Let’s be real—household chores don’t stop. But if you’ve got little ones at home, there’s no reason the youngest family members can’t jump in and help out. Younger kids may not scrub the toilet bowl, mop floors, or vacuum mattresses, but they can absolutely take on simple, age-appropriate personal chores that reduce your workload and build their confidence.The trick is choosing the right age-appropriate chores when decluttering your home ones that are safe, repetitive, and easy to work into your household chore schedule. These eight jobs are perfect for children and can be included in any weekly and monthly chores, daily cleaning, or your ultimate household chores checklist.
1. Putting Things Away
Start with one of the easiest tasks you can add to your ultimate household chores list for kids: picking up toys and books. Show your child where everything belongs—baskets, bins, or shelves—and turn clean-up into a game. Use picture labels if your child is still learning to read. This simple task can include putting away remote controls, picture frames, and books to where they belong
This task helps reduce clutter in high-traffic areas like the living room and supports organization. It’s even helpful when you need to keep the playroom clutter-free. It’s a no-brainer addition to any list of household chores or weekly chore list and builds habits that grow with them.
2. Wiping Down Tables After Meals
After breakfast, lunch, or dinner, hand your child a damp microfiber cloth to do a quick wipe down of the kitchen or dining table. This basic task reinforces responsibility and hygiene.
It’s a great example of a daily household chore that can be completed with minimal supervision. As they grow more confident, they can also tackle kitchen chores like wiping the kitchen sink and the cabinets, helping with the ingredients while you’re busy preparing meals, and even cleaning upholstered furniture arms where crumbs hide.
3. Sorting Laundry by Colors
Turn laundry chores into a sorting game. Teach your child how to separate lights, darks, and whites before wash day. This reinforces patterns and attention to detail.
This task fits well into a weekly household chores plan and teaches responsibility for clean clothes early on. It also reduces your prep time in the laundry room, especially if you wash several loads for the whole family per week.
4. Feeding Pets and Cleaning Up Spills
Let your child help fill the pet’s food bowl or water dish each day. Keep a hand towel nearby so they can also wipe up any food waste or spills on the kitchen floor.
It’s a meaningful way to teach consistency and empathy. Include it on your daily chores or weekly chores list depending on how often the task is needed. Just supervise when necessary to avoid overfeeding—or a mess.
5. Watering Houseplants
Give your little one a small watering can and show them how to gently water the base of your indoor greenery. Start with one plant and add more as they get the hang of it.
This chore fits nicely into weekly cleaning tasks or monthly tasks depending on the plant. It’s also a good intro to outdoor chores if you have a garden or patio area. Plus, specific tasks like this one teach patience and care—no power wash. It’s not just about sharing chores to keep the house clean or just for the sake of giving them their own to-do list which is a common parenting mistake.
6. Making the Bed in the Morning
A simple task like making the bed can become part of your child’s daily cleaning routine. Whether it’s smoothing out the blankets, straightening the pillows, or fluffing the sheets, this routine sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.
If they’re up for it, you can also have them arrange the throw pillows on your upholstered furniture or even help fold blankets for extra credit. This household task reinforces good habits in maintaining a clean house that will stick with them as they get older.
7. Putting Plastic Dishes in the Dishwasher
Involving kids when you clean the kitchen. doesn’t need to be a big deal. Have your child place dirty dishes into the dishwasher. They can handle safe items like plastic cups, plates, and bowls, leaving the more fragile or sharp items for you.
This is an ideal task for a household chores checklist. It’s simple, effective, and helps build a sense of responsibility while keeping your kitchen clean.
8. Wiping Doorknobs and Light Switches
Doorknobs and light switches get touched all day long, making them prime candidates for cleaning. Give your child a cloth and some glass cleaner, and let them clean these high-touch surfaces in your home, like the wood furniture in your living room or the shower doors in the bathroom. They don’t necessarily have to help out when you deep clean the house. This task can be easily added to your weekly household chores or monthly chores, depending on how often you like to clean these areas.
By teaching your child to clean doorknobs and switches, you’re helping them learn hygiene and maintaining a cleaner home. Plus, it’s a small chore that makes a big impact, particularly when they’re trying to learn how to manage their own time.