We know that many parents like to instill a certain set of values and work ethic at an early age and one of the ways to do this is to make children responsible for helping out around the home and giving them responsibilities. But at what age is it typically appropriate to have a child start doing what around the home? In this post, we are going to dive further into the topic of appropriate chores for each age group.
Ages 2-3
Does the following tune sound familiar?
Clean up, clean up
Everybody everywhere
Clean up, clean up
Everybody do your share!
Yes, toddlers can help out too! This is a great age for children to start learning how to clean up after themselves. Children can learn how to pick up their toys and put them back where they came from. Make it fun! Sing songs. It is great for children to learn at an early age that pitching in and working hard is not a bad or boring thing. This is also a great age for children to start putting their own clothing in their hamper. This is a nice time to also slowly introduce them to other responsibilities. Show them how you feed the family pet or include them when you make the bed.
Ages 4-5
This is the perfect age range for children to start making their own beds in the mornings. It’s also a good age to teach children how to make and clear the table. Have children help out with laundry by matching socks together! By now, they should also be able to sort their laundry according to colors. If you have any houseplants, this is a great age to introduce them to care for them (i.e., watering). This is a nice age to have children help carry groceries from the car to the house as well.
Ages 6-9
This is an age where children should be able to handle light housekeeping responsibilities, such as sweeping the floors and dusting. On the older end of this spectrum, they should also be able to manage the vacuum alone. This is also the age range when children should be able to do dishes or load and unload the dishwasher and be able to put garbage bags in the bins outside. This is also a nice time to include your children more in the cooking process. Cooking is so much fun and it’s great to make this a family activity! This is also a good age range to introduce outdoor chores, such as raking leaves.
Ages 10-13
Including all the previously listed chores, this is an age where children start to become much more independent. They should be able to make their own snacks and know how to use the washer and dryer, as well as the dishwasher. With age, comes more responsibility, and children in this range should be able to be responsible for family pets (feeding, walking, etc.) and be able to watch over younger siblings. At this age, children should be able to roll the trash bins down to the curb.
Ages 14+
High schoolers should be able to handle almost anything from deep cleaning to mowing the lawn. Once they are licensed drivers, they can also help with grocery trips!
Depending on the age of your children, we love the idea of chore charts, especially in homes with multiple children and there are some great samples online. Every Sunday, have your child/ren spin the wheel and whatever it lands on (i.e., vacuuming, dishes, feeding the dog, etc.) is their responsibility for that week!
Children are much more capable than what we typically give them credit for, so we think it’s great to introduce responsibility at a young age and this is absolutely something that your nanny can help with! Nannies are not just there to watch your children but they are there to teach them, be a right hand to parents, and help instill positive values.
If you need assistance finding a nanny, please reach out to the Nanny Authority today by emailing info@nannyauthority.com or call (973) 466 2669.