By the time children are in elementary school, they can handle a variety of house chores. They’re also eager to do things for themselves and often enjoy helping the family. The following are age-appropriate chores for kids in elementary school.

Daily Kids' Chore List

  • Make the bed. The goal isn’t military style perfection but rather a neat appearance that can foster pride in their space. You may wish to set a time for this task, such as before breakfast, leaving for school, or going out to play. Younger children can strip the bed on laundry day and add the sheets to the laundry basket.
  • Set the table. Kids can get dishes out of cupboards, set each place, and pour drinks. You can rotate this task among siblings to prevent boredom and give everyone a turn.
  • Clear the table. Besides clearing the dishes, children can put away condiments and clean the table and placemats.
  • Feed a pet; walk a dog. Taking care of an animal can teach empathy as well as responsibility. Children this age can learn what and when to feed the pet, as well as when, where, and how long to walk a dog. To make sure the pet is cared for properly, monitor these chores until they become habits.
  • Make lunch. If your child takes a lunch to school, then he or she can help prepare and pack it. Making his or her lunch can also reduce complaints about the contents. (Give kids options that ensure their lunch includes healthy foods.)

Weekly Chores for Kids

  • Fold laundry. Your kids can help sort laundry and fold and put away their clothes. Younger children can pair socks or fold towels. Sorting laundry together has another benefit: extra time to talk to one another.
  • Vacuum. Children can vacuum their rooms (after picking up clutter from the floor) and can also be assigned other areas in the house to vacuum.
  • Dust. Give children a duster or have them use old socks on their hands to dust walls and furniture. Avoid having young children use chemical sprays when dusting.
  • Sort recyclables. Teaching children about recycling can begin early. Children can crush plastic milk bottles, stack newspapers, and sort cans (make sure there are no sharp lids sticking out). They can also make sire that recyclables go into the storage area and not the garbage.
  • Do light yard work. Working outdoors can improve kids’ health, as well as help them concentrate better, be less stressed, and do better in school. If you have a garden—or even a flowerbox—assign a child responsibility for weeding and watering. Children can also help rake leaves and shovel snow.
To help you and your kids keep track of their chore commitment, create a Chore Contract and Chore Chart. For a sample of each, click on the following links:
[sample chore chart] [sample chore contract]