Kid Chores By Age {free printable}

Possible chores kids can do at what age.   This is a simple list of suggested chores, responsibilities, and life skills to be used only as a baseline for teaching children how to be self-reliant.

Since every child is different, parents please use at your discretion.  {wink}

Print Free File:
Chores At What Age (4027 downloads )

Wondering what to teach your children so they can be more self-reliant?  I got the idea to make my own list  from Merrilee Boyack’s book, The Parenting Breakthrough.

As a mother, I’ve learned that not all my kids are created with the same skill sets, attention, or emotional maturity.  {to name a few differences}  Therefore, this is my list of the baseline responsibilities I use for my kiddos.  These are just suggestions as I’m not a child physiologist by any stretch of the imagination.  {giggle}

3 years
Learn to brush teeth
Get dressed
Repeat prayers
Potty train {girls}
Pick up toys w/ help

4 years
Potty trained {boys}
Put clothes in hamper
Loves to sort!
~ Stack clean colored plastic cups
~ Stack tupperware
Loves spray bottles!
~  They spray, you wipe. {no harmful chemicals}

5 years old
Brush teeth independently
Start to make bed
Swiffer kitchen floor
Sort clean silverware
Dry paint brush to dust baseboards
Pick up and throw away pieces of trash
Get own snack

6 years old
Put away clothes in drawer
Make bed {better}
Pour cereal
Dust w/ Pledge
Water plants
Carry light grocery bags in from the car
Participate in team sports
Memorize phone number

7 years old
Make a sandwich
Take showers
Clear and set table
Empty dishwasher no glass
Vacuum 1 room
Bring down dirty clothes
Toilets w/ Clorox wipes
Read with comprehension
Memorize address
Make/answer phone calls

8 years old
Floss teeth
Do their own hair
Properly make bed
Make a lunch
Wash dishes
Clean mirrors
Straighten up a room
Load and empty entire dishwasher
Use microwave
Warm up canned food
Empty garbage cans
Have a savings account
Earn allowance
Simple yard work: water plants, pull weeds, help plant flowers

9 years old
Wake up via alarm
Cut nails
Vacuum
Put away clean clothes
Help put away groceries
Learn basic first aid
Write letters
Understand puberty
Email
Wrap presents

10 years old
Wash car
Make own breakfast
Understand basic nutrition
Make salad
Cook Mac & Cheese
Cook vegetables
Bake desserts
Sew on buttons
Use a camera

11 years old
Mop floor
Clean windows
Clean refrigerator
Clean cupboards
Straighten closets
Learn  laundry process
Use leaf blower
Learn crochet or to knit
Babysitting prep class

12 years old
Understand weight control
Bake pies and bread
Prepare main dishes
Help create grocery list
Learn about stain removal
Iron own clothes
Mow lawn
Vacuum interior of car
Use weed eater
Babysit

14 years old
Clean stovetop
Clean oven
Keep personal calendar
Arrange for own haircuts
Learn about makeup
Do laundry entirely
Shop for clothing and other items
Use ATM
How to order online
Understand prescriptions
Learn meat handling rules
Understand social etiquette
How to sell items online

15 years old
Plan meals
Plan parties
Memorize social security number
Understand and use a debit card
Learn about debt and interest
Simple household repairs

16 years old
Make and keep dentist and doctor appt.
Shop for groceries
Keep a simple budget
Find bargains
Get driver’s license
Change a flat tire
Understand credit cards
Understand interviewing process
Get a job
Open checking account
Pay for mobile phone

I’m constantly surprised at what my kids can do when I ask them to try something new.  What has your child surprised YOU by doing lately?