patio chores for kids by age

Young girl on stepladder cleaning window.

Here's a guide to which patio chores kids can do around the yard, organized by age group.

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

Of course, some outdoor chores need to be done each day, others once a week, and still, others once a month or even less frequently.

Patio Chores for Ages 2 and Under:

  • Pick up outside toys

Ages 3 to 5:

  • Previous chores, plus:
  • Put away outside toys and games (and all their pieces) in the proper boxes or bins
  • Water outside plants
  • Sponge down the outdoor play table

Ages 6 to 9:

  • Previous chores, plus:
  • Hang up (pool) towel
  • Rake leaves
  • Sweep the patio and porches
  • Wipe patio table and chairs
  • Help test the pool or hot tub water
  • Help balance the pool or hot tub pH
  • Help clean the pool strainer baskets
  • Prepare recyclables for pickup
  • Clean all doormats

Ages 10 to 13:

  • Previous chores, plus:
  • Take trash and recycling containers to the curb
  • Harvest vegetables
  • Mulch plants
  • Cut flowers for the house
  • Vacuum the pool once a week
  • Scrub the pool sides occasionally

  • Fish surface litter out of a pool (with a grown-up's supervision, of course)
  • Shovel snow

Ages 14 to 17:

Previous chores, plus:

  • Do yard work such as pruning

  • Spring-clean the garage
  • Check the pool or hot-tub filter

  • Change furnace filters






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