Chores by age
Chores for 7 and 8 year olds
7 and 8 year olds can handle real household jobs: load and empty the dishwasher, fold laundry, vacuum their room, pack their school bag and lunch, make a simple cold breakfast. They can follow a weekly routine with little supervision.
Try this week with your kids
Noki suggests a first week of quests and rewards for a 7 year old. You change what you like before you start.
At a glance: chores for 7 and 8 year olds
Good first chores at this age. Each one has steps and suggested stars in the full list below.
- Get up with your own alarm
- Vacuum your room
- Wash the dishes
- Walk the dog
- Make your own breakfast
- Pack your lunch
- Answer the phone politely
- Help wash the car
What to expect at this age
At this age kids can plan a little ahead, follow multi-step tasks and take pride in doing a job well. They can manage most of their own morning and evening routines and contribute meaningfully to family chores.
Aim for 3 to 5 daily quests and 2 or 3 weekly jobs. Let them choose some of their chores from a list: choice increases motivation. Teach each new job once, side by side, then step back.
Stars per quest can reflect effort: 1 for quick jobs, 2 or 3 for longer ones. Weekly goals and a pinned bigger reward keep them going. Avoid taking stars away: a missed day is simply a fresh start tomorrow.
100 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 pajamas
Change into pajamas and put day clothes in the basket.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Lights out at bedtime
Turn off your light when it is bedtime.
1 starAges 7 to 12
Floss your teeth
Floss between your teeth after brushing at night.
1 starAges 7 to 12
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
Air your room
Open your window for a few minutes in the morning.
1 starAges 7 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
Wipe the bathroom sink
Wipe the sink and the tap until they shine.
2 starsAges 7 to 12
Tidy your desk
Put pens in the cup and papers in the folder.
1 starAges 7 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
Find items on the shopping list
Find the items on your list at the store.
2 starsAges 7 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
Kindness and manners
Say good morning
Say good morning to everyone at home.
1 starAges 3 to 12
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
Review what you learned
Read over today's lesson for 10 minutes.
1 starAges 7 to 12
Learn 3 new words
Find 3 new words and use them today.
1 starAges 6 to 12
Do a puzzle
Finish a puzzle all by yourself.
1 starAges 3 to 8
Keep a journal
Write or draw 3 things about your day.
1 starAges 7 to 12
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 7 and 8 year olds
What chores can 7 and 8 year olds do?
Get up with your own alarm, Vacuum your room, Wash the dishes, Walk the dog, Make your own breakfast, Pack your lunch, Answer the phone politely, and Help wash the car. 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 7 and 8 year olds to help at home?
At this age kids can plan a little ahead, follow multi-step tasks and take pride in doing a job well. They can manage most of their own morning and evening routines and contribute meaningfully to family chores.
Is there a printable chore chart for 7 and 8 year olds?
Yes. The free printable chart lists a week of age-appropriate quests for 7 and 8 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.