Chore checklist printable

Chore Chart Ideas for Kids 2-7

You can use a blank chore chart as a guideline and complete it with the chores that are right for your kids' ages and maturity levels. The chart focuses on attention and accountability.

For the young ones, you can consider a chore chart that uses pictures instead of words.

Here are somesuggestions for age-appropriate chores [with your supervision]:

Ages 2 and 3

Personal Chores:

• Help straighten beds
• Pick up toys and put them back in their storage place

Family Chores:

• Put dirty laundry in the laundry basket
• Fill the pet's water bowl
• Help clean up spills and dirt

Ages 4 and 5

Personal Chores:

• Get dressed [with a little help]
• Make the bed [with a little help]
• Help bring in bags from the car
• Pick up the toys
• Wash hands
• Brush teeth

Family Chores:

• Set the table with supervision
• Clear the table with supervision
• Help withfood preparation
• Helpcarry in the lighter groceries
• Sort the laundry [whites vs. colors]
• Match socks [washed]
• Be responsible for a pet's food and water bowl
• Straighten towels

Ages 6 and 7

Personal Chores:

• Make bed every day
• Brush teeth
• Comb hair
• Choose the day's outfit and get dressed

Family Chores:

• Be responsible for a pet's food, water, and exercise
• Vacuum individual rooms
• Fold laundry with supervision
• Put laundry in drawers and closets
• Put away dishes from the dishwasher
• Help prepare food with supervision

Chore Chart Ideas for Kids 8-18

It seems that up to age 11 the chore chart is a boon and then it becomes a bane. Nevertheless, everyone in the family must pull their weight. Consider using a blank chore chart to fill in with age-appropriate weekly chores. For the older kids, responsibilities may begin to expand outside of the home to jobs where they are expected to earn some spending money.

Ages 8 to 11

Personal Chores:

• Personal hygiene [showering, teeth, etc.]
• Keep bedroom neat andclean
• Be responsible for homework
• Be responsible for belongings
• Wake up using an alarm clock

Family Chores:

• Wash dishes
• Help wash the family car
• Help plan and prepare a few easy meals
• Clean the bathroom with supervision
• Rake leaves
• Learn to use the washer and dryer
• Put all laundry away with supervision
• Take the trash can to the curb for pick up

Ages 12 and 13

Personal Chores:

• Take care of personal hygiene, belongings, and homework
• Set the alarm clock
• Maintain personal items, such as recharging batteries
• Change bed sheets
• Keep rooms tidy

Family Chores:

• Change light bulbs
• Change the vacuum bag
• Dust, vacuum, clean bathrooms and do dishes
• Clean mirrors
• Mow the lawn with supervision
• Babysit [in most states]
• Prepare an occasional family meal

Ages 14 and 15

Personal Chores:

• Responsible for all personal chores for ages 12 and 13
• Responsible for library card and books

Family Chores:

• Do assigned housework without prompting
• Do yard work as needed
• Babysit
• Prepare food from making a grocery list and buying the items [with supervision] to serving a meal occasionally
• Wash windows with supervision

Ages 16 to 18

Personal Chores:

• Responsible for all personal chores for ages 14 and 15
• Responsible for earning spending money and to develop their own budget
• Responsible for purchasing their own clothes
• Responsible for maintaining any car they drive [e.g., gas, oil changes, tire pressure, etc.]

Family Chores:

• Do housework as needed
• Do yard work as needed
• Prepare family meals - from grocery list to serving the meal as needed
• Deep cleaning of household appliances, such as defrosting the freezer, as needed

Family Chore List

It may be more advantageous for you to prepare and publish a family chore list where every member of the family has their daily or weekly responsibilities in one place. Here's an example of a great family chore chart that you can print and use.