assigning kids chores by age

Getting kids to help with cleaning isn't easy, especially in the beginning.

Besides, how much help can you realistically expect from a child? The answer depends on the child's age.

Below are kids chores that can generally be completed by certain ages.

Your child may be capable of doing a chore sooner or later, depending on her level of concentration, fine-motor skills, or maturity. 

Once a child reaches an individual skill or age level, he can generally do the kids chores for his age group and those for the age groups below.

Be There the First Time Your Child Tackles a New Task

However, you'll want to there the first time your child tackles a new task, regardless of age.

Beginners need pointers for even the most straightforward jobs, such as washing dinner dishes by hand. What's second nature to us is a new experience for them. 

For example, you have to explain which dishes should be washed first and why, and you need to show them how to stack the freshly washed items in the dryer rack so that it doesn't go crashing to the floor.

Divvying Up Kids Chores

So now you know what types of chores are appropriate for kids of different ages, but how many tasks can they do?

I've found a good rule of thumb for determining a reasonable number of chores is his or her age, divided by two, and rounded up when needed.

Using this system, an 8-year-old with six siblings would have the same number of chores as an 8-year-old only child.

The point is not just to get the work done; the point is to teach your child responsibility and to get some work done. 

After all, if you have only one child, it hardly seems fair to saddle her with the entire home's chores.

If chores are to be successful, they must be both fun and fair. And your supervision and enforcement must be consistent. Below are age-appropriate tasks to get you started.

Ages 2 and Under:

Kids Ages 3 to 5:

Kids Ages 6 to 9:

Kids Ages 10 to 13:

Kids Ages 14 to 17:

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