Age-appropriate chores for kids
What can a child actually do at 3, 7 or 13? Slide through the ages to see which jobs become manageable alone and which are worth teaching next.
Early readers can use a word chart. Six-year-olds handle simple kitchen help and can check their own chart.
Newly doable on their own
- Dust bedroom surfaces
- Pack school bag
- Unload the dishwasher
- Wipe kitchen counters
- Wipe bathroom sink
- Brush the pet
- Pull weeds
- Make own bed
- Put away clean clothes
- Set the table
Ready to learn with you
- Load the dishwasher (usually by 7)
- Sweep kitchen floor (usually by 7)
- Wipe light switches and door handles (usually by 7)
- Clean bathroom mirror (usually by 7)
- Sweep porch or balcony (usually by 7)
- Read to a younger sibling (usually by 7)
- Vacuum bedroom (usually by 8)
- Pack own lunch (usually by 8)
- Take out trash and recycling (usually by 8)
- Make a simple breakfast (usually by 8)
Try this: A word-and-picture chart they tick themselves. Full list for 6-year-olds →
These are general suggestions, not developmental milestones. They are based on common guidance such as the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org advice on chores and responsibility. Children vary; go by what your child can do safely.
Why the list grows the way it does
Ages 2–4: copying and carrying. Toddlers want to do what you do. Jobs are about joining in, not finishing, so pick one-step tasks: toys in the bin, a plate to the sink, socks into pairs.
Ages 5–7: routines and sequences. Children can now hold a short sequence in their head (get the plates, then the cups, then the forks) and connect effort with a sticker or points. This is the sweet spot for a first real chore chart.
Ages 8–11: owning a zone. Reading fluently means a written checklist replaces reminders. They can take charge of a bedroom, a pet's feeding or the recycling, and handle mild cleaning products with supervision.
Ages 12–17: life skills. Laundry, cooking a full meal, cleaning a bathroom, mowing: the goal is a teenager who could run a home for a week. Teens respond best when they choose from a menu of chores rather than being assigned one.
Watering the houseplants at four often sparks a "but how do plants eat?" question; ahaboo answers exactly that with a narrated, hands-on walkthrough of photosynthesis.
Chores by age: the full table
Each chore appears at the age most children can do it on their own. Anything in an earlier row still applies.
| Age | Chores they can usually start doing on their own |
|---|---|
| 2–3 | Put toys in bins · Put dirty clothes in hamper · Help make the bed · Wipe up own spills · Carry plate to the sink · Fluff and straighten cushions · Tidy shoes by the door · Match socks · Refill pet water bowl · Put books back on the shelf · Help wipe the table with a cloth · Help carry light shopping bags · Put shoes on the rack |
| 4–5 | Make own bed · Tidy bookshelf · Put away clean clothes · Pick out tomorrow's clothes · Brush teeth without reminders · Set the table · Clear the table · Put groceries away · Wash fruit and vegetables · Empty small wastebaskets · Dust low shelves · Water houseplants · Hang up bath towel · Refill toilet paper and soap · Sort laundry by colour · Fold towels and washcloths · Feed the pet · Water the garden |
| 6–7 | Dust bedroom surfaces · Pack school bag · Load the dishwasher · Unload the dishwasher · Wipe kitchen counters · Sweep kitchen floor · Wipe light switches and door handles · Wipe bathroom sink · Clean bathroom mirror · Brush the pet · Pull weeds · Sweep porch or balcony · Read to a younger sibling |
| 8–9 | Vacuum bedroom · Pack own lunch · Hand-wash dishes · Take out trash and recycling · Make a simple breakfast · Wipe microwave inside · Vacuum living room · Clean mirrors and glass doors · Wipe baseboards · Move laundry to the dryer or line · Clean the litter box · Pick up dog poop in the yard · Rake leaves · Bring bins to the curb · Help a younger sibling get dressed · Make a grocery list · Budget own allowance · Wipe kitchen cabinet fronts |
| 10–11 | Change bed sheets · Set a morning alarm and get up · Mop kitchen floor · Clean out the fridge · Vacuum stairs · Clean the TV and screens · Scrub the toilet · Clean shower or tub · Mop bathroom floor · Wash bath mats · Run the washing machine · Fold and put away family laundry · Walk the dog · Wash the car · Shovel snow · Plan one family meal · Replace vacuum bag or empty canister |
| 12–13 | Declutter closet and donate · Cook a family dinner · Sort mail and paper clutter · Wash windows inside · Iron or steam clothes · Clean the fish tank · Mow the lawn · Babysit a sibling for an hour · Do own laundry start to finish · Clean own bathroom weekly · Change a light bulb |
| 14–17 | Pay a household bill online with a parent · Book own appointment · Descale the kettle · Clean the oven |
Chore lists for each age
Questions parents ask
At what age should kids start doing chores?
Most children can start helping at around 2, with simple one-step jobs done alongside a parent, such as putting toys in a bin or dirty clothes in the hamper. The American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org encourages giving toddlers small household tasks as part of growing independence.
What chores can a 5 year old do?
Typical jobs for five-year-olds include making their own bed, setting and clearing the table, putting away clean clothes, feeding a pet and tidying their shoes. See the full list for 5-year-olds for a ready-made chart.
Should chores be tied to allowance?
There's no single right answer. Many families keep everyday "part of the family" tasks unpaid and pay for extra jobs. Either way, be consistent and explain the rule. The allowance by age page has a calculator.
Are these age ranges rules?
No. They are general suggestions drawn from common parenting guidance. Children develop at different speeds, and additional needs, home layout and safety all matter. Judge by what your child can do safely, not by the number.