There are daily household chores and weekly household chores. What's the difference? Some cleanup tasks need to be done each day to keep the house from turning into a chaotic mess. Examples include picking up toys, doing dishes and getting dirty clothes to the laundry hamper. Other chores can be done weekly and the house feels clean until the next week. Examples include vacuuming, dusting, taking out trash and mopping the floor.
You may wonder how young is too young for daily chores. The answer is simple: The younger kids are when they learn to pitch in, the easier they will accept it as a part of family life. Kids as young as age two can have daily chores. They will need supervision, but getting praise for doing their part will help them feel important and valuable. In fact, kids of all ages should receive praise rather than rewards for doing the basic daily chores. If they go above and beyond the call of duty, that may be reason for special recognition. Some families make chores a requirement before an allowance is paid.
Not all the chores on the list need be assigned every day. Rotation is a good idea and breaks up the monotony. Siblings can rotate, if they wish. All that matters is that chores get finished every day.
Here is a list, organized by age, of daily chores that kids are capable of taking on:
Ages 2-3
Ages 4-5
Ages 6-8
Ages 9-12
Teens
Always remember to give positive reinforcement, praise and thanks to kids for completing their chores. It makes kids feel good and it will help them see chores as a responsibility to be proud of rather than a burden. If your child is overwhelmed with homework or just tired out, you can let the chores go for a day. Try to keep things in balance and in perspective.
 | Household chores for kids can help encourage responsibility, independence and confidence, build self-esteem and help a child feel like a valuable member of the family. |
 | Family chore charts empower children by showing them the important role they play in maintaining a home. This can make it easier to get those chores done. |
 | A household chore list shows how everyone contributes. Combined with some motivational strategies, a chore list can help to keep your household running smoothly. |
If parents expect kids to pitch in with chores, they instill good values about work and responsibility. In fact, maybe letting your toddler make a sandwich or fold socks is the first building block of a better world. |
It is extremely important that we teach our children personal responsibility. After all, we want them to understand, fully and completely, that they are an important and productive part of the family system. |
