Age Appropriate Chores for Kids

As parents, it is our role to help our children develop into well-rounded responsible adults. One of the best ways to help children mentally grow and learn responsibility is to give them chores. Chores are a perfect way for children to learn how to be a family team player; give them a sense of satisfaction in helping around the house. While there should of course be a balance of letting kids be kids, there are also ways to have them help you, while they learn to be better people by doing so. Here is a list of age appropriate chores for your children to get you started:

Dishes:

Dishes are a traditional way to have your children help around the house. The chore will teach them responsibility when it comes to cleaning their plates after meals, and the importance of having clean dishes for meals. A great age to have kids start loading and unloading the dishwasher is 8 years old. However, you could start your child helping unload as young as they show interest, about a year and a half. Allow them to help you remove any non-breakable items and give to you. Your toddler will love helping, and you’ll get some housework done! As your child gets older (about 8), you can put more responsibility on them and have them either hand-wash or just load and unload the dishwasher. They can work on their observance skills by making sure the dishes come out clean.

Making Beds:

Teaching your child the skill of making a bed is another chore that will help teach self-discipline since it is a daily chore, perfect for a child beginning at age 7. Learning how to get rid of wrinkles in the sheets and properly set the bed is a terrific way to show them the importance of presentation and living in a clean, put-together home.

Dog Care:

Owning a pet is a terrific way to help show your children what it takes to care for another being and receive love from something that has complete dependence upon them. There are a number of tasks related to the animal that your children can help with, including playing with the dog. A great way to kill the proverbial bird with one stone is by having your child take responsibility for your pet’s daily exercise. By running around the yard together, your child and pet will reap the healthy benefits. A chore of this nature could be effectively assigned to a child as young as 4. If the property is fenced traditionally or with an invisible fence you can feel confident the pet is staying within its boundaries. At about 5 or 6, your child may be ready to help feed the dog. Teach your child the correct amount of food to place in the dish and the times to do this (for example after their breakfast).

Vacuuming:

At about 9, your child may be able to help vacuum the house. This is another great task to help achieve a good eye for detail ensuring all of the carpet is swept, and nothing is left behind. You don’t think about the benefits a basic chore like vacuuming may teach, but attention to detail and organization can easily be taught with this classic household chore. The earlier you begin work on developing these types of skills the better they will become later in life.

Raking Leaves:

Raking leaves is an excellent chore for a child of about 9 years of age. This chore provides a crafty way to incorporate exercise, responsibility, and a chance to enjoy some fresh air. If you aren’t in a huge hurry, you could also turn this into a game to make it more fun. Let your child rake all the leaves together and then run and jump into the leaves! It will of course make the chore last longer, but will also help create some pleasant childhood memories.

Gayla Baer is a Social Media Professional of more than 13 years and blogs at www.gaylabaer.com. She is a mother of twins, and a dog mom to three very spoiled girls. Gayla keeps her dogs safely enclosed using the best invisible fence alternatives.

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Tagged as: Kids