Age Appropriate Chores for Kids (Toddler to Teen)

Updated January 18, 2023

Here's a list of age appropriate chores for kids that will not only teach our children valuable life skills, but also invite the whole family to play a role in keeping the house neat and clean.

We include simple yet important responsibilities that kids can take on by themselves or with help, and suggest a general age range for introducing them so that everyone from toddler to teen can take part in keeping up the family home!

What chores do your kids help out with around the house? Please add them to our list, or comment on any favorites below.

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Wash Laundry

Alexandra F. said: Laundry is a wonderfully adaptable chore that kids of all ages can help with in some capacity. Toddlers and preschoolers can help put laundry into the washer and dryer and take it out again when it’s done, while elementary-school-aged kids can sort (if necessary), wash, dry and put away their clean clothes with varying degrees of help from you, depending on their age and capacity. Tweens and teens can probably handle everything on their own as long as you’ve shown them what to do beforehand.

Help Care for the Family Pet

Shila said: Having a pet in your family, of course, requires many additional responsibilities to handling its care. Many of these tasks can be appropriate for kids to do on a daily or weekly basis. Young kids can easily be in charge of making sure the chew toys are picked up every night, simple grooming, dust vacuuming the couches, etc. While older kids and teens can be in charge of feeding, taking walks, emptying out litter boxes, etc.

Vacuum Rugs

Tera Lee Culverwell said: Since there are rugs in more than one room, we give whichever one that is vacuuming more stars on their chore chart for doing the vacuuming. It makes them want to vacuum more and also sweep and mop.

Simple Cooking

Victoria Scott said: My 10 year old has learned to cook simple things like scrambled eggs, cinnamon rolls, and brownies.

Make Lunch

Whitney Chamberlain said: My son is 12 and makes lunch for him and his sister daily.

Swiffer

Shannon Connerty said: I let my daughter dust everything, its a good way to keep her moving.

Room Leader

Shila said: A "room leader" can always be in charge of one particular shared room or area in your home. This person is responsible for its continual clean look and welcoming presence. Assign your children to be room leaders in any area of your home that's age appropriate for them to handle. For example, young children can handle the foyer; it's a small enough area that requires just putting shoes in a straight line. Older kids can be in charge of larger rooms like dining areas (i.e., pushing in chairs) or formal living rooms (i.e., fluffing pillows).

Pick Up Sticks in Yard

Teresa Jackson said: We have a lot of land so I have the kids, 6 and 8, pick up a certain amount of sticks as they race to get it done.

Empty Trash Bins

Shila said: Provide one large garbage bag to your child and have them enter every room in your home emptying out the individual trash cans.

Take Out Garbage and Recycling

Alexandra F. said: When the indoor garbage or recycling bins get full, bigger kids can help take them outside to await trash collection day. And, when the day comes, they can help take the outdoor bin or bags out to the curb, too!