Age-appropriate chores for kids, from 2 to 17

The short answer

Children can help at home much earlier than many parents expect. A 2-year-old can pick up toys and help set the table. By 5 to 7, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) lists making their bed, feeding a pet and sorting laundry. By 11 or 12, its list includes cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry and cooking a simple meal with supervision. Teens can take on most of the jobs adults do, from mowing (with an age minimum) to grocery shopping once they drive.

Each stage adds to the one before. The lists below come from pediatricians, and the chore chart maker uses the AAP list for ages 5 to 12 when you tap “Suggest chores”.

Why bother with chores at all

The AAP’s guidance on chores starts from a simple point: young children are naturally eager helpers, and most preschool-age kids can start pitching in with simple household tasks. It says helping keep the home running teaches life skills and cooperation and boosts a child’s self-esteem. It also tells parents not to expect perfection and to praise the effort, not the outcome.

The AAP is direct about busy schedules too. Families whose kids are in too many sports and activities may feel the child is too busy for chores, and the AAP calls that a mistake: children need obligations within the family so they learn to accept responsibility.

Chores by age

Ages 2 to 3

Children’s Wisconsin pediatrician Joy Rynda lists these for 2- and 3-year-olds:

• Throw away diapers in a trash can
• Pick up toys
• Fold washcloths
• Help set the table

The same article says preschoolers can handle one or two simple jobs of one or two steps. At this age the job is the habit of helping, not the result.

Ages 4 to 5

Children’s Wisconsin adds, on top of the jobs above:

• Put away toys and straighten books on a shelf
• Put away clean silverware
• Help clean their bedroom
• Sweep the kitchen with a small broom
• Clean off the table and wipe down dirty walls
• Fold towels

Ages 5 to 7

This is where the AAP list begins. For 5- to 7-year-olds it suggests:

• Make their own bed
• Set and clear the table for meals
• Weed and rake leaves
• Make and pack school lunches
• Dust and neaten bookshelves
• Put toys away and put dirty clothes in a hamper
• Fill a pet’s food dish
• Empty wastebaskets and sweep floors
• Sort laundry
• Bring in the mail
• Water flowers
• Wash plastic dishes in the sink

Ages 8 to 10

All of the above, plus, from the AAP:

• Vacuum
• Help make dinner
• Make their own snacks
• Take a pet for a walk
• Put away their own laundry
• Put away groceries

Ages 11 to 12

All of the above, plus, from the AAP:

• Clean the kitchen
• Change bedsheets
• Unload the dishwasher
• Do and fold laundry
• Scrub toilets and clean the bathroom
• Wash the car
• Cook a simple meal with supervision
• Watch younger siblings with an adult present at home

Ages 13 to 17

In its article on household chores for teens, the AAP (Shelly Flais, MD) suggests, in addition to the chores they did when younger:

• Vacuuming shared spaces such as the living room, hallways and stairs
• Washing and vacuuming the car, especially if they have car privileges
• Mowing the yard, spreading mulch and weeding
• Clearing walkways and the driveway of snow
• Grocery shopping, once they have a driver’s license
• Cleaning the kitchen after meal prep
• Pet care, such as feeding and grooming
• Helping with and caring for younger siblings

Children’s Wisconsin’s list for 13 and up adds cleaning the tub or shower, making meals alone and ironing clothes. The AAP article also makes a point many parents will recognize: if a teen can operate a smartphone, they can figure out a washing machine, an oven and a dishwasher. And a part-time job after 16, which it calls fantastic, is not a reason to stop helping at home.

A safety line: lawn mowers

Mowing appears on both the Children’s Wisconsin list (at 10 to 12) and the AAP teen list, so it is worth being precise. The AAP’s lawnmower safety guidance says children should be at least 12 years old to use a walk-behind power mower and at least 16 to use a ride-on mower, and only once they show the maturity, judgment, strength and coordination the job needs. It recommends showing them how to do it safely and supervising until you are sure they can manage alone. Where the two sources differ, go with the AAP’s minimum ages.

How to teach a new chore

Children’s Wisconsin describes a four-step way to hand over a job:

1. Show the chore step by step.
2. Do it together.
3. Watch while your child does it.
4. Step back and let them do it alone.

The AAP adds a few practical rules:

• Spell out the task. Make sure your child knows what is expected daily and weekly.
• One new task at a time. For a school-age child new to chores, a long list can be overwhelming.
• Same time each day. Routines make chores easier to remember.
• Use a chart. The AAP says a chore chart or checklist acts as a visual reminder and gives each child a sense of accomplishment with each completed task.
• Hold family meetings to review progress and ask for your child’s ideas.

Allowance, rewards and consequences

Families handle money differently, and the AAP does not set a rule. It suggests honest praise as the most effective motivator and says you may also want to consider tangible rewards like allowances and stickers tied to completed chores. When a child chooses not to do their chores, it suggests consequences such as losing certain privileges, and notes that badgering or scolding does not work as well as rewarding success. It also reminds parents that screen time is a privilege, not a right.

The chore chart maker supports either approach. Pick “Allowance” to show each child’s weekly amount with an “Earned this week” box, “Points” for a points total, or “None” for a plain chart.

Worked example: a chart for a 4-year-old and a 9-year-old

Maya is 4 and Leo is 9. Using the lists above:

	Maya, 4	Leo, 9
Daily	Put away toys	Make bed
Daily	Help set the table	Feed the pet
Daily		Put away own laundry
A few times a week	Fold washcloths	Vacuum
Weekly		Help make dinner

Maya has two daily jobs, in line with the one or two simple jobs suggested for preschoolers. Leo has more, drawn from the AAP’s 5 to 7 and 8 to 10 lists. If your family pays an allowance, the weekly amount goes next to each name.

In the chore chart maker, add each child, type their chores one per line, and print. Each person gets a row per chore and a tick box for every day from Monday to Sunday. The tool’s “Ideas for” menu covers the AAP bands (5 to 7, 8 to 10 and 11 to 12) plus a “Teens and adults” list of our own suggestions. For a child under 5, type the jobs in from the lists above.

Keep expectations realistic

The AAP warns about two opposite problems: demanding too much or criticizing the result, and assigning too many jobs at once. Children differ in temperament. Some drift off halfway through, some struggle to get organized, and some find it hard to switch from one activity to another. Build that into what you expect.

If your child keeps skipping their responsibilities despite your efforts, the AAP suggests raising it with your pediatrician, who may reassure you that the behavior is normal for their age. The pediatrician may be more concerned if a child consistently fails to complete everyday responsibilities at home and has similar issues at school.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until they are older. The AAP says young children are naturally eager helpers and most preschoolers can start with simple tasks.
• Expecting perfection. Praise the effort, not the outcome. A made bed does not need to be a perfect bed.
• Handing over a long list at once. Add one task at a time.
• Letting a busy schedule cancel chores. The AAP calls this a mistake.
• Mowing too young. The AAP minimums are 12 for a walk-behind mower and 16 for a ride-on.

General guidance from pediatric sources, not medical advice. You know your child best.