Chores through the ages
Chores are very important for kids and it is important that you start letting your kids help with chores as soon as you can. Sometimes it can be frustrating because, especially in the beginning, they will probably just make a bigger mess as they try to help you clean. But its important to encourage them to help with chores. Before we get to what chores are important for what age groups I have listed some important tips on encouraging your children to participate in chores.
Chore tips
- Don't insist on perfection
- Don't put off chores
- Don't hold back the praise
- Make sure you are consistent
- Make a chart
- Personal and family chores
What chores for what ages?
AGES TWO AND THREE
Family chores
Personal chores
AGES FOUR AND FIVE
Family chores
Personal chores
*This is also a very good age to being teaching them how to use a chore chart
AGES SIX AND SEVEN
Family Chores
Personal chores
AGES EIGHT TO ELEVEN
Family Chores
Personal chores
AGES TWELVE TO THIRTEEN
Family Chores
Personal Chores
AGES FOURTEEN AND FIFTEEN
Family Chores
Personal Chores
AGES SIXTEEN TO EIGHTEEN
Family Chores
Personal Chores
*My source for a lot of this information is Sheila Seifert in her Age-Apropriate Chores website. She also has a free downloadable chore sheet there as well if needed.
Family chores
- Take their dirty laundry to the laundry basket
- Fill a pets food and water bowls (supervise this)
- Help clean up spills
Personal chores
- Help make their beds
- Clean up toys and play things while you supervise
AGES FOUR AND FIVE
Family chores
- Set the table while you supervise
- Clear the table while you supervise
- Help a parent prepare food
- Help carry in light groceries
- Answer the phone with your assistance
- Match their socks
- Be responsible for pets food and water bowls
- Hang up towels
- Clean floors with dry mop
Personal chores
- Get dressed with very little parental help
- Make their bed almost completely on their own
- Bring their things from the car to the house
- brush teeth
*This is also a very good age to being teaching them how to use a chore chart
AGES SIX AND SEVEN
Family Chores
- Be responsible for pets food, water and exercise
- Vacuum
- Clean floors with wet mop
- Fold laundry while you supervise
- Put their laundry away
- Put away dishes from the dishwasher
- Help prepare food while you supervise
- Empty the indoor trash cans and recycling bins
- Answer the phone while you supervise them
Personal chores
- Brush their teeth
- Make bed everyday
- Brush their hair
- Choose their own outfits then dress themselves
AGES EIGHT TO ELEVEN
Family Chores
- Wash dishes
- Wash the car while you supervise
- Prepare easy meals on their own
- Clean bathroom while you supervise
- Rake leaves
- Learn to use washer and dryer
- Put all laundry away while you supervise
- Take the trash to the curb
- Learn to use caller I.D and answer the phone by themselves
Personal chores
- Take care of their own personal hygiene
- Keep bathroom clean
- Be responsible for their own homework
- Be responsible for their own belongings
- Begin waking up using an alarm clock
AGES TWELVE TO THIRTEEN
Family Chores
- Change light bulbs
- Empty the vacuum
- Dust and vacuum
- Do the dishes
- Clean mirrors
- Clean bathrooms
- Mow the lawn while you supervise
- Prepare the family meals on occasion
- In some states they may now also baby sit
Personal Chores
- Take care of hygiene
- Take care of belongings
- Do their own homework
- Set their own alarm clocks
- maintain their personal items such as charging their phones
- Change bed sheets
- Keep their rooms clean from day to day
AGES FOURTEEN AND FIFTEEN
Family Chores
- Do assigned homework on their own
- Do yard work as needed
- Baby sit
- Prepare food (this includes compiling a grocery list)
- Wash windows
Personal Chores
- All previous chores mentioned in ages twelve to thirteen
- Responsible for library card and books
AGES SIXTEEN TO EIGHTEEN
Family Chores
- Do housework as needed
- Do yard work as needed
- Family meals (from grocery list to serving it)
- Deep cleaning of household appliances like the microwave and fridge as needed
Personal Chores
- Responsible for personal chores mentioned in ages fourteen to fifteen
- Responsible to earn spending money
- Responsible to purchase their own clothing
- Responsible in maintaining any car they drive such as oil changes, gas, ect.
*My source for a lot of this information is Sheila Seifert in her Age-Apropriate Chores website. She also has a free downloadable chore sheet there as well if needed.