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Age-appropriate chores: a list of jobs for kids by age
Debs · Updated 28 September 2026
The short answer
Toddlers can put toys in a box and clothes in the wash basket. From four to six, children can set the table, feed a pet and make their bed. From seven to nine, they can pack their own school bag and help cook. From ten, they can take on laundry, simple meals and the bins.
Somewhere in your house is a child who can unlock your phone, find a hidden biscuit tin in the dark and name every Pokémon. The same child, you'll be told, cannot possibly put a plate in the dishwasher. Children are far more capable than their negotiating position suggests. The trick is picking jobs that fit their age, then making the job easier to do than to argue about.
Why chores are worth the extra effort
Doing the job yourself is faster. For about a year. After that, a child who can pack their own bag and sort their own washing gives you back minutes every single day. Chores also teach the thing school can't: that a home runs because people in it do things, not because things happen by magic.
- Start younger than feels natural: toddlers love "helping".
- Show, then do it together, then let them do it alone.
- Accept "done" over "perfect". A wonky bed is a made bed.
- Tie jobs to routines, so they happen at the same time every day.
A wonky bed is a made bed. Resist the urge to redo it while they're watching.
Left: packing their own bag is the chore that pays you back every school morning. Right: the basket is right there. It has always been right there.
Chores by age: the list
Every child is different, so treat these as starting points rather than targets. Ages two to three: toys in the box, clothes in the basket, wiping up small spills. Four to six: setting and clearing the table, feeding a pet, making their bed, matching socks. Seven to nine: packing their school bag, making a simple packed lunch, hoovering their room, watering plants.
Ten to twelve: loading and emptying the dishwasher, putting a wash on, making a simple meal with help, taking the bins out, changing their bed. By secondary school, many children can manage most of their own laundry and cook a few meals, if anyone lets them.
Children are more capable than their negotiating position suggests.
How to stop chores becoming an argument
Make chores part of the routine rather than a request, so "it's bag time" replaces "can you please, for the fourth time". Put the jobs somewhere everyone can see them, so the list is the one asking, not you. Many families link bigger chores to stars or pocket money and keep everyday jobs (like clearing their own plate) as simply what everyone does.
Chores by age at a glance
A rough guide. Your child may be ready sooner, or later, and that's fine.
| Age | Everyday jobs | Bigger jobs |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 3 | Toys away, clothes in the basket | Help wipe the table |
| 4 to 6 | Make bed, set the table, feed a pet | Match socks, tidy their room |
| 7 to 9 | Pack school bag, clear the table | Hoover, simple packed lunch |
| 10 to 12 | Dishwasher, change their bed | Put a wash on, help cook a meal |
Mistakes we've all made
- Redoing the job in front of them, so they learn it wasn't worth doing.
- Asking for "a tidy room" instead of "books on the shelf and clothes in the basket".
- Giving jobs only when you're cross, so chores feel like a punishment.
- Doing it yourself "just this once", every day, for three years.
Let the list on the wall do the asking
Debs, your own school admin assistant, has Chores & stars built in. Set each child's routines and chores (every day, or just on the days you choose), worth as many stars as you like, and rewards to spend them on. Children tick them off on the family wall display, and Debs tells them what the day needs: PE kit or uniform, and what goes in the bag. See everything Debs can do.
Questions parents ask
What chores can a 5-year-old do?
A five-year-old can usually make their bed, set and clear the table, put toys and clothes away, feed a pet and help match socks. Keep each job small and show them how first.
What chores can an 8-year-old do?
Most eight-year-olds can pack their school bag, make a simple packed lunch, hoover their room, clear the table and water plants, with the occasional check.
Should children be paid for chores?
Families differ. A common approach is to keep everyday jobs unpaid, because everyone helps at home, and link bigger chores to stars, rewards or pocket money.
How many chores should a child have?
Two or three a day is plenty for most primary-age children. Tie them to routines, such as after school or before bed, so they don't pile up.
How do I get my child to do chores without nagging?
Make them part of the routine, put the list where everyone can see it, and notice when they're done. A visible list does the reminding, so you don't have to.