Age-Appropriate Chores (Skills to Learn)
What can a child do?
The Age 2-3 Child can be introduced to these tasks:
- Begin to dress self
- Help make bed – at least pull covers up
- Pick up toys
- Hang clothing – like jammies – on hooks
- Carry laundry to and from laundry area
- Help fold towels
- Empty light trash cans
- Dust!
- Carry plate to sink after meals
- Put silverware in dishwasher
- Help feed animals
- Help wipe up spills
- Dry unbreakable dishes
- Sweep
- Bring in newspaper
- Mop a small area
- Pour from a small pitcher
- Pull weeds
- Fetch diapers
- Help pick up living room
The Age 4-5 should begin to have experience with these tasks:
- Dress self
- Make own bed
- Clear dishes from table
- Set table
- Retrieve the mail
- Dust!
- Water plants
- Help in kitchen – stirring, ripping lettuce, drying dishes
- Help carry and put away groceries
- Wash yard toys when needed
- Help rake the yard
- Help wash car and clean interior
- Sweep patio
- Wash floors, low walls with sponge
- Put away own clothes – put dirty clothes in hamper
- Sort clean clothes by family member
- Sort dirty clothes by color
- hang towels after bath
- Help load dishwasher
The Age 6-12 child can be expected to:
- Make bed
- Take care of pets – clean cages and feed them
- Cook simple foods – use simple recipes
- Make school lunches
- Help with yard work
- Help wash car
- Wash, hang and fold laundry
- Vacuum, sweep and mop
- Straighten up house
- Wash, dry and put away dishes
- Clean bathroom completely
- Rake leaves, shovel snow
- Weed and water garden
- Use washer and dryer
- Take out trash
- Strip and change beds
- Iron
- Polish shoes
The child Age 13 and up is becoming proficient at these:
- Any of the above, plus
- Change light bulbs
- Replace a vacuum cleaner bag
- Wash inside and outside windows
- Clean out a refrigerator
- Clean stove and oven
- Prepare a meal
- Make grocery lists
- Shop for groceries
- Cook meals
- Do all laundry functions
- Iron clothes
- Do clothes mending, repairs
- Mow the lawn
- Trim yard
- Wash and polish car
- Maintain a bicycle – fill tires with air, oil squeaks
- Help paint and caulk