a load off of you (and it makes them feel like they get to choose which chores to do). Cool idea 🙂
~Lisha
It really does help, even though the chores seem like they’re not terribly significant. My son’s only been on summer vacation for a week, but thanks to his assistance my routines are going so much more quickly these days. (It’s also helped that he’s trying to earn money for video games, so he practically begs to do chores for cash now.)
That’s a great list! There are some on there I haven’t tried with my boys yet. Pinning!
Thank you, Melissa! My son will be doing several chores from this list today. That’s what he gets for waking up at 6 am then complaining “there’s nothing to do”. (Well, duh! I was asleep!!!)
Hi there – absolutely loving this site. as a harried and organizationally challenged mom who works outside the home, this is really helpful!
Would you consider formatting the “Chores Kids Can Do”, and “One Minute Chores” series into cute printables l?
Hi Sarah! I will be happy to do that. Give me a couple of weeks; I’m in the middle of writing a book. 🙂
We have been slacking off in my house so I am definitely printing this chart as a reminder! Visiting from Share it One More Time.
Thanks, Shelley
Thanks for visiting, Shelley! I hope the list helps. 🙂
This is a great list! I know we’re too easy on our kids (something I’m trying to fix). This is a great place to reference for creating chore lists. Thanks!
My pleasure! I was too easy on my kids for the longest time, and it started to show in their attitudes. Now I keep my teenager so busy he never has time to smart off. LOL
I love this! I believe children learning to be apart of the family and working together is so extremely important. Even more so in this Me Me world we like in, Love these ideas!!!
I couldn’t agree more, Lindsay! Plus, giving kids chores teaches them skills they’ll need when they get out on their own. Since our goal as parents is to raise productive, responsible adults, that’s a good thing!
Thank you for the list. I didn’t know there are so many I can assign to them ha ha.
These won’t keep them bored with chores.
Thank you, Camille! This is going to sound odd, but… when I got my puppy, she was into everything all. of. the. time. A professional dog trainer told me that “a tired puppy is a good puppy,” and advised me to wear her out with an hour of walks and games in the morning. Well, boy, did that work!
The same goes with kids…to some extent. Kids who do chores get to work off the excess energy we used to be able to burn off playing outside, unsupervised, back in the day. My youngest is now driving (!) and, like many teens, can get snarky and sullen if he’s not busy. I’ve started loading him up with chores — from which he earns gas money, as well as pocket change — and it has made SUCH a difference.
Plus, I don’t have to do nearly as much housework. 🙂
Such neat ideas! 🙂
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks, Jess!
Hi Katie! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while. Although my kids can do the basics I’ve been wondering just how much I should be putting onto them. I was doing quite a lot at 8 years of age but my children, aged 12 and 10, still only do the basics. Not anymore! LOL Thanks for linking up to Thriving on Thursdays last week. I’m featuring your post at tomorrow’s party.
Anne @ Domesblissity
Keep ’em busy, Anne! And thank you for the feature. 🙂