How it works
Each person gets their own block: their name in a colour band, their chores down the side, and a tick box for every day from Monday to Sunday. Weekends are shaded. Pick an extra column for an allowance or points, and the block ends with a box for the week’s total. When the whole chart fits on one page, the rows grow taller so young children have big boxes to tick.
Chore ideas by age
The ideas for ages 5 to 12 follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ "Chores and Responsibility" on HealthyChildren.org, adapted from its book Caring for Your School-Age Child. Each age group can also do the jobs listed for younger children. Every child is different, so treat these as starting points.
| Age | Chores to try |
|---|---|
| Ages 5 to 7 | Make bed, Set the table, Clear the table, Put toys away, Put dirty clothes in the hamper, Feed the pet, Empty wastebaskets, Sort laundry, Bring in the mail, Water flowers, Dust, Sweep the floor, Pack school lunch, Neaten bookshelves, Rake leaves, Wash plastic dishes |
| Ages 8 to 10 | Vacuum, Help make dinner, Make own snack, Walk the dog, Put away own laundry, Put away groceries |
| Ages 11 to 12 | Clean the kitchen, Change bedsheets, Unload the dishwasher, Do and fold laundry, Clean the bathroom, Wash the car, Cook a simple meal (with an adult) |
| Teens and adults our suggestions | Take out trash and recycling, Mow the lawn, Plan a dinner, Clean out the fridge, Grocery run, Wipe down the bathroom, Help a younger sibling with homework |
Making a chore chart work
- Show how first. Do the chore together a few times before it goes on the chart.
- Keep it visible. Put the chart at the child’s eye level, on the fridge or their door.
- Praise the effort. A made bed does not need to be a perfect bed.
- Print a new one each week. Your list is saved in this browser, so it is one click.
Questions people ask
What chores can a 5-year-old do?
The American Academy of Pediatrics lists, for ages 5 to 7: making their bed, setting and clearing the table, putting toys away, putting dirty clothes in the hamper, filling a pet’s food dish, emptying wastebaskets, sorting laundry, bringing in the mail, watering flowers and washing plastic dishes, among others. Pick "Ages 5 to 7" and tap "Suggest chores" to add some.
What chores are right for ages 8 to 12?
From the same AAP list: at 8 to 10, children can add vacuuming, helping make dinner, making their own snacks, walking a pet, putting away their own laundry and putting away groceries. At 11 to 12: cleaning the kitchen, changing bedsheets, unloading the dishwasher, doing and folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom, washing the car and cooking a simple meal with supervision.
Should chores be tied to an allowance?
Families do it both ways. Some pay for every chore, some give a set allowance and expect chores as part of family life, and some mix the two, with everyday jobs unpaid and extra jobs paid. Choose "Allowance" to show each child’s weekly amount and an "Earned this week" box, "Points" for a points total, or "None" for a plain chart.
How many chores should a child have?
There is no fixed number. Two to four daily jobs is a common start for young children, with more as they grow. Each person on this chart can have up to 15 chores, and three rows are always drawn so there is room to add one by hand.
Can I make a chore chart for adults or roommates?
Yes. Leave out the ages, type each person’s name and their jobs, and choose "None" or "Points". The "Teens and adults" ideas, such as taking out the trash or mowing the lawn, are our own suggestions.
How do I print it?
Use Print to send just the chart to your printer, or Download PDF for a file at exactly US Letter or A4 size. Landscape gives the widest day boxes. If you add many people, the chart flows onto more pages and repeats the heading.