Chores are a necessary part of life, and this is just one of the many reasons why it pays to get your kids involved. Not only do chores keep our homes clean and organised, but they can teach kids the importance of responsibility.
Sue Atkins, Family Parenting Expert and author of Parenting Made Easy,
agrees, “Setting chores gives children responsibility, which in turn teaches them to become responsible. As parents, our job is to nurture and guide our children towards responsibility. To give them the ability to look after themselves so they are not helpless when they go out into the world”.
The good news is that with a bit of organisation, you can get your kids involved in a wide range of household chores. Here’s what you need to know.
Related: Age-appropriate chore list for kids
Your master household chore list might include:
- Doing the dishes
- Taking out the rubbish and recycling
- Wiping down surfaces
- Tidying bedrooms
- Sweeping the kitchen floor
- Vacuuming
- Feeding pets
- Making the bed
- Setting the breakfast table
- Doing the laundry
- Cleaning carpets
- Cleaning furniture
- Decluttering closets
- Cleaning out the garage
- Cleaning out the gutters
- Washing the outside of windows
- Cooking dinner
- Folding laundry
- Washing the car
- Gardening
Importance of having a household chores list
A household chore list is an essential tool for keeping your home organised. It can help you stay on top of chores, as it will help you remember what needs to be done and when to do it. This can help you avoid letting chores pile up and become overwhelming. A list of chores can also help you assign tasks fairly, save time, and teach kids good lessons about time management, accountability and responsibility.
What to put on your household chores list
When making your household chore list, consider the size of your household, your lifestyle, the ages of your kids, and your preferences. These will also affect the types of chores you need to add and how often they need to be done.
Daily chores list
There are some household chores that need to be done on a daily basis in order to keep the home running smoothly. Some daily chores that to include are:
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Loading and emptying the dishwasher
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Washing plates in the kitchen sink
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Tidying up the kitchen
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Picking up towels in the bathroom
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Making beds
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Putting clothes away
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Emptying bins
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Wiping down surfaces in the kitchen
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Tidying shared spaces
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Sweeping the kitchen floor
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Feeding pets/walking dogs
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Preparing and cooking meals
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Setting the table and clearing the table after dinner
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Sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting away laundry
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Straightening and organising living areas.
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Bringing down cups and plates from rooms
These daily chores can be divided between your kids and the rest of the family and are generally quick and easy to do. This means that younger children can participate, too.
Weekly chores list
Some chores are recommended to be done every week. These can be rotated between family members so that everyone can help. Weekly chores take longer than daily ones but are still manageable with some organisation. Weekly chores typically include:
- Watering plants
- Mowing the lawn (summer)
- Cleaning the bathroom
- Mopping floors
- Changing/ washing bed sheets
- Dusting surfaces
- Grocery shopping
- Vacuuming
- Deeper cleaning of the bathroom and kitchen
- Tidying garden (summer)
- Putting the bins out for collection
- Cleaning mirrors
Monthly chores list
Some household chores can be completed every month. These take more time and effort than weekly and daily chores. Monthly chores can be shared between family members, although they are more suitable for older children and adults. Here is a list of monthly household chores:
- Washing windows
- Cleaning furniture
- Washing fixtures and fittings (skirting boards and mouldings, doors and door frames, ceiling light fixtures)
- Tidying up the garden
Yearly chores list
There are some household chores that only need to be done once a year. While some of these may be more suited for adults and younger children, there are some tasks that your little ones can get stuck in too. Yearly chores include:
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Cleaning out cupboards and drawers
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Decluttering closets and toys
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Cleaning out the garage/shed
- Donating old clothes
- Taking clothes and toys to the charity shop
- Planting in the garden
- Redecorating
Seasonal chores list
With the changing seasons come different tasks that can be completed around the home. They can be a great way to get everyone involved in the upkeep of the home no matter what the weather. Seasonal chores include:
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Washing windows
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Cleaning the BBQ
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Raking leaves
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Shovelling snow
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Storing away summer furniture
Breaking down household chores
Once you have a list of household chores, you can break them down into categories and assign them to different people in your household. This is a great way to ensure that everyone is contributing to the upkeep of the home and that no one is overloaded.
