It can be hard to know what chores your child can handle, but as they get older, giving them age-appropriate tasks is an excellent way to build their work ethic and skill base. Not only do chores teach accountability but also responsibility.
Related: Chores for kids
Our favourite chores for 13-year-olds
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Make their bed
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Put away their belongings
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Fold and put away clean clothes
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Vacuum, sweep, and dust their room
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Set the table
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Rake leaves
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Sweep the driveway
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Wash the car
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Mow the lawn
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Weed the garden
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Homework
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Exam revision
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Getting prepped for school every day
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Sticking to curfews
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Budgeting pocket money
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Shower/bath
Why are chores important?
There are many benefits chores give your child, from how to care for themselves to the importance of organisation and accountability. When given regular chores, teens also realise they are in charge of their actions and must follow through to avoid consequences.
Chores also help kids to learn important life skills, such as organisation and teamwork. Plus, new research published in the National Library of Medicine found that giving chores to kids can boost feelings of autonomy and executive functions such as working memory and the ability to ignore distractions to focus on a task.
Here's what else chores can do for your 13 year old:
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Teach responsibility: Chores teach teens about responsibility as they learn that they are expected to contribute to the household and that they need to meet certain expectations.
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Help them understand the power of teamwork: Chores can help 13 year olds learn that they need to work together to get things done.
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Boost time management skills: Chores can help teens learn about time management and that they must budget their time wisely to get everything done.
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Cultivate self-worth: Chores can help teens develop a sense of self-worth as they realise they can contribute to their family and are valued members of the household.
Related: Family chore rota
Tips for approaching chores with 13-year-olds
Every family has an idea of the best chores for teens, but here are some tips to get started:
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Start small: Don't overwhelm your teen with too much at a time. Start with a few simple chores that they can easily manage.
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Make it fun: Chores don't have to be boring. Find ways to make chores fun for your teen, such as playing music or making chores into a game.
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Be positive: Positively praise your kids for their efforts, even if they don't do a perfect job. This will help them to feel good about themselves and to want to do more chores in the future.
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Be consistent: Don't expect your teen to do chores if you're unwilling to do them yourself. Be a role model for your teen and show them that chores are a normal part of life.
If you're stuck for ideas, here's our definitive chore list for 13-year-olds.
A chore list for 13-year-olds
Cleaning chores for 13-year olds
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Make their bed
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Put away their belongings
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Fold and put away clean clothes
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Vacuum, sweep, and dust their room
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Set the table
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Clear the table
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Load or unload the dishwasher
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Feed, walk, and play with pets
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Clean the bath/shower after they use it
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Bring dirty cups and plates down from their room
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Replace the toilet rolls when they run out
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Prepare their own lunch for school
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Help cook dinner one night a week
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Help change their bed sheets once a week
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Clean their dirty trainers/football boots
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Help put away groceries
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Wash the windows
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Water indoor plants
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Pick up towels from the bathroom floor
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Empty bins from bedrooms
Outdoor chores for 13-year-olds
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Rake leaves
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Sweep the driveway
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Wash the car
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Mow the lawn
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Weed the garden
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Water the plants
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Take out the trash
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Recycle
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Wash the windows
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Help put away groceries from the car
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Tidy up the garden
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Clear up the shed
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Clean the inside of cars
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Plant new seeds and flowers
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Wipe down/clean garden toys
Personal chores for 13-year-olds
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Homework
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Exam revision
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Getting prepped for school every day
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Sticking to curfews
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Budgeting pocket money
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Shower/bath
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Keep in touch with extended family
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Find a way to give back
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Keep your room tidy
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Find an extracurricular activity
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Be more organised
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Be sensible about screen time
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Contribute to family life
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Do some exercise every day
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Take the initiative with your chores
How to motivate your 13-year-old to do chores
Many kids and teens aren't enthusiastic about chores, and even if they start off eager, it's easy for them to lose momentum and motivation. You can help motivate your kids to do chores by making sure that the chores are age-appropriate and that your teen is involved in the decision-making process. Ask questions about what they want to do or what tasks interest them. Although not all chores will be exciting, getting your teen’s input is a great way to engage them more in household chores. Another tactic is to use apps to help motivate and encourage your child to remember their tasks and do them on time.
Chore agreements and pocket money
Whether it's something you have verbally agreed upon, a chore chart, a chore contract or a list, it pays to have a chore agreement with your teen. Not only does this set up expectations for your teen, but it also clarifies how and when chores need to be done and the possible consequences if they forget to do them.
A chore contract or chart helps because it provides accountability on both sides. Your child must complete an agreed set of tasks in exchange for a reward, be it extra pocket money or takeout. Rewarding children with money for holding up their side of the contract can bring positive benefits. In 2021, GoHenry kids earned a combined £ 2.9 million from completing tasks set through the GoHenry app, which in turn helps teens learn about work, earning and money management.
Related: Chore charts for teens
How to reward your 13-year-old with GoHenry
GoHenry is a prepaid debit card for teens with a companion app that makes it easy for parents to give their teens pocket money for doing chores. With GoHenry, parents can quickly and easily set up tasks and pay their teen’s pocket money when marked complete. This helps teens learn responsibility and the value of work.
To set up a chore, create a task in the GoHenry app and assign a reward. The reward can be a set amount of money. For example, you can create a chore called "Make your bed" and assign a reward of 50p. Once a chore/task has been created, you can send a notification to remind your child of the chore and let them know how much they will earn if they complete it.
You can also track your teen's progress with chores in the app. Not only is GoHenry's chore and reward system a great way to motivate young teens to complete chores. It can also help them develop good financial habits and show them the value of hard work and responsibility.
Related articles:
Household chores list for all the family
How much should I pay my child for doing chores?
How many chores should my child do?
