Chores by age
Chores for 5 and 6 year olds
5 and 6 year olds can own a full morning routine with a checklist and help around the house: set the table, clear their plate, match socks, sort recycling, wipe the table, put away clean clothes. Most enjoy having a 'real job' in the family.
Try this week with your kids
Noki suggests a first week of quests and rewards for a 5 year old. You change what you like before you start.
At a glance: chores for 5 and 6 year olds
Good first chores at this age. Each one has steps and suggested stars in the full list below.
- Take a bath or shower
- Load the dishwasher
- Empty the dishwasher
- Do your homework
- Read a book
- Practice your instrument
- Count your pocket money
- Turn off the screen when time is up
What to expect at this age
School-age kids are ready for routines they run themselves. They can follow a checklist of 4 or 5 steps, remember daily jobs with a gentle prompt, and start helping in the kitchen with safe tasks like washing vegetables and measuring.
A good mix is 3 to 4 daily quests (morning routine, a mealtime job, an evening tidy) plus 1 or 2 weekly jobs like sorting recycling or folding towels. Rotate jobs every few weeks to keep them interesting.
Stars can now link to small goals: 1 to 2 stars per quest, a bigger reward after a week. Kids this age start to understand saving, so let them pick between a small reward now or a bigger one later.
94 chores for this age
Morning and bedtime
Wash your face
Splash your face with water and dry it with your towel.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Brush your hair
Brush your hair from the ends up, gently.
1 starAges 3 to 10
Put on your shoes
Put on your shoes and close the straps.
1 starAges 2 to 5
Put on your pajamas
Change into pajamas and put day clothes in the basket.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Blow your nose
Blow your nose into a tissue, then throw it away.
1 starAges 2 to 6
Cough into your elbow
Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Drink a glass of water
Drink a full glass of water.
1 starAges 2 to 12
Hang up your towel
Hang your towel on its hook after washing.
1 starAges 4 to 12
Tidy and home
Put away clean clothes
Put your folded clothes in the right drawers.
2 starsAges 5 to 12
Hang up your coat and bag
Hang your coat and bag on your hooks.
1 starAges 3 to 10
Dust the shelves
Wipe dust off the shelves with a duster.
2 starsAges 5 to 12
Sweep the floor
Sweep crumbs into a pile and into the dustpan.
2 starsAges 6 to 12
Put books back on the shelf
Put your books back on the shelf, standing up.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Help pack a suitcase
Pack your clothes for the trip from your list.
2 starsAges 6 to 12
Do a 5-minute family tidy
Tidy the living room with everyone for 5 minutes.
1 starAges 4 to 12
Kitchen and table
Clear the table
Bring all the plates, cups and dishes to the kitchen.
2 starsAges 6 to 12
Dry the dishes
Dry each dish with a clean towel and stack it.
1 starAges 6 to 12
Wash fruit and vegetables
Rinse the fruit and vegetables under cold water.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Put away the groceries
Put the shopping in the fridge and cupboards.
1 starAges 4 to 12
Fill the water jug
Fill the water jug and bring it to the table.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Sweep under the table
Sweep the crumbs under the table after meals.
1 starAges 4 to 10
Fold the napkins
Fold each napkin into a triangle.
1 starAges 3 to 6
Kindness and manners
Say good morning
Say good morning to everyone at home.
1 starAges 3 to 12
Say hello and goodbye
Wave and say hello when you arrive, goodbye when you leave.
1 starAges 2 to 6
Use good table manners
Sit at the table, use your cutlery and chew with your mouth closed.
1 starAges 4 to 12
Hold the door open
Hold the door for the person behind you.
1 starAges 4 to 12
Give a kind compliment
Tell someone something you like about them.
1 starAges 4 to 12
Call a grandparent
Call a grandparent or relative and tell them about your day.
1 starAges 5 to 12
Make a card for someone
Draw a card to make someone smile.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Offer a guest a drink
Ask your guest what they would like to drink and bring it.
1 starAges 6 to 12
Play kindly together
Play gently and use kind words.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Include someone in a game
Invite someone who is alone to join your game.
1 starAges 6 to 12
Do a secret kindness
Do something kind for someone without telling them.
2 starsAges 5 to 12
Learning
Look at a picture book
Look at a picture book and tell the story.
1 starAges 2 to 5
Learn 3 new words
Find 3 new words and use them today.
1 starAges 6 to 12
Practice writing your name
Write your name with a big crayon.
1 starAges 4 to 6
Count and sort
Sort your things by color and count them.
1 starAges 3 to 5
Do a puzzle
Finish a puzzle all by yourself.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Turn off the screen when time is up
When your screen time ends, turn it off by yourself.
2 starsAges 6 to 12
Make something creative
Draw, paint, build or craft something new.
1 starAges 3 to 10
Learn your address and a phone number
Say your address and a grown-up's phone number by heart.
2 starsAges 5 to 8
Outdoor and pets
Fill the pet's water bowl
Fill the water bowl with fresh water.
1 starAges 2 to 8
Pull weeds
Pull out the weeds by the root.
2 starsAges 6 to 12
Sweep the doorstep
Sweep the leaves and dirt off the doorstep.
1 starAges 6 to 12
Bring in the mail
Collect the mail and put it in the family spot.
1 starAges 5 to 12
Carry a grocery bag
Carry a shopping bag from the car or the store.
1 starAges 5 to 12
Fill the bird feeder
Fill the bird feeder with seeds.
1 starAges 5 to 12
Questions about chores for 5 and 6 year olds
What chores can 5 and 6 year olds do?
Take a bath or shower, Load the dishwasher, Empty the dishwasher, Do your homework, Read a book, Practice your instrument, Count your pocket money, and Turn off the screen when time is up. 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 5 and 6 year olds to help at home?
School-age kids are ready for routines they run themselves. They can follow a checklist of 4 or 5 steps, remember daily jobs with a gentle prompt, and start helping in the kitchen with safe tasks like washing vegetables and measuring.
Is there a printable chore chart for 5 and 6 year olds?
Yes. The free printable chart lists a week of age-appropriate quests for 5 and 6 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.