Age-appropriate chores by age
A practical, age-by-age guide to chores kids can actually do — from toddlers to teens — with a free printable chore chart at the bottom. Print it, stick it on the fridge, or turn it into quests your kids will actually want to finish.
Why age-appropriate chores matter
Chores aren't just about a cleaner house. Decades of research on childhood development point to the same thing: kids who help around the home grow into more capable, responsible, and confident adults. The key word is age-appropriate— a task that's frustrating for a 4-year-old is trivially easy (and boring) for a 12-year-old.
Match the chore to the stage and three things happen: kids succeed often enough to stay motivated, they build real skills step by step, and helping out becomes a habit instead of a battle. The lists below are organized by age band so you can pick a handful that fit your child right now — and level them up as they grow.
Toddlers2–3 years
At this age chores are really about togetherness and imitation. Keep tasks tiny, hand-over-hand, and celebrate every attempt — you're building the idea that helping is normal and fun.
- Put toys into a bin
- Drop dirty clothes in the hamper
- Throw trash in the garbage can
- Put books back on a low shelf
- Wipe up small spills with a cloth
- Fetch diapers or wipes
- Feed a pet with a pre-measured scoop (with help)
- Stack plastic cups or bowls
- Help carry lightweight groceries
- Put shoes in their spot by the door
Preschoolers4–5 years
Preschoolers love feeling capable and copying grown-ups. They can follow one- or two-step instructions, so give simple routines they can own with light supervision.
- Make their bed (pull up the covers)
- Set the table with napkins and spoons
- Clear their own plate to the counter
- Match clean socks into pairs
- Water indoor plants
- Feed pets and refill the water bowl
- Dust low surfaces with a sock or cloth
- Put away their clean laundry in drawers
- Help load the washing machine
- Wipe the table after meals
- Tidy their room before bed
- Sort recycling into the right bin
Early Elementary6–8 years
Kids this age can handle multi-step chores and take real responsibility for a routine. Consistency matters more than perfection — this is the sweet spot for building habits.
- Make the bed neatly every morning
- Get dressed and pack their backpack
- Set and clear the whole table
- Load and unload the dishwasher (non-breakables)
- Sort laundry by color
- Fold towels and washcloths
- Feed and water pets on a schedule
- Sweep floors and use a dustpan
- Wipe bathroom counters and mirrors
- Take out small trash bins
- Put away groceries in low cabinets
- Water the garden or outdoor plants
- Tidy and vacuum their bedroom
Tweens9–12 years
Tweens can complete chores independently and start managing time and money. Tie chores to allowance and savings goals so the effort connects to real-world rewards.
- Do a full load of laundry start to finish
- Prepare a simple breakfast or pack lunch
- Wash dishes or fully run the dishwasher
- Vacuum and mop common areas
- Clean the bathroom (sink, toilet, tub)
- Take out and sort trash and recycling
- Rake leaves or help with yard work
- Walk the dog around the block
- Change their own bed sheets
- Help cook dinner with supervision
- Bring in the mail and packages
- Organize a closet, drawer, or shelf
- Load groceries and put them all away
- Wipe down and clean the kitchen after meals
Teens13+ years
Teens are capable of nearly any household task and benefit from responsibilities that build independence for adult life — cooking, budgeting, and managing their own schedule.
- Plan and cook a family meal
- Do their own laundry, ironing included
- Deep-clean the kitchen or bathroom
- Mow the lawn and manage yard work
- Grocery shop from a list on a budget
- Wash and vacuum the car
- Babysit younger siblings
- Manage their own schedule and homework
- Take out and manage all household trash
- Run the dishwasher and put everything away
- Help with basic home repairs
- Track an allowance and savings goal
- Care for pets fully (feed, walk, clean)
- Change light bulbs and replace batteries
- Prep and organize for the week ahead
Turn this list into quests kids actually finish
A printed chart is a great start — but the hard part is keeping it going. Chorio takes the same age-appropriate chores and turns them into quests: kids earn points and XP, level up, keep daily streaks alive, and redeem rewards you set. You can track allowance and even require a photo of the finished chore, so “I did it” actually means it's done.
It's free to start, designed for kids ages 4–16, and works on iPhone and iPad.
Download Chorio on the App Store →Free printable chore chart
Print this to paper or save as PDF — use your browser's Print dialog (⌘/Ctrl + P).
| Chore | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put toys into a bin | |||||||
| Drop dirty clothes in the hamper | |||||||
| Throw trash in the garbage can | |||||||
| Put books back on a low shelf | |||||||
| Wipe up small spills with a cloth | |||||||
| Fetch diapers or wipes | |||||||
| Feed a pet with a pre-measured scoop (with help) | |||||||
| Stack plastic cups or bowls |
| Chore | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make their bed (pull up the covers) | |||||||
| Set the table with napkins and spoons | |||||||
| Clear their own plate to the counter | |||||||
| Match clean socks into pairs | |||||||
| Water indoor plants | |||||||
| Feed pets and refill the water bowl | |||||||
| Dust low surfaces with a sock or cloth | |||||||
| Put away their clean laundry in drawers |
| Chore | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make the bed neatly every morning | |||||||
| Get dressed and pack their backpack | |||||||
| Set and clear the whole table | |||||||
| Load and unload the dishwasher (non-breakables) | |||||||
| Sort laundry by color | |||||||
| Fold towels and washcloths | |||||||
| Feed and water pets on a schedule | |||||||
| Sweep floors and use a dustpan |
| Chore | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do a full load of laundry start to finish | |||||||
| Prepare a simple breakfast or pack lunch | |||||||
| Wash dishes or fully run the dishwasher | |||||||
| Vacuum and mop common areas | |||||||
| Clean the bathroom (sink, toilet, tub) | |||||||
| Take out and sort trash and recycling | |||||||
| Rake leaves or help with yard work | |||||||
| Walk the dog around the block |
| Chore | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan and cook a family meal | |||||||
| Do their own laundry, ironing included | |||||||
| Deep-clean the kitchen or bathroom | |||||||
| Mow the lawn and manage yard work | |||||||
| Grocery shop from a list on a budget | |||||||
| Wash and vacuum the car | |||||||
| Babysit younger siblings | |||||||
| Manage their own schedule and homework |
Want the digital version that tracks it all automatically? Download Chorio.