What chores should kids do at each age?

As a rough guide: ages 3-5 pick up toys, feed the pet, and put clothes in the hamper; ages 6-9 set the table, sort laundry, and pack their school bag; ages 10-12 handle the dishwasher, trash, and their own room; teens cook simple meals, do their own laundry, and clean bathrooms. Adjust up or down based on what your child already does comfortably.

At what age should kids start doing chores?

Around age 3 for most children, with one or two picture-based tasks like putting toys away. Starting early matters more than starting big: a 3-year-old who ticks off one chore a day builds the habit that a 13-year-old needs.

How do I make one chart work for kids of different ages?

Give each child their own column or page with their own age-appropriate list, rather than one shared list. The generator on this page supports up to three children on one chart, each with their own name, age, and chores, so a 5-year-old and an 11-year-old can share the fridge without sharing a chore list.

When should I update my child's chore list?

Every few months, or whenever the chart stops being even slightly challenging. Two signs it is time: your child finishes everything without thinking, or they start ignoring the chart because it feels babyish. Print a fresh chart with one or two harder chores and keep the rest familiar.

Should chores be tied to allowance?

Families run both models successfully. Some pay per chore, some give a base allowance plus paid extras, and some keep chores as unpaid family contributions with other rewards like screen time or outings. What matters most is that the deal is clear and consistent, whichever one you pick.

Chore Charts by Age: What Fits at Every Stage

The fastest way to make a chore chart fail is to put the wrong chores on it. A task that is too hard turns into a nightly argument, and a task that is too easy gets ignored. The right list depends mostly on age, and it changes faster than most of us expect.

This page gives you a working chore list by age, from around 3 all the way to the teenage years, and a free generator that builds a printable chart for whichever age you need. Enter your child's age and the generator pre-fills age-appropriate chores; you can edit every one of them before you print.

If you have more than one child, add up to three to the same chart, each with their own age and their own list. Different ages, one fridge.

About your children

Child's name

Child's age

year-old

About the chart

Style

colorful

pastel

minimalist

black&white

dinosaur

unicorn

cars

space

safari

princess

adventure map

superhero

Chart type

chores

morning routine

evening routine

reward

behavior

responsibility

Paper size

US Letter

How often?

weekly

daily

monthly

Set the chores

Each image has a description in the form of a chore name, but you can name the chores as you wish.

Weekly chores When to do it?

Weekly chores are larger, more demanding tasks completed once or a few times per week. Because they require more time and effort, they are limited to 5 tasks maximum, helping prevent children from feeling overwhelmed and keeping responsibilities manageable and motivating.

Daily routine covers everyday tasks and habits that should be completed each day, without being tied to a specific time. The focus is on consistency, independence, and building long-term habits. To avoid overload, daily routines are limited to 10 tasks maximum.

Monthly chores are bigger jobs that only need doing once or twice a month, like deep-cleaning the bedroom or sorting outgrown clothes. Each chore gets a checkbox per week, so your child can spread the work across the month. Monthly charts are limited to 5 tasks to keep them realistic.

Morning routine includes simple, repeatable tasks that help children start the day calmly and prepared. These tasks are done after waking up and focus on hygiene, organization, and getting ready for school or daycare. To keep the routine manageable, it is limited to a maximum of 10 tasks.

Evening routine consists of calming tasks that help children slow down and prepare for sleep. These tasks are done at the end of the day and focus on relaxation, self-care, and preparing for the next day. Evening routines are limited to a maximum of 10 tasks to keep them stress-free and effective.

A reward chart connects effort to a goal your child is working toward. Add the tasks, tick off the days, and write the reward on the line at the bottom of the printed chart. Keeping the goal visible all week is a big part of what makes it work.

A behavior chart tracks habits rather than tasks: kind words, sharing, listening the first time. Name the behaviors you want to encourage and let your child tick them off day by day. Keep it positive by charting the behavior you want to see more of, not the one you want to stop.

A responsibility chart covers the things that are simply part of family life, like homework, pets, and tidying up. It works like a chore chart, but the framing matters: these are responsibilities your child owns, not favors they do. Keep the list short so ownership feels doable.

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Chore chart examples

Ages 3 to 5: first chores, mostly pictures

At this age the chart itself is the motivator: ticking the box is the fun part. Keep it to two or three tasks, use picture chores so pre-readers can follow along, and treat 'done' generously. The goal is the habit of helping, not the quality of the result.

Pick up toys
Make the bed (their version of made)
Feed the pet
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Put shoes where they belong

See the full 5-year-old chore chart page →

Ages 6 to 9: real jobs, real routine

School-age kids can handle chores that actually help the household, and they notice the difference between busywork and a real contribution. Three to five chores works well, mixing daily quick tasks with one or two bigger weekly jobs.

Set and clear the table
Sort laundry
Pack and unpack the school backpack
Water plants
Make the bed properly

See the full 7-year-old chore chart page →

Ages 10 to 12: ownership, not help

Preteens can own a chore start to finish: nobody reminds them, nobody finishes it for them. This is the age to hand over whole jobs like the dishwasher or their own laundry, and to let the chart track the week rather than the day.

Vacuum their room
Load and unload the dishwasher
Take out the trash
Make a simple breakfast
Fold and put away their own laundry

See the full 10-year-old chore chart page →

Teens: responsibilities that look like adult life

A teen chart works when the chores are real adult tasks and the design does not talk down to them. Cooking one meal a week, doing their own laundry, cleaning the bathroom: things they will do at 19 anyway, started at 14 with support.

Cook one meal a week
Do their own laundry start to finish
Clean the bathroom
Vacuum the common areas
Wash the car

See the full teens chore chart page →

One rule that beats every age table

Age tables are a starting point, not a rulebook. If your 6-year-old already feeds the pet without being asked, move up a level. If your 10-year-old has never held a vacuum, start where they are. Pick chores one small step beyond what your child does comfortably today, and update the chart every few months: the list that fit in September is usually too easy by spring.

More free printable charts: the chore chart generator, chore chart for a 5-year-old, chore chart for a 7-year-old, chore chart for teens, weekly chore chart.

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Basic daily chores