When I first married my husband, I often wondered if he was actually taught how to do housework as a young lad. It wasn’t that he was a tad ordinary at it or anything. It was that he was dead set awful!! However, I’m grateful that after 15 years of marriage some of my Jedi Master cleaning skills have rubbed off onto him. 
At the time though, it made me think that when I had kids, I was going to teach them how to do housework. I want them to make great housemates or spouses one day. Yes, it’s a long term plan, but it’s now in action.
I have three delightful children who since an early age have been ‘expected’ to do their bit around the house. We have told them that to manage a home we all need to work together – as a team. It is easier to introduce them to this concept while they are still young. Trying to introduce this idea when they’re older is like parental mutiny from a child’s point of view. Can’t you just imagine your 10 year old saying, “Why on Earth do you want me to help suddenly when you’ve been doing it all this time?! NOT FAIR!”
Although Steve and I still do most things, we are very proud of our kids for doing their part. Their work isn’t currently to the standard I would expect of myself, but this is to be expected. They’re still learning. A quality performance from them is the fact that they do it when they need to. Perfection is not an option in a home where kids are being encouraged to try the new and master the old.
In saying all this, our kids are not saints, there are the occasional moans. They are after all, only human. They do not get money for doing chores. We treat pocket money and/or allowances separately to helping around the home. If they want to earn some money we have other things they can be doing, but more about that another time.
So what are some age appropriate jobs for kids? Good question. This list shows what each of our children do around the home. It hopefully demonstrates that kids are capable of more than we often think.
Chores for a 10 yr old (my son):
- clears his dishes – including scraping, rinsing and placing in dishwasher (daily)
- makes his bed (daily)
- takes the recycling bin out (daily)
- makes his lunch on non-activity nights for himself and his sister (every second day)
- sweeps the meals area and kitchen (every other day)
- does the outside bins (weekly)
- brings his dirty clothes basket to the laundry (weekly)
- cleans his room (fortnightly or on request)
- vacuums upstairs (bi-monthly)
- runs up to the local shop (on request)
- helps with dinner (when he feels like it but I hope to make this a weekly event soon)
Chores for a 6 yr old (my middle daughter):
- clears her dishes – including scraping (daily)
- makes her bed (daily)
- feeds the cats (daily)
- sets table (daily)
- makes her lunch on non-activity nights for herself and her brother (every second day – still consolidating this one)
- mum’s chore – this is a small ‘off the top of my head’ task (every other day)
- cleans her playroom (fortnightly or on request)
- cleans basin (bi-monthly)
Chores for a 4 yr old (my youngest daughter):
- clears her dishes – including scraping (daily)
- makes her bed (daily)
- gives the cats water (daily)
- fills the toilet roll holders (every other day)
- cleans her playroom (fortnightly or on request – needs lots of encouragement and help)
- dusts (bi-monthly)
It is a long list but our kids are definitely not slaves. Often these jobs take a minute or two. And surprisingly there are times when extra jobs get done without me even knowing.
I have to admit that with three kids it is often hard to get them to learn and do a new task. This is how I’ve tended to introduce new tasks:
- Help mummy
- Mummy helps
- Mummy watches
- Mummy encourages
- Mummy gives helpful tips
- Mummy steps in (when we’re over tired or just plain over it)
- Mummy takes a deep breath and starts again (when we hit a hump)
Notice how it’s mostly about Mummy? That’s NO MISTAKE. It will always take more effort on our part to get our children to ‘work’. They would always prefer to play…understandably. Like I said though, this is just the initial stage.
Once it becomes second nature to them, you often don’t even notice. Especially when it’s become part of their routine. I can quite easily even forget about it. We do have a Cleaning Roster for backup though. Everyone knows what they need to be doing on any given day because it’s clearly written down. We also use the kids Routine Charts if chores need to be done at a particular time.
We’re just your average family trying to do our best to raise our kids to be responsible adults. I’m hoping that the investment we’re putting in now will pay dividends for our kids in their adult lives.
If you’d like to make a start in encouraging your kids to help around your home then enter our Giveaway to win 1 of 4 Cleaning Rosters. Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below and I’ll contact you if you win. Good luck!
I think that I should start making my 3 children rinse their dishes and put them in the dish washer. The kids do alot around the house but we don’t have a roster and its not consistent. Those charts are really inspiring
These charts scare the hell out of me to be honest, I am severely challenged by the thought of our lives being so organised! However, with no. 2 on the way perhaps I need to re-consider our somewhat more relaxed approach to household chores (on the part of all parties, this is one Mum who doesn’t vacuum weekly!)
I have found the more organised I am the more time I have for what I really love to do so the more enjoyable my life
Great post!!
My kids are doing some of the things you mentioned but have found a few more to add.
They asked me if I could have it written up for them so these are a great idea.
We soooooooooo need these charts. With 4 kids I am often overwhelmed by mess and keep thinking, I really should get them doing SOMETHING…This would help me get organised!
My kids are just getting to the age where they can independently do some chores. This is just what we need to keep them on track.
My kids make their beds, load and unload the washing machine and help hang out washing (on a little clothes line) as well as tidy the toy room when asked but we don’t have it as a routine. I would love the charts though for more consistency and more accountability.
Yes please ! I’m trying to put this into practise and it would help
This is a great post, and very similar to some of the chores my children do who are similar ages… however I will admit
I am no where near as organized as you and find myself still reminding them daily of what they need to do! I am going to look at that chart link asap! Thanks
p.s. the links for the charts & rosters don’t go to any information.
Hi Judi. Yes, the links are currently down but hopefully only for a few short days. We are changing internet providers and the site coming down was unavoidable unfortunately. It should be back up next week. Thanks heaps for spotting!