A Complete List of Chores for Kids (Hint: They Can Do More Than You Think)

The other day, I asked my kids to unload the dishwasher. They must have been trying to be extra good, because when I came back into the kitchen it was empty. Totally, 100% empty. 

And there was nothing on the counter. Nothing on the floor. I’d already put away the things that live in a high cabinet, and had left them low cabinet and drawer stuff.

I could not believe it. I was amazed both by the fact that they did that chore so easily and by how good it felt to have little partners in this whole keeping-the-house-clean(ish) enterprise.

If your kids can walk, I’m willing to bet that there is at least one thing they can help out with around the house. Read on for a complete guide to chore-doing at an early age.

Kids can do so much more than you may think – even little kids!

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Age One

In my experience, one year olds can do basic chores requiring gross motor skills and basic directions. At this point, they’re not necessarily “helpful” all the time, but you are at least building the habit of helping out around the house.

Self Care

One year olds can also choose between two outfits. At this age, they can’t be relied on to pick clothes for themselves, but they can pick one of two options that you choose. I found that this really helps you avoid the inevitable “I don’t want to wear that” meltdowns because they have some autonomy over their clothing.

In the Kitchen

One year olds can wipe up spills with a towel. There are usually lots of opportunities to practice this skill, although you may have to come behind them and make sure the spill is truly cleaned up.

Around the House

One year olds can also do basic tasks involving picking things up and taking them somewhere. They can probably put their dirty clothes in the hamper and help put toys away (albeit imperfectly). Most one year olds can also fetch their shoes (assuming the shoes are stored in the same spot every time), but probably can’t put their shoes on yet.

At this age, it’s all about giving your toddler doable tasks that help establish the habit of helping around the house. They may be making more work for you to be honest, but this is an investment in the future. Stick with it!

Ages Two & Three

Two and three year olds can start doing much more. They’ll learn a lot in these two years!

Self Care

On the self-care front, most two and three year olds can put on Velcro shoes and put on a coat (daycare is magic, because who has time to put coats on 20 kids). At this age, they can choose their own clothes, as long as you have set them up for success with seasonal clothes in reach. They can usually get dressed on their own at this age, too. Two and three year olds are also great at washing hands with soap and water, as long as they can reach the sink, soap and a hand towel!

In the Kitchen

Two and three year olds can start helping in the kitchen. If you put their plates, cups, bowls and utensils in a low cabinet, toddlers can set their own place at the table. They can also clear their items from the table after a meal and wipe down the table with a wet towel. (I usually pre-wipe any large crumbs and then let my kids wipe the table with water.) Note: they probably can’t reach the middle of the table to wipe down. I let my kids stand on the chairs to wipe the table, but if you are nervous about this you’ll have to help.

At this age, kids can also help cook with supervision by dumping ingredients into a bowl or blender and stirring. My kids also love to help pat pancakes after they’ve been flipped.

Around the House

At age two or three, your child can probably help you with basic household cleanup. They can usually help put away clean clothes, although you will likely want to supervise if you want their closet to be even slightly neat. Kids of this age can help pick up toys and can usually sweep the floor.  (I suggest a kid-sized broom and an assistant.)

This is the age where kids are starting to be actually helpful around the house! It’s fun to watch them contribute to the running of the household, even as tiny ones!

Ages 4 and 5

Four and five year olds are getting really coordinated and can start to follow more complex directions. This means they can start doing even more around the house!

In the Kitchen

In the kitchen, four and five year olds can help empty the dishwasher and can start learning to crack eggs. They can fill their water cup and pour milk into a cup or bowl. Also at this age, kids can pick out snacks from a set of choices within easy reach.  (If it’s not on their shelf in the pantry, it’s not an option.)

Around the House

Kids of this age can help with simple laundry folding. They can fold small kitchen towels and washcloths. Kids can also usually match socks, which is super great when they have a million pairs of socks – no two alike. They’re also much more reliable about putting their clothes away. 

Four and five year olds can usually pick up and put away toys, shoes and coats. By this age, they know where things generally go and can put items back where they found them. In our house, we have a special spot for shoes and coat hooks in the closet. There is never a question about where to put that stuff. Kids of this age can also usually clean their rooms relatively well. Just be aware that some toys might end up going not quite where you want them!

Outside

Outside, kids who are four or five can help sweep the garage and do basic raking and weeding. They can also bring the mail in from the mailbox (make sure they reach all the way to the back)! Four and five year olds can also help you bring groceries inside and put them away. Just make sure they don’t accidentally put a chuck roast somewhere weird, only to be found the next day when it starts to smell (ahem….). 

How to Remind Kids to Do Chores

Some chores, like checking the mail are fun for kids. And some, by default, happen when needed like bringing in the groceries. 

I break household chores down into two basic areas. One is simply doing things for yourself and cleaning up after yourself in the moment. In my mind, this covers the things we do every day by habit. With basic self-care tasks like picking out clothes, getting dressed and putting shoes on, it’s all about building these repeated actions into your family’s morning routine. Setting and clearing the table should also be a regular habit that kids do before and after each meal.

The other group of chores involves cleaning the house, which isn’t necessarily something that happens at a set time every day or every week. For tasks like these, I think there are a couple of great options. And – yay – I’ve included a printable to help you make this happen. One option is to make a chore chart. The other is to pass out chore cards (which my kids seem to love for some reason). I’ll describe both, but before you launch in grab the free printable with everything you’ll need to make either a chore chart or chore cards!

Chore Chart

The chore chart is pretty simple! First, make sure to print out the printable chore chart and chore cards. Then get the chart and smaller cards (pages 5 and 6) laminated and cut out the cards with scissors or a paper cutter. I’ve included a wide variety of household chores, but there are also some blank cards in your download. Feel free to create your own chore cards if I’ve missed something that your child is doing around the house.

Then comes the fun part – velcro! Place a strip of velcro from right to left in the “To Do” and “Done” sections (make sure to use the same side of the Velcro for each).

Then, cut small rectangles from the other side of the Velcro and adhere to the back of each card. Every day, start the chores in the “To Do” section and have your child move the card to “done” when the chore is complete. Voila!

Chore Cards

My kids seem to love the chore card method, and maybe yours will too! This is beyond easy. Download and print the document I’ve emailed to you. You only need to laminate pages 2 through 4 with the large cards. Cut out the cards. You may want to make cards for each kid, which is what I do. Then, when it’s chore time, hand each child their chore cards. When a task is complete, the child hands the chore card back to you. Everyone knows what’s been done and what’s left to do. Easy peasy!

They Can Do So Much

Not only will your household benefit from having the kids help around the house, kids will also develop a sense of pride in their ability to do things for themselves and help you! It’s amazing to watch that self-assurance grow as kids start taking care of themselves and their surroundings. Although it’s tempting to skip this stuff, especially when you have a busy schedule, taking a little time to build chores into your daily and weekly routines will help your kids form the habit of cleaning and self-care early. And what a great gift to give your children – and yourself!