Kids and Chores: Age-Appropriate Kids Chores

It takes a lot of work to take care of a home and keep things running smoothly. Mom and Dad can get worn out over time, which is why every member of the family should contribute in some way. Age-Appropriate Kids Chores also teaches your children responsibility and boosts their self-esteem, which is a very good thing to start at a young age.

As soon as your kids are old enough, assign them Age-Appropriate Kids Chores to help out around the house. Even some two-year-olds can pitch in and do their part to help the household run smoothly. You can teach your little one to pick up her toys after playing, for example.The big question most parents have is: How do I know what chores my child is old enough to do?

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There’s no magic number when it comes to the proper age to do chores. Instead, you need to consider maturity, physical ability, and other dynamics of the home. There are, however, some basic guidelines you can follow to help you know what chores your child might be ready for.

Age-Appropriate Kids Chores

Here are a few suggestions for age-appropriate kids chores to consider:

Age Two to Four

Kids in this age group are usually eager to help. Therefore, it’s a great time to start introducing them to chores. Some common chores include putting dirty clothes in the hamper, picking up toys and cleaning up small spills. By age three or four, they may be able to help you fold washcloths and dish towels, put away some laundry and help you dust furniture. If you have a small, lightweight vacuum cleaner, many kids this age find this fun, too.

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Age Five to Seven

By the time your child is five years old, you can add a few more chores to the list. They can help younger siblings pick up toys and clean up messes even if they didn’t contribute to the mess. They can help set the table and then after dinner, carry dirty dishes to the sink and wash off the table. Kids in this age group can also fold and put away their own laundry, make up their beds and help feed and water the family pet.

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Age Eight to Ten

By the time kids reach this age group, one of their main chores should be to keep their own room neat and clean, keep their dirty clothes picked up and take the dirty clothes basket to the laundry room on wash day. They’re also old enough to help with the dishes, straighten up the living and/or dining room and take out the trash. Kids this age can also sweep and damp mop floors.

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Age Eleven to Fourteen

Kids this age can help wash dishes in a dishwasher or the old-fashioned way. They can also put the dishes away when they’re dry. Other chores include vacuuming, putting up laundry, dusting furniture, cleaning windows, emptying wastebaskets throughout the house and taking out the trash. You may also want to assign bathroom duty as one of the chores. This involves keeping the bathroom sink, tub, floors, and mirrors clean.

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Age Fifteen to Eighteen

Teens in this age group can help with just about anything you need help with. They can make out the grocery list, prepare meals, babysit, clean any part of the house and help take care of the yard work such as mowing grass and watering plants. If your teen has a driver’s license, they can also run short errands, take younger siblings to after-school activities or pick them up from school.

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Chores are an Important Part of Growing Up

These suggestions will give you an idea of what type of chores are appropriate for each age group, but children mature at different ages so adjust the chores you assign to match your child’s abilities.

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Remember that kids often become reluctant to do chores after the new wears off. They would much rather play games with the neighbor kids, play a video game or just lounge around in their room but it’s important to insist on their help. Age-Appropriate Kids Chores are good for kids. It teaches them responsibilities. It gives them a way to contribute to the family and they will feel better about themselves after completing each task.

Daily chores also help teach kids life skills they need to be self-sufficient and do things for themselves. Completing tasks will build confidence and self-esteem and help all of you connect as a family. It will also help take some of the load off of parents, so you have more quality time to spend with your kids.