Chore chart for kids

It’s one of the topics parents are most divided on. Should your children do chores? If so, how many? And should they be paid to do them? Here, we break down how and why your children should help out around the house and share some chores for kids by age.

If you’ve never experienced a chore chart before – either as a child or as a parent – it’s important to know how they work. These calendar-like boards help you organise your household tasks, both helping you determine who is responsible for doing what and work out when they’ve been done.

From teaching responsibility to building confidence, there are so many benefits to chores for kids (more on those in a bit). It’s why specialists and child development experts recommend children start chores as young as 18 months old!

How to get children involved in chores

When allocating chores, age-appropriateness is key. You wouldn’t expect your four-year-old to take the bins outside or mow the lawn, would you?

Before your child can get started on their chores, do it together to show them how. Make sure you’re clear about each person’s chores for the day or week – writing them down (like, on a chore chart!) is a great way to make sure everyone is literally on the same page.

Beyond the safety concerns, it’s also important to choose chores that won’t bore or frustrate your child. To help motivate them, use a reward chart to track the chores they complete – you can give them small rewards like letting them watch their favourite TV show or pick their favourite family meal. And of course, don’t forget to praise their positive behaviour.

You should also talk about how great it is that a particular job has been done, pointing out how it will make your family home run so much smoother. Try to show an interest in how your child has done the job, too.

Benefits of Chore Charts

Kids’ chore charts help to teach important life skills. By doing chores, your child will learn the importance of cleaning up after themselves, be more conscious of the messes they do make and begin to understand how good it feels to keep a tidy home. Certain chores – like those that involve looking after a family pet – will also teach responsibility.

By achieving important tasks for others, your child will develop life skills while also building confidence. That’s why it’s so important to offer rewards to motivate them while they’re learning, and continue offering positive reinforcement when they lend a hand. While chores like cleaning up after themselves or washing the windows may seem insignificant now, know that you are helping them grow into confident, independent grown-ups who can care for themselves.

Now that you know why to set up a chore chart, check out this list of chores for children of different ages.

Chore chart ideas for kids 18 months to 3 years:

• Help make the bed
• Pick up toys and books
• Put clothes in the hamper
• Brush teeth
• Put books on a shelf

Chore chart ideas for kids 4-5:

• Make the bed
• Help set the table
• Empty the dishwasher
• Put laundry away
• Water plants
• Vacuum
• Clean up toys
• Get the mail
• Help prepare dinner
• Help put away groceries

Chore chart ideas for kids 6-8:

• Water the garden and plants
• Feed pets
• Hang out clothes
• Take out rubbish
• Vacuum
• Help prepare dinner
• Help with grocery shopping
• Help to unload the dishwasher

Tips for parents

Your journey to teaching your children independence and responsibility will be a long one, so it’s important to be patient yet consistent. Don’t expect your child to know how to do something if they haven’t been shown yet, and make sure you praise them liberally when they do a chore well. Again, reward them for doing their chores to see the best results.

Chore charts for kids

Looking for more ideas for your chore chart? We love this list of chore charts for kids from Woman’s Day, and this one from Very Well Family.