When it comes to running a busy household—especially one with seven kids—keeping things tidy and organized is no small feat. But getting your little ones involved in chores from an early age doesn’t just make the workload easier; it teaches them valuable life skills and fosters a sense of responsibility. As your kids grow, the tasks they can take on will evolve, but the key is making sure the chores are age-appropriate, and most importantly, fun!

Here’s a breakdown of what kids can do at each age, along with creative tips for making chores feel like a game, not a burden.

Toddlers (Ages 2-4)

While toddlers can’t do much in terms of “house cleaning,” they’re more than capable of starting to learn simple responsibilities. Keep the tasks simple and age-appropriate, with a focus on building habits, motor skills, and understanding what it means to contribute.

What They Can Do:

• Put toys away: Teach them to pick up after themselves. Start by showing them how to place toys in bins or baskets.
• Wipe surfaces: With a soft cloth, they can help you wipe down low surfaces like tables or shelves.
• Feed pets: They can help scoop food into the pet bowl or bring the bowl to where you fill it.
• Sort laundry: Toddlers can help by separating colors from whites (they may need some guidance, but it’s a fun way to introduce sorting).

How to Teach Them:

• Use songs: Singing songs like “Clean Up, Clean Up” makes the task feel like a fun game.
• Short time limits: Give them a short time frame to finish the task, like “Let’s see how many toys you can pick up in 2 minutes!”
• Praise their effort: At this stage, focus more on the effort and less on perfection. Celebrate their success, even if they only managed to pick up half the toys!

Preschoolers (Ages 4-6)

Preschoolers are ready for slightly more responsibility and can handle more specific tasks, especially when paired with clear instructions.

What They Can Do:

• Set the table: They can help place plates, forks, and napkins on the table.
• Put away dishes: With some supervision, they can put away plastic dishes or cups.
• Water plants: Teaching them to water indoor plants is a fun and educational task that connects them to nature.
• Sort laundry: They can start learning to match socks or fold towels (don’t worry about precision—just encourage them to try).

How to Teach Them:

• Model first: Show them how you do it first, then let them try.
• Give them simple instructions: Instead of saying, “Set the table,” guide them with specifics: “Please put the plates down first, then the forks.”
• Use colorful bins or containers: Kids love bright colors! Make organizing more engaging with colorful baskets for different laundry piles or toys.

Elementary School (Ages 6-10)

At this stage, kids can start to take on real household chores, and they often love the responsibility. They can start learning the basics of housework, including tidying up, meal prep, and organization.

What They Can Do:

• Vacuum and sweep: With a lightweight vacuum or broom, they can help clean floors, especially in the kitchen or living room.
• Make their bed: Start teaching them how to make their bed every morning. Make it a fun routine with a reward system.
• Help with dinner prep: They can chop soft fruits or vegetables with a child-safe knife and help with simple recipes.
• Take out the trash: With a little guidance, they can collect trash from around the house and take it to the bins.

How to Teach Them:

• Create a chore chart: Kids love checking things off! Use a chart with pictures for younger kids and words for older ones to track their progress.
• Incorporate fun challenges: “Can you vacuum the living room before the timer goes off?”
• Offer praise and rewards: Positive reinforcement keeps them motivated. Make sure they know their work is appreciated!

Tweens (Ages 10-13)

By this age, kids are capable of more complex tasks and should be taking on a more significant role in maintaining the household. Tweens are ready to do chores independently and can even help with projects that require some skill.

What They Can Do:

• Clean bathrooms: Teach them to wipe down counters, scrub the tub, and clean mirrors.
• Laundry: They can do their own laundry—sorting clothes, using the washer, and folding their clothes when they’re dry.
• Help with meal planning: Let them pick out a meal or help cook it. They can make their own sandwiches or assist in making a salad.
• Mow the lawn: If it’s safe and they’re ready, your tween can take on lawn-mowing duties.

How to Teach Them:

• Give them responsibility: Give clear instructions and let them complete the task without much intervention. Let them own it.
• Use a timer: Create a sense of urgency by challenging them to finish a task by a certain time. For example, “Can you fold the laundry in 10 minutes?”
• Involve them in decisions: Involve them in discussions about how to organize or where to place things. They’ll feel empowered.

Also see our post 10 Benefits of a Family Chore Chart for Large Households.

Teens (Ages 13+)

Teens can handle just about any task and can even pitch in with larger family projects, including home maintenance or cooking for the family. This age is about nurturing independence while teaching life skills they’ll need as adults.

What They Can Do:

• Deep clean the house: Teens can clean out the fridge, organize the pantry, scrub floors, and clean windows.
• Cooking dinner: Let your teen cook meals for the family, which can be a huge help and teaches them valuable life skills.
• Shovel snow or rake leaves: These seasonal chores can give teens a sense of accomplishment and help them stay active.
• Manage the family calendar: Assign them the task of keeping track of family events, appointments, and to-dos.

How to Teach Them:

• Give them ownership: Allow them to take on responsibility for certain areas of the house or specific tasks.
• Encourage teamwork: When it comes to large projects, like cleaning the garage or rearranging furniture, encourage them to work with their siblings.
• Challenge them with projects: Give them home improvement projects, such as building furniture or doing basic repairs, so they can learn valuable skills.

Mixing Skill-Building with Fun

Chores don’t have to be dull, and when they’re integrated with skill-building and fun, kids are more likely to embrace them. Here are some ideas to make chores enjoyable:

• Chore Challenges: Set a timer and see who can complete their chores the fastest. Add in little rewards like stickers or extra screen time for completing tasks.
• Music: Play upbeat music while you clean, and have a dance party while tackling household chores.
• Family Chore Time: Set a time where the whole family gets together to work on chores as a team. Turn it into a social event with snacks or a fun activity afterward.
• Chore Baskets: Put all the supplies for each chore (e.g., sponges, spray bottles, gloves) in a fun basket or caddy. This makes the task feel like a little “mission.”

Check out these printable chore charts to get started.

Conclusion

Getting kids involved in household chores not only lightens your load but also teaches them life skills and builds family teamwork. From toddlers learning to put away toys to teens managing their own laundry, chores help kids develop responsibility and independence, all while having a bit of fun along the way. So, the next time you’re handing out chores, remember: You’re not just cleaning the house; you’re building a stronger family unit, one task at a time!