Chores for children.

Sylvia - posted on 01/02/2011

My DD is 8. She's responsible for busing her own dishes after meals (to sink or dishwasher as appropriate), helping to unload the dishwasher, helping to fold the laundry, putting away her own clean laundry, putting her dirty laundry in the hamper, helping me change the sheets on her bed (she usually helps with our bed, too, because she thinks it's fun), and taking out the garbage. I suppose I could decide she's responsible for making her bed and keeping her room tidy, but since DH (who gets up later) never makes our bed, and the rest of the flat tends not to be tidy either, I would feel like a bit of a hypocrite :P

Tracey - posted on 12/31/2010

I ask my daughter to pick up her toys in her room and to keep it clean shes got some ocd so she keeps it pretty clean... and she puts her own plate and fork spoon etc in the sink when shes finished eating...

CONNIE - posted on 12/30/2010

Having children do chores teaches them resonsibility.My Daughter will be 7 in Feb. and she has to clean her toys up If she makes any mess in the Living room she has to pick it up,she helps with the setting of the dinner table and clearing her dishes.Maybe try giving her a allowence or at the end of the week Treasure box Items that you can find at a thrift store or the Dollar store or give her computer time or If you have a WII game system That is awesome for bribeing her to do her stuff,Works wonders for mine.If you want computer time or play with the games you must clean your room! And then at the end of the week Reward her with a little something from the treasure box when they do all their homework.Do not care what anyone says I am all for bribery! Works wonders with mine! And I can see that she is understanding more of what responsibility means.

Laura - posted on 12/30/2010

Sure do! I have a 7yr old and a 2yr old. My elder child is responsible for cleaning her room and making sure she cleans up after herself in general (ie: she makes a mess she helps clean it). My younger child is well very young, but i still have him scrape his plate and put it in the sink and have him clean up his toys (as much as he can). My husband and I have decided to make a chores price list for her to make money. Vaccumming is $3, dusting is $3 that kindof thing. That way if she wants something she can go do these chores to earn an allowance. But we do not pay them to be responsible members of the family (clean their rooms etc.) Good luck!!

Amanda - posted on 12/30/2010

i have had my daughters helping with sorting, folding, and putting away clothing when i am doing laundry...must clean up toys properly...oh and holding the vacuum cord up in the air so it is out of the way as i vaccuum.....But these were all things my daughters volunteered for...we spoke about what they thought they could do/ willing to do

Shannon - posted on 12/30/2010

My son is also learning how to make his bed. It may not be pretty, but he's trying!

Sheri - posted on 12/29/2010

My 6 yr old has a Job Chart that has even little things on it like brushing her teeth daily & putting dirty clothes in her hamper. I keep it posted on her wall next to her door & when she wakes in the morning, she knows what's expected of her.At the end of the week when she's completed her "jobs," she is rewarded. I even go as far as putting on her chart to take her Asthma meds & it's a great reminder that I don't have to tell her to do everyday. She knows she's meeting expectations & learning responsibility at the same time!

Margaret - posted on 12/28/2010

i have a 6yo & 8yo and they do make their beds, put their shoes away after wearing them, tidy table after meals & bring dishes to the sink, get their school shoes, bag & uniform ready the night before. retrieve any toys, rubbish & bags from the car. responsible for their ds consoles ie charging them..... it doesnt hurt for them to be responsible and making it about helping the family together and they dont become lazy as they get older...:)

Tammy - posted on 12/28/2010

My youngest child is 6 and I let her help me with dishes. Both of my children clean their room and pick up after themselves. I think thats all the chores that children need until they get to be around 10.

Janine - posted on 12/24/2010

My 5 year old is responsible for packing up her toys. I will occasionally help her out with this - but most of the time it is her job to do that... She will often help me fold washing and also to vacuum. If my kids are home when I do the housework I will often give them both a job to help with. The other day my 9 year old cleaned the toilet and wiped down the handbasin and my 5 year old cleaned up all the toys on the floor (including 9 year olds toys) and both children helped me put away their clothes.

Fiona - posted on 12/23/2010

Just realised I referred to DD2 as both 14 & 15 month old! She has just turned 15 months

Fiona - posted on 12/23/2010

I have a 4 years old and a 15 month old. Both mine to chores, my 4 year old will clear her plates away and those of her sister, she will hoover, dust, and even baby wipe the floor. She will tidy her bedroom and run and fetch things.
These are nbot things that she has to do everyday apart from the plates, but are things that when I am doing stuff she asks to do.
My 14 month old often steals a babywipe and wipes the floor :D
i think its good for both of them and that they are successful at these things.
PLease don't think I am working them to death I am not, nor that I am making my youngest do lots - she does it as part of a game, like wiping her face and hands!

Jeanna - posted on 12/22/2010

my 6 yr old loves to feed our cat, put folded clothes in his dresser or bring clothes out of bathroom to be washed.

Ellen - posted on 12/21/2010

For 5 to 6 year olds: Setting the table, putting the silverware away from the dishwasher, feeding the dog, watering plants, bringing the garbage cans in from the curb, picking up their toys, putting their folded clothes in the drawer.

Sherri - posted on 12/20/2010

My 4yr old has been doing chores since he was 3. He has to feed the dog, let him in and out, put away the silverware in the drawer, put his dirty clothes in laundry, clean his room and put away his toys.

