A guide for parents

Chore chart ideas by age (3 to 12)

Children can help around the house from a surprisingly young age, and doing real jobs builds confidence and independence. Here are chores that suit each age, and how to make them stick without constant nagging.

Chores for every age

Ages 3 to 5

Little helpers love real jobs. Keep them short, show them how, and do them together at first.

  • Put toys back in the box
  • Put dirty clothes in the wash basket
  • Feed the pet (with help)
  • Match socks from the clean washing
  • Put their plate on the counter after dinner
  • Water a plant
  • Help put the shopping away (the unbreakable bits)

Ages 6 to 8

They can now do a job start to finish. A short list of daily jobs, plus one bigger weekly one, works well.

  • Make their bed
  • Set and clear the table
  • Tidy their bedroom
  • Feed the pet and fill the water bowl
  • Put away their own clean clothes
  • Help unload the dishwasher
  • Pack their school bag the night before
  • Help with the garden

Ages 9 to 12

Time for proper responsibility, and some real cooking and cleaning skills they’ll need later.

  • Load or empty the dishwasher
  • Hoover a room
  • Bring the bins out on bin day
  • Fold and put away laundry
  • Help make the dinner, or make a simple one
  • Clean the bathroom sink
  • Walk the dog
  • Wash the car with a parent

How to make chores stick

  1. Show them how, more than once. Do the job together a few times before expecting them to do it alone, and accept that “done” won’t look like your version at first.
  2. Keep the list short. Two or three daily jobs is plenty for most children. A long list is a quick way to lose them.
  3. Tie jobs to routines. Bed made before breakfast, table set before dinner, bag packed before bedtime. Routines do the reminding for you.
  4. Notice it when it’s done. A quick “thanks for feeding the dog without being asked”, and a star, keeps it going far better than reminders.
  5. Rotate the jobs. Swap jobs between brothers and sisters every week or so, so nobody is always stuck with the bins.
  6. Decide your approach to money. Some families link chores to pocket money; others treat everyday jobs as “part of being in the family” and reward extra jobs. Either works, as long as you’re consistent.

A simple weekly chore chart

If you’re starting from scratch, this works for most families with school-age children:

  • Every day: make their bed, put their clothes in the wash basket, clear their plate after dinner.
  • School nights: pack their bag and lay out their uniform.
  • Once a week: tidy their bedroom properly, and one family job (the bins, the hoovering, helping with the garden).
  • Now and then: a bigger job they can earn extra stars for, like washing the car.

Chores and stars in one app

Bopstars is a free star chart and family calendar made in Ireland. Set daily or weekly tasks for each child, and they tick them off on their own screen. Give a star for jobs done well (there are ideas for every age built in, from “Filled the water bowl” to “Cooked a simple meal”), and let them save their stars for rewards you choose.

Questions parents ask

At what age should children start doing chores?

Children as young as 3 can help with simple jobs like tidying toys, putting clothes in the wash basket or feeding a pet with help. What matters is that the job suits their age and that they’re shown how.

How many chores should a child do?

For most children, two or three small daily jobs plus one bigger weekly job is enough. Start small and add more as the first ones become habits.

Should children be paid for doing chores?

It’s up to each family. Some link pocket money to chores; others expect everyday jobs as part of family life and pay or reward only for extra jobs. A star chart sits well with either approach.

How do I get my child to do chores without nagging?

Keep the list short, tie jobs to daily routines, do them together at first, and notice and reward the job when it’s done rather than reminding before it.