Children can usually do more than we think, and less than we hope. Here’s a realistic starting point for each age. It’s a guide rather than a test: every child is different, and many children with additional needs will follow their own timeline. Start with what your child can nearly do already, and build from there.
| Age | Jobs they can usually manage |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 | Put toys in a box. Put clothes in the basket. Help wipe up spills. Hand you things while you unload the washing. |
| 4 to 5 Make a chart | Make the bed, roughly. Put toys away. Set out cutlery. Feed a pet with help. Water plants. Match socks. |
| 6 to 7 Make a chart | Make the bed properly. Get dressed without reminders. Lay and clear the table. Tidy their room with a list. Sort laundry by colour. |
| 8 to 9 Make a chart | Pack their school bag. Feed a pet alone. Put laundry away. Sweep or hoover one room. Help make simple meals. |
| 10 to 12 Make a chart | Load and empty the dishwasher. Take the bins out. Change their bed sheets. Clean the bathroom sink. Cook a simple meal with help. |
| 13 to 16 Make a chart | Wash and dry their own clothes. Cook a family meal. Clean a whole bathroom. Mow the lawn. Do the supermarket shop from a list. |
How to teach a new job
- Do it together first. “Tidy your room” means nothing to a six-year-old until they’ve seen it broken into steps.
- Say what done looks like. “The floor is clear and the books are on the shelf” is easier to meet than “make it nice”.
- Accept 80%. A wonky bed made by your child is worth more than a smooth one made by you. Redoing it behind their back teaches them that it doesn’t matter.
- Stick to a few. Start with two or three jobs for the first couple of weeks. A list of ten is how charts end up behind the fridge.
- Attach it to something that already happens. “Bed before breakfast” sticks far better than “sometime in the morning”.
Should chores come with a reward?
Families differ, and there’s a real debate here. We’ve written up both sides, including what the research says.
Make it visible
Whatever you choose, children do better when they can see the list themselves, rather than relying on you to remember it for them. Our free chore chart maker builds a printable chart for your child’s age in about a minute. If you’d rather not chase a pen and a fridge magnet, that’s what the PocketQuest app is for.