Seasonal Chores for Kids by Age (a Year of Helping Hands)

Every season brings its own to-do list. Spring wants planting. Summer wants watering, weeding and somebody to drag the hose around. Fall wants raking. Winter wants shoveling. And every one of those jobs has a part that a kid can do.

Seasonal chores are some of the best chores for kids: they're outside, they're messy in a fun way, and kids can see the results. A pile of leaves. A row of tomatoes they planted themselves. A shoveled path to the front door.

Here's what kids can handle each season, by age, plus the safety rules that matter. (For chores at every age all year, see Chores for Kids by Age.)

A quick word on ages: they're a starting point. Go by your child's focus, coordination and maturity, not just the birthday. Kids can also do every chore listed for the younger ages. And be there the first time they try any new job. Even raking has a technique.

Spring Chores for Kids

Ages 2 to 5:

• Help with planting: drop seeds in the holes, pat the dirt down
• Water plants with a kid-size watering can
  
•  Help with gardening games, like a bug hunt to pick pests off the plants
  
• Sponge off the outdoor play table
  

Ages 6 to 8:

• Pull weeds (show them which ones are weeds first, or you'll lose your lettuce)
• Carry houseplants outside and gently rinse the dust off the leaves
  
• Sweep the porch and patio
  
• Help wipe down the outdoor furniture
  

Ages 9 to 12:

• Plant vegetables, annuals and herbs
• Spread mulch around plants and trees
  
• Clean the patio furniture and get it ready for the season
  
• Help switch out the closets: winter clothes packed away, summer clothes out
  

Teens:

Summer Chores for Kids

Summer is long, and kids are home. Perfect.

Ages 2 to 5:

• Pick up outdoor toys at the end of the day and put them in their bin, with all the pieces
• Collect snails off the plants in a pail (gloves on, and wash hands after)
  
• Help water the garden
  

Ages 6 to 8:

•  Water the garden and containers
• Sweep the patio and the porch
  
• Help clean the pool skimmer baskets, with an adult right there
  
• Do light yard work: weeding, picking up sticks
  

Ages 9 to 12:

• Harvest the vegetables: tomatoes, beans, zucchini (so much zucchini)
• Carry kitchen scraps and yard clippings to the compost pile
  
• Help wash the car
  
• Keep the patio swept and the outdoor furniture wiped down
  

Teens:

• Mow the lawn (see the safety rules below)
• Turn and maintain the compost pile
  
• Wash the car, inside and out
  
• Clean out the garage
  

Fall Chores for Kids

Fall is leaf season, and leaves are a kid's favorite chore, at least until the third pile.

Ages 2 to 5:

• Help rake with a small rake, and jump in the pile (it's a perk of the job)
• Help scoop leaves into the bag
  
• Pick up acorns and pinecones
  

Ages 6 to 8:

• Rake leaves
• Sweep the porch and patio clear of leaves
  
• Help bring the patio cushions and outdoor toys in for the winter
  

Ages 9 to 12:

• Plant spring bulbs: tulips, daffodils, crocus
• Help put the garden to bed: pull dead plants, spread mulch
  
• Help clean and organize the garage
  
• Help with the closet switch back to winter clothes
  

Teens:

• Clean out the fireplace and the fireplace tools before the first fire
• Clean the gutters they can reach from the ground with a gutter tool
  
• Rake and bag the whole yard
  

Winter Chores for Kids

Winter chores are short, cold and very satisfying.

Ages 2 to 5:

Ages 6 to 8:

• Shovel the steps and the porch with a kid-size shovel
• Sprinkle sand or pet-safe ice melt on the steps
  
• Help pack up the decorations after the holidays
  

Ages 9 to 12:

• Shovel the walk
• Polish the silver before the holidays
  
• Help carry in firewood
  
• Brush the snow off the car
  

Teens:

• Shovel the driveway
• Take down the outdoor decorations they can reach safely
  
•  Take down and store the indoor decorations and the tree
  

Seasonal Chore Safety

Outdoor chores come with a few real risks. Here's how to keep them safe:

•  Lawn mowers: the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids be at least 12 to use a walk-behind power mower and at least 16 for a riding mower. No passengers on riding mowers, ever, and keep young kids indoors while anyone's mowing.
• Ladders: kids stay on the ground or a sturdy step stool. Ladders, roofs and second-story windows are grown-up jobs.
  
• Snow shoveling: use a kid-size shovel, push the snow instead of lifting it, take breaks, and dress in layers with hats and gloves. Come inside if fingers or toes get numb.
  
• Heat and sun: do summer yard work early in the morning or in the evening, with sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.
  
• The pool: kids never clean or play near the pool without an adult right there. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the CDC.
  
• Fireplace ashes: ashes stay hot for days. Let them cool, scoop them into a metal can with a lid, and store it outside at least 10 feet from the house, as the NFPA recommends. Teens only.
  
• Gloves and hand-washing: wear gloves for gardening, compost, snails and yard waste, and wash hands afterward.
  

How to Make Seasonal Chores Stick

• Put them on the calendar. First Saturday of spring: planting day. First weekend of November: leaf day. Seasonal chores happen once or twice a year, so they need a date.
• Do them together. Seasonal chores are perfect family projects. Everyone rakes, everyone bags, then everyone has hot chocolate.
  
• Give kids their own patch. A kid with their own garden bed or flowerpot takes the watering seriously.
  
• Show them first. Raking, weeding and shoveling all have a right way. Spend five minutes showing them, and you'll save an hour of redoing.
  

For more on getting kids to pitch in, see How to Get Kids to Clean Up

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can kids mow the lawn?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least age 12 for a walk-behind power mower and 16 for a riding mower, after training and with supervision at first.

What outdoor chores can a 5-year-old do?

Pick up outdoor toys, water plants with a small watering can, help plant seeds, collect snails, help rake and scoop leaves, and sweep the porch with a small broom.

Can kids shovel snow?

Yes. Kids 6 to 8 can shovel steps with a kid-size shovel, and older kids can do the walk and the driveway. Teach them to push the snow instead of lifting it, and to take breaks.

What are good spring chores for kids?

Planting seeds and flowers, watering, weeding, sweeping the porch, cleaning the patio furniture, and helping switch the closets from winter to summer clothes.

What are good fall chores for kids?

Raking and bagging leaves, planting spring bulbs, putting the garden to bed, bringing in the patio cushions, and helping clean the garage.

Keep Going

The leaves are bagged and the hot chocolate's ready. Keep the whole family pitching in with these related guides:

•      Chores for Kids by Age: The complete guide, with a chore chart for every age.

•      Yard Work With Kids: Outdoor jobs kids can do, and the ones they can't do yet.

•      Gardening Games for Kids: Turn weeding and bug hunts into a game.

•      A Year of Flower Bulbs: What to plant, and when, for color all year.

•      How to Clean Patio Furniture: Get the outdoor furniture ready for the season.

•      Weekly Chores for Kids by Age: Sheets, bathrooms, vacuuming and a sibling rotation.

•      10 Fall Gardening Tips: Put the garden to bed so it wakes up happy in spring.

•      Backyard and Garden Guide: Patios, plants and outdoor living for the whole family.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.