Julie-Ann - posted on 12/20/2010

My daughter is now nearly 10, and it has been a battle since she about 3 to do anything she asked. She is hyperactive, and her father and I divorced 4 years ago, i with new husband for the last 3 years, he very supportive of what I say to daughter, but still she pushes the boundaries. She does not do anything to help around the house, or her room. I have now left her room, and she knows unless she does it she will not be allowed out to play or have friends in. She also started puberty about 6 months ago and has bad underarm pong, she got no self confidence, refuses to wear anti-persperant, dresses anyhow, although she got nice clothes, and refuses to comb her hair, or let anyone do it. Her dirty washing never goes in her own wash basket, i do, once a week , pick up dirty washing to wash, but that is it. Help, what can I do!

Holly - posted on 12/19/2010

My oldest daughter just turned 8 in September and she has had chores for about 2 years now. She has gotten a few extra the last year. She cleans her room, cleans her spot and her younger sisters spot at the table, takes out the garbage and recycle, and cleans their stuff in the living room. Seams like a lot when you list it out, but she can get them done in about 30 minutes on a good day. And all except the garbage is her own mess, so we try teaching her to clean up after herself. She doesn't like doing them all, so we tell her to clean up after herself and she won't have that big of a mess to clean up later.

Melanie - posted on 12/18/2010

start her with cleaning her own room, and if she showers on her own removing her stuff from the bathroom to the laundry basket. At 8 or 9 mine started with learning how to load the dishwasher and sort and fold laundry. For my youngest, who is autistic, their is only one chore. He helps me cook dinner at least 3 times a month and has his own kitchen tools to use.

Michelle - posted on 12/17/2010

my kids have to clean up their play area and keep their rooms tidy

Crystal - posted on 12/17/2010

Definitely agree with the other ladies -- laundry sorting and folding, and putting her stuff away too. Maybe vaccuming her room? Helping put plastic dishes away (unless you trust her enuf to help with the glass ones too). :)

Candi - posted on 12/17/2010

Thanks! These have been really helpful and have given me quite a few ideas for my daughter. I love the idea of doing it together. That way she gets to spend time with me and feel like she is being a grown up and a helper together. I think that will work wonderfully well for her. She has been wanting money so she can buy things and I think a weekly allowance is great and her chores will be a great way to earn that money. Thanks everybody!

Erin - posted on 12/17/2010

Sure! My 7 and 3 year old help me with all kinds of things!
Do you have a small vaccuum? We have one of those little shark ones and they both love to use it. It's easy for them to push around. They are required to pick up toys for sure, but we do have a good time turning the music on and getting the house scrubbed down : )
My daughter can clean windows...I taught her how to stand away when she's spraying the Windex so she's not breathing it all in. They both rinse dishes as I wash them, and they put them in the drying rack. My daughter also dusts all the wood furniture, careful not to breathe in the pledge. She also likes to fold laundry. Of course, I don't always get perfect results from a 3 and 7 year old, but hey, we're doing it together and they think it's fun to help me. As long as it gets done in some way, shape or form right?

Angie - posted on 12/17/2010

At 5 my children kept their rooms tidy, put their dirty laundry in the correct baskets in the laundry room, cleared and set the table, washed dishes after I rinsed them off, dusted and vacumed. Of course with the exception of their rooms and picking up their laundry, these weren't daily chores. It gave them a sense of pride and responsibility, a feeling of ownership of our home. Their pay for this? Food, shelter and clothing.

Katie - posted on 12/17/2010

My son at age 5 asked for his own money so i told him he would have to earn it. For a weekly allowance he has to make his bed and open his curtains in the morning. He has to keep his room tidy and set the table for dinner and put his things in the dishwasher when he is finished. He is happy to do these things and likes to have his £1 a week pocket money which he spends or saves as he wishes.. Good luck.

Monica - posted on 12/17/2010

My daughters started to make their own beds at 6, to the best of their ability. If it does not matter to you that the bed is not perfectly made, this is a good one for them to get in the habit of doing. As they get older their skill of this improves.

Silvia - posted on 12/16/2010

My son, who is now 17 and a freshman in college, used to help around with laundry, putting away his toys at the end of the day, even helped me cook, set the table or clean after dinner. He was responsible for keeping his room clean and tidy. When he was a bit older (maybe 6 or 7) he'd even vacuum the house and help in the backyard.

He enjoyed doing chores when we did it together. I had a full time job, so it was part of our quality time together and a great time to talk too. He always wanted to feel like a grown up and doing chores with me, made him feel like a grown up and a responsible member of the family.


I think the key for her not to feel like she's doing chores is to do things together (even if you are doing one thing, while she is helping with another) as well as consistency, e.g. put everything away in her room at the end of the day.


Hope this helps

Candy - posted on 12/16/2010

I have a 5 and 6 year. They put up their own panties and socks after I have folded them. They clear the table also. They have a playroom they have to clean it up once a week so I can vacume in there. It is hard to think of things because I am a stay at home mom I need something to do. I know I need to give them chores but I feel I dont have anything else to do. Those are few they do.

Candi - posted on 12/16/2010

Thanks Irene! I am really hoping to find some chores that my daughter will love doing. I don't want her to hate her chores. I just see no problem with her helping and making it fun at the same time.

Irene - posted on 12/16/2010

Hi, my daughter is almost 4 1/2 and I have always taught her to be responsible through doing different chores. Not because I can't do them myself, but because I feel they will offer her useful lessons. She actually has fun doing them because they make her feel 'important' and that she is contributing. She waits for the washing machine to be done and then empties it...the same applies to the dish washer. She helps hang the clothes,dust here and there and she loves to sweep. We have fun doing chores and the best part is that my 21 month old wants to join in on the fun too. I couldn't be happier!! Having kids do chores is a fun way to teach them many useful life skills...responsibility, co-operation (when we do them together) etc. So, to make a long story short, I agree with you in believing that it is time to get your daughter more involved. However,never oblige her to because this takes all the 'fun' out of it and she may become negative towards the idea. I hope my opinion helped.