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Chores by age

Chores for 2 year olds

2 year olds love to help and copy grown-ups. Good first chores are tiny and physical: putting toys in a box, dropping socks in the hamper, putting shoes on the rack, wiping a spill with a cloth. Do them together and keep it playful.

Try this week with your kids

Noki suggests a first week of quests and rewards for a 2 year old. You change what you like before you start.

Try this week

At a glance: chores for 2 year olds

Good first chores at this age. Each one has steps and suggested stars in the full list below.

See the chores by age chart

What to expect at this age

At 2, a chore is a game you play together. Children this age can follow 1-step instructions like 'put the ball in the box', and they are proud to help. Expect short attention spans and imperfect results: the goal is the habit of joining in.

Set up the home so they can succeed: low hooks, open baskets with picture labels, a step stool at the sink. Show the task, do it with them, then let them try. Name what they did: 'You put your shoes away!'

Stars work best as instant, visible stickers at this age. 1 star per small job is plenty, and the real reward is your attention and praise. Keep the list to 2 or 3 quests a day.

15 chores for this age

Morning and bedtime

  • Brush your teeth

    Brush every tooth for 2 minutes, morning and night.

    1 starAges 2 to 12

  • Put on your shoes

    Put on your shoes and close the straps.

    1 starAges 2 to 5

  • Blow your nose

    Blow your nose into a tissue, then throw it away.

    1 starAges 2 to 6

  • Drink a glass of water

    Drink a full glass of water.

    1 starAges 2 to 12

Tidy and home

Kindness and manners

  • Say thank you

    Say thank you when someone helps you or gives you something.

    1 starAges 2 to 12

  • Say please

    Say please when you ask for something.

    1 starAges 2 to 8

  • Say hello and goodbye

    Wave and say hello when you arrive, goodbye when you leave.

    1 starAges 2 to 6

Learning

  • Look at a picture book

    Look at a picture book and tell the story.

    1 starAges 2 to 5

Outdoor and pets

  • Fill the pet's water bowl

    Fill the water bowl with fresh water.

    1 starAges 2 to 8

Questions about chores for 2 year olds

  • What chores can 2 year olds do?

    Brush your teeth, Wash your hands before meals, Follow your bedtime routine, Tidy your toys, Put dirty clothes in the hamper, Put your shoes away, Say thank you, and Say please. Start with 3 or 4, keep the same order every day, and add a new one only when the routine feels easy.

  • How do I get 2 year olds to help at home?

    At 2, a chore is a game you play together. Children this age can follow 1-step instructions like 'put the ball in the box', and they are proud to help. Expect short attention spans and imperfect results: the goal is the habit of joining in.

  • Is there a printable chore chart for 2 year olds?

    Yes. The free printable chart lists a week of age-appropriate quests for 2 year olds, ready to print.

  • How many stars should a chore be worth?

    The library suggests 1 to 4 stars per chore: 1 for most daily habits, 2 to 4 for longer or weekly jobs. Adjust the stars to your family and your rewards.

Other ages