Chores
Age-appropriate chores from 3 to 18
8 July 2026 · 6 min read · The Family Thrive Team
What children can genuinely manage at each age — and how to hand over responsibility without a battle.
Chores are not free labour. They're how children learn that a home is something everyone builds. The trick is matching the job to the age so it's a stretch, not a struggle.
Ages 3–5
- Put toys in the box
- Carry their plate to the sink
- Feed the pet with help
- Put dirty clothes in the basket
- Choose tomorrow's clothes
Ages 6–9
- Make their bed
- Set and clear the table
- Pack their own school bag
- Water the garden
- Sort the washing
Ages 10–13
- Load and unload the dishwasher
- Vacuum a room
- Take out the bins
- Make a simple supper once a week
- Look after their own laundry
Ages 14–18
- Plan and cook a family meal
- Manage their own schedule and deadlines
- Help with the weekly shop
- Basic budgeting with their reward points or allowance
- Support a younger sibling's routine
Hand each new chore over properly: do it together twice, watch once, then step back. Approval at the end matters — children want the work seen.
Put this into practice with Family Thrive
Routines, chores, rewards and the family calendar in one shared place.
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