Age-Appropriate Chores Plus a FREE Printable!

*I was given a vacuum in return for an honest review.  All opinions are 100% my own!

When I was little, my parents gave my sister and I chores to do.  My chores were to:

• Dust the den, my room and the dining room
• Set the dinner table
• Empty the bottom of the dishwasher (those items were easiest for me to put away because I was tiny)
• Make my bed every morning

I definitely started doing chores WAY before my boys have.  Well, actually they haven’t really started just yet.  We ask them to do things around the house every now and then like taking out the garbage pails and bringing them back into the garage at the end of the day, but that’s about it.

I decided it was about time that they learned responsibility, and in turn can earn some extra cash to buy the little things they like or put it into their savings account.  I researched age-appropriate chores for the boys and some of the items that were listed as chores were a bit odd.  For example brushing one’s teeth was listed on one site as a chore.  Isn’t that personal hygiene and something someone should not be compensated for?

Maybe that’s debatable (??), but either way, I decided to make what I feel is an appropriate age-based chore chart.

Chores for 3 – 5 year olds

• Pick up toys
• Help set and clean table
• Help to keep bedroom neat
• Put dirty laundry in hamper
• Help water plants (with supervision)

Chores for 6 – 8 year olds

• All chores above, plus vacuuming floors
• Take trash cans out and back to house when emptied
• Feed pets
• Bring in the mail/newspapers
• Clean up after themselves in the bathroom – wipe down sink after brushing teeth, clean off countertop
• Help with folding laundry (my boys help with sock sorting which is a task unto itself in our house!)
• Unload dishwasher

Chores for 9 – 12 year olds

• All chores above, plus helping to prepare meals
• Make their lunch for school
• Clean up after pets
• Dust
• Make their beds in the morning
• Put away their own laundry
• Rake leaves and help keep exterior of the home neat

Chores for 12 year olds and up

• All chores above, plus change their bedsheets
• Do loads of laundry
• Mop floor
• Mow the lawn
• Wash the car
• Clean kitchen

I’m sure there are so many that I’ve missed, as this list is a work-in-progress.

I started my youngest with vacuuming this past week.  When he was a baby he used to love to push things with wheels around – whether it was his toy car, a shopping cart or the vacuum.  One downfall to the vacuum was that it was hard to maneuver since he was tiny.  I had just received the new Shark Rocket Powerhead vacuum for free, in exchange for an honest review.  This vacuum instantly became my favorite because of the ability to alter the height of the handle.  The fact that I can very easily shorten the height of the handle is perfect for my son!

I told him to take it for a spin around the downstairs area, and here’s how he did:

The vacuum itself is quite light at only 9 pounds, and very easy to maneuver around the house.  It comes with two interchangeable brush rolls for different floor types.  I couldn’t believe how strong the suction is (there are two strength levels that you can choose from) and the amount of dirt that was in my rugs!  I like to believe I keep a very clean house, but when I cleaned out the vacuum after running it over my area rugs (which cleaning out the vacuum is super easy!) I was a bit grossed out, but glad my rugs were getting the cleaning they needed!

This vacuum made the introduction of my youngest son’s new chore a lot easier than I anticipated.  He actually enjoyed pushing it around, and was proud of the job he did at the end.

I’ve created the perfect reminder of what chores are best for each age group!  Print up my FREE printable and hang it on your fridge.