TasklyFamilyAge-appropriate chores for kids
A practical chart, from 3 to 17, to give each child chores they can really do. And how to get them done without saying it twenty times.
Getting kids to help at home isn’t about helping their parents: it’s about learning to look after themselves and others. The key is asking each age for what it can do well, so the chore feels like an achievement rather than a frustration.
The chart: what each age can do
| Age | Chores they can usually do |
|---|---|
| 3–5 | Put toys away, take their plate to the sink, feed the pet (with help), put dirty clothes in the basket, water a plant |
| 6–9 | Make the bed, set and clear the table, pack their school bag, fold towels, tidy their room, empty bins |
| 10–13 | Take out the rubbish, vacuum, hang the laundry, make a simple breakfast, clean the sink, help with the shopping |
| 14–17 | Wash the dishes, run the washing machine, clean the bathroom, cook a simple dinner, do the shopping from a list, look after younger siblings for a while |
It’s a guide: every child matures at their own pace. If a chore is too big, split it (“just the dining table today”) and step it up once they’ve mastered it.
Five rules that make it work
- Few chores, always the same. Two or three fixed chores a day become a habit; ten changing ones become an argument.
- Make it visible. A list on the fridge or on the phone avoids “I didn’t know it was my turn”.
- Teach once, side by side. The first time you do it together; after that, on their own.
- Praise the effort, not perfection. A badly made bed by a 6-year-old is still a made bed.
- Turn consistency into a game. Points, streaks of days in a row and a small weekly prize motivate more than lectures.
What about the chores nobody wants?
Rotate them weekly or leave them “for anyone”: whoever does it gets the points. Older kids respond well to a bit of chance, like a wheel that hands out the day’s missions, because it stops being “my turn again”.
How TasklyFamily does it
The tailored plan asks each child’s age and suggests their routines with this same logic. Every chore earns points, the weekly leaderboard has a prize, and little ones without a phone still play: a grown-up ticks off their chores from their own phone.
FAQ
At what age can kids start doing chores?
From 3, kids can do simple chores like putting toys away or taking their plate to the sink. What matters is that the chore suits their age and happens every day.
Should you pay kids for doing chores?
It isn’t necessary. Many families prefer points and a weekly non-material prize (picking the movie, a day out) so that helping doesn’t become a paid job.
How many chores should a child have a day?
One to three fixed chores is usually enough depending on age. Fewer and consistent beats many and forgotten.