Chore lists online often look great and fall apart by Wednesday. The goal of this one is different: tasks that kids at each age can actually do well, with a short note on how to teach them. Every child is different, so treat the ages as a starting point, not a test.
Before you start: three rules that make any chore list work
- Teach it once, properly. Do the task together the first time, then watch them do it, then let them do it alone. Skipping straight to "go do it" is why so many chores get done badly.
- Define "done." "Clean your room" means nothing to a 9-year-old. "Clothes in the hamper, books on the shelf, bed made" is clear.
- Keep it short. A few daily tasks and one or two weekly ones beat a long list nobody finishes.
Chores for ages 8 to 9
At this age most kids can handle simple daily tasks on their own and bigger ones with some help.
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper every night. This is the foundation, and our guide on getting kids to use the hamper covers the setup.
- Make their bed, even roughly.
- Put clean, folded clothes away in drawers.
- Set and clear the table.
- Feed pets with a reminder.
- Pack their own school bag the night before.
- Tidy their room for ten minutes before bed.
- Match socks from the clean laundry.
Chores for ages 10 to 11
Kids this age can start owning a task from start to finish.
- Sort their own laundry into lights and darks.
- Help run the washing machine with supervision. Our guide on teaching kids to do laundry breaks it into steps.
- Fold their own clothes.
- Load and unload the dishwasher.
- Take out the trash and recycling.
- Vacuum their bedroom.
- Wipe the bathroom sink and counter.
- Make a simple breakfast or lunch.
Chores for ages 12 to 13
This is a good age to hand over full responsibility for their own space and their own clothes.
- Do their own laundry from hamper to drawer, once a week.
- Change their own sheets.
- Clean the bathroom they use, including the toilet.
- Help with grocery shopping using a list.
- Cook a simple dinner once a week with help.
- Mow the lawn or rake leaves if you have a yard.
- Babysit younger siblings for short stretches while you are home.
Chores for ages 14 to 16
Teens can handle most adult household tasks. The challenge is motivation, not ability.
- All of their own laundry, including stain treatment and ironing when needed.
- Plan and cook a family meal.
- Deep-clean the kitchen after dinner.
- Clean out the fridge.
- Wash the car.
- Run errands, if they drive.
- Manage their own schedule and remind you, not the other way around.
For tips on the motivation part, see how to get a teenager to clean their room.
How to make chores stick
Use a chart, but keep it simple
A short visible list helps kids remember without you nagging. Our chore chart ideas for tweens has formats that work past the first week.
Turn the boring ones into a game
Timers, scores and small challenges go a long way, especially for younger kids. Tossing clothes into a hamper with a hoop is one example. Our list of chore games has eleven more.
Expect "good enough" at first
A bed made by an 8-year-old will not look like a hotel bed. If you redo their work in front of them, they learn that their effort doesn't count. Correct gently and let small imperfections go.
Rotate in shared homes
If siblings share chores, rotate weekly so nobody gets stuck with the worst one forever, and so everyone learns every task.
Where Sockshot fits
We make Sockshot, an over-the-door laundry hamper with a mini basketball hoop. It won't teach a 15-year-old to clean the fridge, but it does make the first chore on every list above, clothes in the hamper, a lot more likely to happen.
FAQ
How many chores should a 10-year-old have?
Two or three short daily tasks plus one or two weekly tasks is a reasonable load for most 10-year-olds. More than that and the list tends to get ignored.
Should chores be tied to allowance?
Families split on this. Some pay for extra jobs and treat basic chores as part of living in the house. Whatever you choose, be consistent.
What if my child refuses to do chores?
Stay calm and keep the consequence simple and related. For example, screen time starts after the room reset is done. Our guide on getting teens to clean their room covers refusal in more detail.
