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Age-appropriate chores: a chore chart by age

Chores kids can usually handle at each age, from toddlers to teens, based on the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidance. Every child is different. Use these as a starting point and adjust for your child's skills and your home. Each band builds on the ones before it.

By the Tagwell team · Last reviewed October 12, 2026

Download the printable chart See Tagwell for families

Ages 2-3

Toddlers

Put toys back in a binLow, open bins work best.
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Help feed a petYou measure; they pour or carry the bowl.
Put books back on a low shelf
Sort socks or toys by colorTwo-year-olds begin sorting by shape and color.
Rinse fruit and vegetables at the sinkOn a stable step stool, with an adult right there.
Tear lettuce for a salad
Wipe up small spills with a cloth
Carry unbreakable dishes to the table

Tips: Toddlers copy what adults do. Let them help alongside you. Expect help, not results. Praise the effort. Keep cleaning products capped, in their original containers, and out of sight and reach. Keep toddlers away from the stove, oven and other hot surfaces, even after they're turned off.

Source: Growing independence, tips for parents of young children, 5 great reasons to cook with your kids, Developmental milestones, 2-year-olds, Safety for your child, 2 to 4 years

Ages 4-5

Preschoolers

Put toys away
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Get dressed, with clothes laid out the night before
Brush teethAn adult should still help and check.
Help set the table
Feed pets
Make the bedA simple pull-up of the covers counts.
Water plants
Rinse fruit or tear salad leaves
Bring in the mailWith an adult.
Dust low surfaces with a cloth

Tips: AAP suggests starting chores in the preschool years. Add one new task at a time and show each step. A picture chore chart helps kids who can't read yet. Four-year-olds aren't ready to cook over a hot pan. Keep them on no-heat tasks. Keep matches and lighters out of reach.

Source: Growing independence, tips for parents of young children, Age-appropriate chores for children (updated Feb 2024), 5 great reasons to cook with your kids, Developmental milestones, 4 to 5 year olds, CDC

Ages 6-7

Early grade school

Make the bed
Set and clear the table
Help pack their school lunchNo sharp knives yet; an adult does any cutting.
Put toys away and tidy bookshelves
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Sort laundry
Fill the pet's food dish
Empty wastebaskets
Sweep floors
Dust
Water flowers and pull weeds
Wash plastic dishes in the sink

Tips: Use a chore chart or checklist so kids can see what's done. Praise effort and expect a learning curve. Set a regular time for chores, like after school or before dinner. No stove or oven use without an adult right there.

Source: Age-appropriate chores for children (updated Feb 2024), 5 great reasons to cook with your kids

Ages 8-9

Middle grade school

Vacuum
Help make dinnerWith an adult supervising any stove, oven or knife use.
Make their own simple snacks
Walk the dogIn a safe area you've agreed on.
Put away their own laundry
Put away groceries
Set and clear the table
Empty wastebaskets and take out trash
Sweep floors
Rake leaves
Make the bed

Tips: Teach how to hold kitchen tools safely and how to turn appliances on and off. Use oven mitts for anything hot. Don't drop chores during busy sports seasons; adjust them instead.

Source: Age-appropriate chores for children (updated Feb 2024), 5 great reasons to cook with your kids

Ages 10-11

Tweens

Unload the dishwasher
Clean the kitchen after meals
Change their bedsheets
Do and fold laundry
Clean the bathroom, including the toiletTeach them to read cleaning product labels; use gloves.
Cook a simple mealWith supervision.
Vacuum
Walk the dog
Put away groceries
Wash the car

Tips: Hold a short family meeting to review chores and hear their ideas. Small rewards, like an allowance or stickers, can help. If chores get skipped, losing a privilege such as screen time is a fair consequence.

Source: AAP / HealthyChildren.org

Ages 12-13

Young teens

Do their own laundry, start to finish
Cook a simple mealWith supervision.
Clean the bathroom
Clean the kitchen
Change bedsheets
Unload the dishwasher
Wash the car
Watch younger siblingsOnly with an adult at home.
Mow the lawn with a walk-behind mowerAge 12 and up only. Closed shoes, eye and ear protection, and a mower that stops when you let go.
Pack their own lunch
Manage a set allowanceBalance small spending with saving.

Tips: Spell out what 'done' looks like for each chore. AAP says kids under 12 should not use walk-behind mowers, and under 16 should not use ride-on mowers. Keep younger children indoors or well away while anyone mows.

Source: Age-appropriate chores for children (updated Feb 2024), Summer safety tips (lawn mower ages), Next stop adulthood, tips for parents

Ages 14+

Teens

Do all their own laundry
Make their own meals and lunches
Take a turn on the family chore schedule
Keep shared spaces like hallways and bathrooms picked up
Keep their own room under control
Budget their own money for wants and savings
Clean the kitchen and bathrooms
Mow and do yard workRide-on mowers only at 16 and up.
Keep keys and other essentials in one spot
Hold a part-time or summer jobGenerally 14 is the minimum working age, with limited hours under 16.

Tips: Teens build life skills by doing tasks themselves, not by having parents step in. Agree on chores at a family meeting and post the schedule. Watch for overscheduling; balance chores and work with school and rest.

Source: Next stop adulthood, tips for parents, 6 ways summer jobs benefit teens, Summer safety tips (lawn mower ages), Age-appropriate chores for children (updated Feb 2024)

Safety first. Supervise any use of the stove, oven or sharp knives, and keep young kids on no-heat tasks. Store cleaning products and medicines capped, in original containers, and out of reach of young children. Poison Help Line: 1-800-222-1222. Walk-behind mowers: age 12 and up. Ride-on mowers: age 16 and up.

Make it stick

Keep each chore small and clear, say what done looks like ("clean your room" means bed made, clothes in the hamper, floor clear), praise the effort and let progress show right away. More in how to get kids to do chores and chore chart reward ideas.

Questions

What chores can a 5-year-old do?

Make their bed, put toys away, help set the table, feed a pet and water plants. See ages 4 to 5 and 6 to 7.

What chores should a teenager do?

Bigger jobs like cooking a meal, doing their own laundry, cleaning a bathroom and mowing (walk-behind mowers from age 12, ride-on from 16, per the AAP). See ages 14 and up.

Should kids be paid for chores?

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that rewards like stickers or an allowance tied to finished chores can motivate kids. Our chore chart reward ideas has options that cost nothing.

How many chores should a child have?

Start with two or three small daily jobs and add more as they get the hang of it. A short list they finish beats a long one they don't.

Is there a printable chore chart?

Yes. Download the PDF on this page: it has the chart by age and a blank weekly chart with star boxes.

A chore chart that ticks itself off

In Tagwell, each child gets their own chore screen with big Done buttons and stars for every chore, and spends them in a rewards shop you approve. Kids and rewards are part of Tagwell Plus in the phone app, and free in the web app.

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