Giving your child regular chores can help him or her learn how to take care of a household, how to be a reliable worker, and how to feel like and important and contributing member of the family. Age appropriate tasks will set your child up for success, but keep in mind, children can often handle more responsibility than we expect.
Ages 2-3
Starting the habit of chores early will be easier than trying to convince your ten year old to start contributing down the road. Toddlers can help wipe up spills, put their toys in a toy box, put their dirty laundry in the hamper, dust, and fill up a pet's food and water bowl as long as the amounts are supervised. Use plenty of praise both during and after the tasks to keep them engaged and excited.
Ages 4-5
Your little ones at this point should be able to get dressed without much help, make the bed, help carry weight appropriate items in from the car, clear the table, clean their bedrooms, be responsible for feeding pets, empty wastebaskets, bring in the mail, put away clean silverware, water plants, fold towels, match socks, and use a handheld vacuum cleaner.
Ages 6-7
Children at this age may begin to take out the trash, rake leaves, peel vegetables, put away the dishes, fold and put away laundry, sweep floors, mop floors, vacuum rooms, help with dinner, and weed the garden.
Ages 8-11
Children at this age are ready to start taking on bigger responsibilities. They can begin learning to use the washer and drier, load the dishwasher, make some basic foods like scrambled eggs or cookies, clean the counter, clean the bathroom, clean the kitchen, reattach buttons, mend hems, wake up with an alarm clock, be responsible for their own homework, mow the lawn, rake leaves, and wash the car.
Ages 12 and Up
At this point children can take on most any household task, including watching younger siblings, cooking dinner, doing simple repairs, painting the walls, ironing clothes, changing their own bed sheets, doing the dishes, yard work, washing windows, grocery shopping with a list, performing deep cleaning on appliances, and when the time comes, maintaining the car that they drive.
Getting Things Done
When introducing a new chore, it is important to teach your children how to do it properly and allow them to try a few times with supervision before expecting them to do it on their own. Don't micromanage, though, as this can discourage kids and make them less likely to do their chores. Be prepared. In the beginning it will likely take more time to teach your child how to complete a chore than it would to complete it yourself. A chore chart can help remind everyone what their responsibilities are.
While it might be tempting to tie an allowance to household chores, most experts say it's not the best way to go. Younger children may not be motivated by money at all, and older children may only want to work if they need the money. Instead create standard chores that must be completed, like doing their own laundry, and offer money for special chores that may require more work, like pressure washing the windows or painting a room.
Age appropriate chores are a great way to help your children learn about responsibility, and in time, create a little more time for yourself.
