Making your kids do chores can do more than just keep the house tidy and clean. According to multiple studies, kids who do chores have better relationships with their families and friends, perform better academically, and are more self-sufficient.
That being said, it wouldn’t be wise to try and get your 3-year-old to do all the dishes after a meal.
Picking a chore that is age-appropriate for your child is important, but sometimes it can be difficult figuring out what your kids can handle.
Luckily, our friends over at Happy Healthy Mama came up with a handy chart that breaks down what chores are best for each age.
The chart is based on the Montessori education system, which places an emphasis on fostering age-appropriate independence in kids.
You can start your kids off doing simple chores at ages 2 and 3, and then they can work their way up to more complex and in-depth chores as they get older.
As you can see, setting the table could be an appropriate task for a 3-year-old, whereas hand-washing larger dishes is a chore better left to an 8- or 9-year-old child.
While a 4-year-old may be able to help put away groceries, simple food prep is probably easiest a couple years later, around age 6 or 7.
By ages 10 and 11, it wouldn’t be out of the question to expect a child to prepare a simple meal. And, perhaps surprisingly, a 12- or 13-year-old is likely capable of tackling an entire meal on his or her own.
(Of course, it should be noted that these are just averages. You know your own child, and can best assess what he or she is capable of. This chart can simply help provide a helpful baseline.)
Check out the chart below for some helpful guidance about what your kids can do around the house.
What types of kitchen chores do you ask your children to help out with at home?
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