Kitchen Chores For Kids By Age

Child's hands washing plate in kitchen sink.Kids age 6 and up can rinse dishes and load the dishwasher.

Kitchen chores for kids by age. At what age can a child set and clear the table? When can a kid take out the garbage? Kitchen patrol isn't anyone's favorite chore, but it beats cleaning the bathroom hands-down. 

You could always give your kids the option of scrubbing the toilet if they're not in the mood to rinse dishes and put them in the dishwasher.

Once a child reaches a particular skill or age level, he can generally do the kitchen chores for kids by age and those for the age groups below.

Kitchen Chores for Kids by Age 2 and Under:

  • Close cabinet doors and drawers.
  • Turn on the dishwasher.
  • Help set the table.

Kitchen Chores for Kids by Age 3 to 5:

Previous chores, plus:

  • Place dirty dishes on the counter.
  • Sponge down the play table.
  • Help unload the dishwasher.

kitchen Chores For Kids by Age 6 to 9:

Previous chores, plus:

  • Help make breakfast.
  • Do simple cooking tasks such as rinsing vegetables.
  • Set and clear the table.
  • Put dishes into the dishwasher.
  • Wipe up spills on countertops and on the kitchen table.
  • Wipe the table, chairs, high chair, counters, and cooktop or range.
  • Wipe down interior of the microwave.
  • Sweep or vacuum the floor and damp mop any spills.
  • Bring groceries in from the car.
  • Help put away groceries.
  • Empty and wipe wastebaskets clean, using disinfecting wipes.

Kitchen Chores for Kids by Age 10 to 13:

Young girl drying dinner plate.

Previous chores, plus:

  • Pour beverages for meals.
  • Help hand-wash dishes.
  • Unload the dishwasher.
  • Disinfect countertops.
  • Surface clean the fridge. (This would include a lesson on reading package expiration dates and removing expired food from the interior.)

Age 14 to 17:

Previous chores, plus:

  • Prepare meals.
  • Clean and disinfect the sink.
  • Organize the pantry.
  • Scrub or strip and wax floors.


You Might Like These:

  • Spring cleaning with kids? Excited about cleaning? Yes, it really is possible that your kids will not only get excited, but moving, too with these tips.

    Spring Cleaning With Kids

    Spring cleaning with kids? Excited about cleaning? Yes, it really is possible that your kids will not only get excited, but moving, too with these tips.

  • These house chores for kids by age are organized by frequency of chores (daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, yearly) and by room.

    House Chores for Kids by Age, Room & Frequency

    These house chores for kids by age are organized by frequency of chores (daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, yearly) and by room.

  • Living room chores for kids. Here's a guide to which living room chores kids can do at what ages. Once a child reaches a certain skill or age level he do chores for the age groups below.

    Living Room Chores for Kids by Age

    Living room chores for kids. Here's a guide to which living room chores kids can do at what ages. Once a child reaches a certain skill or age level he do chores for the age groups below.

  • Bathroom chores for kids and the age they can generally do by them. They do help muck it up, after all.)

    Bathroom Chores for Kids by Age

    Bathroom chores for kids and the age they can generally do by them. They do help muck it up, after all.)

  • Yearly kids chores by age. Which yearly kids chores can you reasonably expect kids to help with? Here's a simple guide to age appropriate annual chores.

    Yearly Kids Chores by Age

    Yearly kids chores by age. Which yearly kids chores can you reasonably expect kids to help with? Here's a simple guide to age appropriate annual chores.

  • Garage cleaning with kids is the ideal time to ooh and ahh over all your old treasures and reevaluate whether to keep them.

    Garage Cleaning With Kids

    Garage cleaning with kids is the ideal time to ooh and ahh over all your old treasures and reevaluate whether to keep them.

  • When doing laundry with kids, you'll need to go over the laundry basics to prep them for the dirty jobs ahead. These tips and strategies can help.

    Doing Laundry With Kids

    When doing laundry with kids, you'll need to go over the laundry basics to prep them for the dirty jobs ahead. These tips and strategies can help.

  • Kids chores seasonally by age. How many chores can you reasonably expect kids to help out with at home? Here's a simple guide to age appropriate kids chores seasonally.

    Kids Chores Seasonally by Age

    Kids chores seasonally by age. How many chores can you reasonably expect kids to help out with at home? Here's a simple guide to age appropriate kids chores seasonally.