Doing chores as a family is a great way to teach your children. There are a lot of things they can do or help you out with.
Of course, our top priority is our children’s safety. It’s important to make sure that every chore fits your child’s age. Let’s begin, shall we?
Chores for 2 – 3 Years Old
- Pick up toys
- Wipe spills and dust
- Pile books, magazines, and washcloth
Chores for 4 – 5 Years Old
Any of the above chores and the following:
- Put away toys
- Water small plants
- Help tidy the bedroom
- Fill food dish of your pet
- Help out pull weed in the garden
- Wipe dirty walls and reachable tables
Chores for 6 – 7 Years Old
Any of the above chores and the following:
- Sort laundry
- Sweep the floor
- Fold clean clothes
- Unload the dishwasher
- Wash light or plastic dishes
- Take out clothes from the dryer
Chores for 8 – 9 Years Old
Any of the above chores and the following:
- Vacuum
- Set the table
- Mop the floor
- Help pack lunch
- Help prepare meals
- Empty the trash in the house
- Load and unload the dishwasher
- Take weed and rake leaves in the garden
Chores for 10 -12 Years Old
Any of the above chores and the following:
- Fold the laundry
- Help clean the car
- Clean the bathroom
- Change the bed sheets
- Do light cleaning of the fridge
- Help watch younger siblings
Chores for 13 Years Old and Above
Any of the above chores and the following:
- Iron clothes
- Do the laundry
- Wash the windows
- Cooks simple meals with supervision
Now we know what chores our children can do, here are some important reminders for parents:
- Nobody’s perfect. Chores are here to be completed and not perfected. Just relax and let them find the best way to do it, with your supervision.
- Praise and encourage while they’re doing their chores and not after. Acknowledge their progress to help them build momentum on what they’re doing.
- Be consistent. Make a chore chart for everyone to see their responsibilities for the week or month. A regular flow on their chores helps them create a system of their own, too.
- Always be present to guide them. Give specific and simple instructions that kids can easily follow. Be explicit. Instead of just putting“clean your room” on the chart change it to “change your bed sheets every Friday.” The more specific the instructions, the better.
- Do not micromanage. Let them have their own system. But also remind them, with ease and calm, about their chores.
Allowance = Chores?
Some parents consider allowance as a motivation for kids to do their chores. However, experts suggest not to tie an allowance with chores for your younger kids. Make sure that they’re motivated to do their chores not just for money.
An exception can be made for older kids. You can motivate them to do more chores with a reasonable allowance after once they’re done doing it.
What are your kids motivations for doing their chores? Share your tips, we’d love to hear them!
