Chore Charts
Alright, so there’s tons of mixed reviews and advice on whether sticker or chore charts are really beneficial. Regardless, in our home we see the benefits of teaching important life skills, taking care of your belongings, contributing to the family and obviously the benefit of decreasing the workload for us parents! Recent studies have found that giving children chores from an early age will help teach them work ethic, responsibility, self-reliance, and other vital life skills.
Before I go any further - I need to mention the importance of semantics. Though I use the word “chore” here, in our home we say “responsibilities”. We try and teach our kids that everyone has responsibilities around the house and as a family we need to work together. Even my 3yo has a chart for her age appropriate responsibilities. At her age it’s the best because she’s still eager to help!
How do you start?
Find the method and chart that works best for you. There are lots of options out there - is your kiddo motivated by stickers? Just checking a box?
What is the “reward”? Is this an earning system? Are they getting allowance? For us - my SS get’s screen time, while my daughter is just happy to be part of the “fun”.
Assign Age appropriate chores. (see list below)
Consider the schedule. Our custody is one week on/off so it’s pretty simple for us. If you’re schedule is a little more complicated you may need to get creative. One idea is to ditch the whole chart idea altogether. You can write chores on popsicle sticks, put them in a jar and have them just draw 1-2 on the days you have them. OR - they are always responsible to x,y,z if you want it more consistent.
Our Chart
I found this editable, customizable chart on Etsy.
It’s great because we can change up the chores every month or so AND he loves that it’s tailored to his interests. We laminate ours and use dry erase markers, but you could always stick it in a plastic binder sleeve too.
About this chart: My SS is very fixated on his Nintendo Switch (I hate the damn thing) so we use the completion of his tasks as a way to earn screen time. Before this chart he would just follow me around all day and wait for me to say, “yes, you can play.” SO annoying! This was a way for me to be less responsible for telling him what he needs to do. He now will take the chart and complete tasks on his own without constantly coming up to me with the look of, “what now?”. Success!
Click here to visit this Etsy Shop.
Age Appropriate Chores
Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
Even toddlers can complete simple tasks around the home. Starting children early can help ease any arguing about doing the chores as they become older and begin to test boundaries. Toddlers are also at an age where they find the idea of helping their parents, caretakers, or older siblings one of the most exciting things they could do. This is thanks to toddlers being “copy-cats.” The primary way they learn about their world is through watching others do something and then copying their actions. It is important to note that toddlers will need supervision and guidance with their chores but can usually complete some tasks unsupervised by their preschool years. A few examples of chores that toddlers can do are:
Put their toys away
Fill up a cat or dog’s food bowl
Place clothes in the hamper
Dust or wipe baseboards with socks on their hands
Pile up books and magazines on shelves or tables
Help make the beds
Mop small areas with a dry mop
Preschoolers (Ages 4-5)
Preschoolers still feel the same desire to help their parents, because they are still learning through copying their elders. At this age, there are even some chores children can do without supervision. Typically, these will be the ones they began doing when toddlers, although there might be one or two new tasks, they are naturally talented at. The reason for this increasing inability is that preschoolers have started to master the skills necessary to complete tasks unsupervised. Their hand-eye coordination will have increased, as will have their ability to follow more complex instructions. Whereas toddlers need to be told each individual step associated with a task, preschoolers may be able to remember and follow instructions up to two or three steps at a time. In addition to the chores listed above, preschoolers can typically help with the following chores:
Make their bed without supervision
Clear the table Pull weeds
Use a hand-held vacuum for crumbs or room edges
Water flowers
Put away clean utensils
Wash plastic dishes with supervision
Assist an older sibling with setting the table
Help bring in light groceries
Sort laundry into whites and colors before wash
Match socks together
Dust with a cloth
Care for an animal’s food and water dishes
Primary Schoolers (Ages 6-9)
Once a child reaches primary school age, they can take on a lot more responsibility without supervision. They can start learning more physically difficult or complex tasks, as they are continuing to learn the necessary skills to do so. Parents should understand that this age group will sometimes start “rebelling” against the idea of chores, as they learn more independence. With patience, however, they will understand they are still expected to help around the home. Some children may never rebel against their chores. Whether they do or not will largely depend on their own unique personalities. In addition to the chores listed for both toddlers and preschoolers above, primary schoolers between the ages of 6 and 9 can usually do the following chores:
Sweep the floors
Help make bagged or boxed lunches
Rake the yard
Clean their own bedrooms, with minimal supervision
Put away the groceries Load the dishwasher
Empty the dishwasher or drain
Vacuum Help a parent prepare dinner
Make their own snacks/breakfast
Scrub the table after meals
Put away their own laundry
Take the family dog for a walk (in the yard or with supervision)
Wet mop
Empty indoor trash bins into the kitchen trash
Middle Schoolers (Ages 10-13)
Preteens or middle schoolers can do many tasks on their own and can be held responsible for them without constant reminders. At this age, many families decide to create a chore chart or task list for their children. Then, parents can hold the child responsible and check just once a day to see that things were checked off the list or chart. This helps children learn not only self-reliance but how to be responsible for themselves when nobody is looking. In addition to all the tasks listed in the sections above for younger ages, children between the ages of 10 and 13 should be able to do the following chores:
Wash the dishes or load the dishwasher without assistance
Wash the family car
Prepare easy meals without assistance
Use the clothes washer and dryer
Take the trash to the bins
Take the trash bins to the curb
Babysit younger siblings with parents at home
High Schoolers (Ages 14+)
By the time your child reaches high school, they can do nearly any household task you can. This is the perfect age to start making sure your child is fully prepared for the eventuality of living on their own since those years are coming up soon. This is not to say all children fly the nest upon reaching eighteen. In fact, more children are deciding to live at home while attending college or saving for a house of their own than in recent years, thanks to rising costs of living and excessive student loan debts. If staying at home longer, however, children can continue helping around the house past the age of eighteen. In addition to the tasks listed in previous sections, children over the age of fourteen can do the following chores:
Clean out fridge
Help deep clean kitchen (appliances and cabinets)
Clean the toilet, sink, and shower in the bathroom
Babysit younger siblings independently (for short periods)
Mow the lawn
Care for pets independently (including walks)
Make more complex meals
Accomplish small shopping trips alone (after receiving their license, of course)
Children are capable of doing much more than parents might think. Even the youngest family members can help with household tasks as early as two, and by the time your child reaches their teenage years, they can do nearly any chore you can. There are many benefits to giving children chores, and it also makes life easier for parents.
