Chore chart for kids: ideas by age, and how to keep going
A good chore chart gives children jobs they can actually do, keeps the list short, and makes progress visible. Here are age-by-age ideas, plus the habits that keep a chart going past the first week.
Age-by-age ideas
Every child is different, so treat these as starting points and adjust to what yours can manage safely.
Ages 2 to 4
- Put toys back in their box
- Put dirty clothes in the washing basket
- Help wipe up a spill
- Help feed the pet (with you right there)
Ages 5 to 7
- Make their bed (the lumpy version counts)
- Set or clear the table
- Pack their school bag the night before
- Water the plants
Ages 8 to 11
- Load or unload the dishwasher
- Help make their lunch
- Take the bins out
- Tidy their room and put away their own washing
Ages 12 and up
- Do their own laundry
- Cook a simple meal each week
- Look after the pet's daily routine
- Mow the lawn or wash the car, with supervision as appropriate
Make it stick
- Keep the list short. Three to five jobs. A long chart gets ignored.
- Be specific about "done". "Tidy room" means different things to different people. "Clothes in the basket, books on the shelf, bed made" is clear.
- Make it visible. A chart on the fridge that children can tick or add stickers to works better than one on a phone for younger kids.
- Do it alongside them at first. Show, do it together, then let them do it alone.
- Pick a regular time. After school, before screens, or after dinner. Attach the job to something that already happens.
- Don't redo their work in front of them. Accept "good enough" and raise the standard gradually.
- Decide about pocket money up front. Families differ: some pay for extra jobs only and treat the basics as part of living in the house. Whatever you choose, be consistent.
- Refresh it each term. Charts go stale. Rotate jobs or swap the layout when interest drops.
When it stalls
Almost every chart stalls at some point. Don't read it as a failure. Cut the list back to one or two jobs, restart on a Monday, and keep your own side of the deal: if you're not noticing and thanking, the chart quietly loses its point.
Where TickOff fits, honestly
For young children, a paper chart on the fridge usually beats an app: they can see it, touch it and add their own stickers. TickOff accounts are for teenagers and adults (it isn't designed for children under 13), so it's most useful for teens with their own phone, and for the adults coordinating who's supervising which job.
With a teen in your group you can assign a chore to them, set it to repeat each week, and have the reminder go to them rather than coming from you. And the adults can use the same list for the household jobs. See our guide to splitting chores fairly.
Common questions
Should chores be paid?
There's no single right answer. Some families link pocket money to extra jobs only; others keep chores and pocket money separate. Pick an approach, explain it to the kids and stick to it.
What if my child refuses?
Start smaller. One simple job done reliably is better than a full chart ignored. Offering a choice between two jobs can help, too.