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Kids and Chores

image By Professional Organizer Lea Schneider

My little buddy here is awful cute. Do you think he is ready to do chores?

Maybe not but he is close!

If you are wondering when your child can do chores, the answer is right now. If they are old enough to make you think of the question, chances are they are old enough to do chores.

Pretty soon little buddy will be walking. That's just the right time to encourage him to help out. Each morning, he can help you drop his dirty pajamas in the basket or hamper while you clap and cheer. Pretty soon, he'll toddle over to the basket as a matter of routine. That's how you start doing chores with little ones.

Keep in mind that they don't know it is a chore unless you make a face or a fuss. As long as you are happy and cheer them on, they'll be happy to adapt to any routine you put in front of them. If you've an older child and are reading this, keep in mind that the older child can most likely play sophisticated video games and operate a computer. That means they are most likely ready to operate a vacuum and a dishwaster too.

Here are some beginning chores for little people. Remember to work with them before growing to the expectation they can do it alone. These kinds of activities teach your child that everything has a home and how to begin to organize.


Place dirty clothes in hamper.
Put tub toys in a container.
Put toys in bins.
Return story books to a shelf.
Place their backpack by the door so it is ready for morning.
Set their place at the table providing you put the plastic dishes in a lower cabinet.
Place clean socks in their drawer.
Stack canned goods on a shelf.
Put spoons away in the silverware drawer.
Help you dust while you hang on to the spray cleaner.
Help with outside chores like watering the plants or washing the car. They can help and it is okay if they make a mess.
Lay out their outfit for the next day.

Rules of the Road: Be cheerful. Praise your child's efforts. Include them when safely possible in household tasks. Work with them so that you do these things together. Grow them into the role of doing things for themselves.