Chores by age
Chores by age: the chart
In short
Toddlers of 2 can put toys and shoes away and wash their hands. At 3 and 4, kids make the bed, set the table and get dressed. At 5 and 6 they pack their school bag, tidy their room and fold laundry. At 7 and 8 they make their own breakfast, pack their lunch and vacuum their room. From 9, kids take out the trash and change their bed sheets, and at 11 and 12 they cook a simple family meal with an adult nearby. Start with 3 or 4 chores and add one when the routine feels easy.
What kids can usually do at each age
Chores by age, from the 121 chores of the Kidventures library. Every child is different: use the age as a starting point.
Age 2
Brush your teeth, Wash your hands before meals, Follow your bedtime routine, Tidy your toys, Put dirty clothes in the hamper, and Put your shoes away
Ages 3 to 4
Read before bed, Wipe the table, Help bake, Greet guests at the door, Help someone at home, and Say sorry and make it right
Ages 5 to 6
Take a bath or shower, Load the dishwasher, Empty the dishwasher, Do your homework, Read a book, and Practice your instrument
Ages 7 to 8
Get up with your own alarm, Vacuum your room, Wash the dishes, Walk the dog, Make your own breakfast, and Pack your lunch
Ages 9 to 10
Do your whole morning routine, Put screens to bed, Take out the trash, Change your bed sheets, Plan your school week, and Get up with your own alarm
Ages 11 to 12
Run a load of laundry, Cook a simple family meal, Do your whole morning routine, Put screens to bed, Take out the trash, and Change your bed sheets
| Age | Chores they can usually do | Full list |
|---|---|---|
| Age 2 | Brush your teeth, Wash your hands before meals, Follow your bedtime routine, Tidy your toys, Put dirty clothes in the hamper, and Put your shoes away | All 15 choresPrintable chart |
| Ages 3 to 4 | Read before bed, Wipe the table, Help bake, Greet guests at the door, Help someone at home, and Say sorry and make it right | All 57 choresPrintable chart |
| Ages 5 to 6 | Take a bath or shower, Load the dishwasher, Empty the dishwasher, Do your homework, Read a book, and Practice your instrument | All 94 choresPrintable chart |
| Ages 7 to 8 | Get up with your own alarm, Vacuum your room, Wash the dishes, Walk the dog, Make your own breakfast, and Pack your lunch | All 100 choresPrintable chart |
| Ages 9 to 10 | Do your whole morning routine, Put screens to bed, Take out the trash, Change your bed sheets, Plan your school week, and Get up with your own alarm | All 92 choresPrintable chart |
| Ages 11 to 12 | Run a load of laundry, Cook a simple family meal, Do your whole morning routine, Put screens to bed, Take out the trash, and Change your bed sheets | All 84 choresPrintable chart |
How to use the chart
- Pick 3 or 4 chores from your child's row: 1 or 2 daily habits (teeth, shoes, plate) and 1 small job for the family.
- Show the steps once, do the chore together, then let your child do it alone while you stay close.
- Keep the same chores for a few weeks. Add a new one only when the first ones happen without reminders.
- Older kids can take a chore from the row above: the age bands overlap, and every child moves at their own pace.
Questions parents ask
What chores can a 2 year old do?
Simple 1-step jobs with you nearby: put toys in a basket, put shoes away, put dirty clothes in the hamper, wash hands before meals, and help with the bedtime routine.
What chores can a 5 year old do?
At 5 and 6 most kids can make their bed, get dressed, pack their school bag, tidy their room, set the table, clear their plate and feed a pet with a grown-up checking.
What chores can a 10 year old do?
At 9 and 10 kids can fold and put away laundry, vacuum their room, make their own breakfast, take out the trash, change their bed sheets and help clean a pet's cage.
How many chores should a child have?
Start small: 3 or 4 quests a day for young kids, a few more for older ones, and only add a chore once the others are a habit. A short list done every day works better than a long one done once.
Turn it into a daily routine
Kidventures turns chores into quests: kids earn stars and spend them on rewards you choose together. Free for up to 2 kids.