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Household Chores for Kids

Remember when your kids were just tots and loved to “help” around the house? We bet you even have some pictures of little Johnny dusting while Suzy swooshed the broom around and stirred up even more dust for Johnny to get rid of. But as kids get older, they quickly lose interest in anything that resembles a household chore, unless perhaps there is a dollar sign attached to it.

And yet, experts agree that children who participate in chores may be more responsible, have higher self-esteem, and may even be better equipped to handle delayed gratification. Here are some age-appropriate chores your kids can start today.

Age 2 to 3

• Pick up toys after playtime
• Hang up clothes on low hooks and put shoes away
• Help unbag groceries

Age 3 to 5

• Help feed your four-legged family members
• Show them how to pull up and smooth out their bedspread and put their pillow in its place
• Clear the table (after you clear away any sharp utensils and dishware)

Age 5 to 8

• Fold and put away their own laundry
• Wipe down counters with a clean rag
• Sweep the floors
• Load and unload the dishwasher, again being careful with sharp and fragile items
• Pack their own lunches
• Take out the trash

Age 8 to 12

• Strip and make their bed
• Help clean the kitchen and bathrooms
• Rake the yard and plant flowers
• Walk and clean-up after the dog and clean out the cat’s litter box

Age 13 to 16

• Vacuum and wash the car
• Babysit younger siblings.
• Help with meal prep

No doubt you can add greatly to each sub-category and, for the sake of your kids, we hope you do. Of course, there are plenty of things your kids can’t do and, for that matter, you probably can’t either. Among them are maintaining and repairing your plumbing, heating and cooling systems. Then again, you don’t need those skills when you have Messmer Mechanical around to lend all our expertise to the cause of your family’s enhanced indoor comfort.