Different types of household chores
Before assigning chores, consider the age and ability of each family member. This will help to ensure that everyone is able to contribute at their own level.
Chores for younger kids
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Setting the table
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Clearing up toys
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Taking books back to the library
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Getting dressed
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Taking bowls to the sink after meals
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Helping with grocery shopping
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Dusting
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Watering plants
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Cleaning teeth
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Reading
Chores for teens
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Managing and tracking their spending and savings
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Changing bed sheets
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Doing their own laundry
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Hanging washing
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Ironing
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Small grocery shops
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Looking after younger siblings
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Preparing meals
Laundry chores
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Carrying dirty laundry to the washing machine
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Filling the washing machine
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Emptying the washing machine
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Hanging clothes out to dry
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Folding dry clothes
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Ironing dry clothes
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Taking clean clothes to rooms
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Putting clothes away
Bedroom chores
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Tidying rooms
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Making beds
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Changing sheets
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Dusting and decluttering
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Bringing dirty mugs to the kitchen
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Putting clothes away
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Vaccuming floors
Bathroom chores
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Stocking bathrooms with toilet paper and soap
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Cleaning baths and showers after use
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Cleaning bathroom floors
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Cleaning toilets
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Cleaning mirrors
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Picking wet towels off the floor
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Putting dirty towels in laundry basket
Living room chores
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Tidying up
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Cleaning surfaces
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Dusting TV
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Picking up after yourself
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Dusting
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Vacuuming
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Watering plants
Kitchen chores
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Putting things away
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Cleaning surfaces properly
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Throwing empty cartons away
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Mopping floors
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Wiping the sink
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Emptying the kitchen bin
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Recycling
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Loading and unloading the dishwasher
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Cleaning out the fridge
Closets and cabinets
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Tidying and cleaning cupboards
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Decluttering
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Donating used items
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Dusting shelves
Garden chores
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Watering plants
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Mowing the lawn
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Picking up toys
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Sweeping patio areas
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Sweeping leaves
Personal chores
Some chores can be personal to each family member and can be a great way to teach your children independence, as well as make them feel responsible for their own space and belongings. These types of chores can be assigned as needed, and can include:
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Making the bed
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Cleaning bathroom after use
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Tidying up after themselves (food, toys, clothes)
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Bringing their dirty laundry downstairs
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Organising personal space (for example a bedroom or desk)
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Looking after pets
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Putting school and work items away
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Putting shoes away
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Hanging up coats
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Emptying bedroom bins
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Making a note of when items run out like soap, shower gel, milk
Family chores
It is always great to get the whole family involved and there are some household chores that the whole family can do together. These are great for families to bond and spend some time together while getting the housework done. Family chores can include:
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Cooking dinner
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Folding laundry
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Washing the car
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Gardening
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Cleaning the house
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Grocery shopping
- Looking after pets
Chore charts can help with chore planning
Creating a chore chart is a great way to get everyone in the family involved in managing the household chores. If you need inspiration, you can use these chore chart ideas for kids. Having a chore chart is also a great way to ensure that everyone in the family knows what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to include all of the necessary tasks and assign them to specific family members - while you know your children best, you may want to give your little ones age-appropriate chores. You can also use the chore chart to track when each task is completed and add in any special instructions that might be needed. You can create a system that works for everyone by involving the whole family in the process.
Related: Free printable chore chart
Motivating kids to help with the chores
There are several ways to motivate children to help with chores. For a start, make it fun. You can make tasks more fun by playing games, listening to music, or having a family competition. Next, set a good example. If you want your kids to do their chores, you must do yours too! Show them that chores are a normal part of life and everyone needs to pitch in.
Even if they make mistakes, be sure to praise children’s efforts. Doing this will help them feel good about themselves and encourage them to do chores. Finally, offer rewards. You can offer them a treat, a sticker, extra pocket money or a special privilege like staying up later at weekends.
Encourage your kids to complete household tasks with GoHenry
GoHenry is a prepaid debit card for kids with a companion app that makes it easy for parents to give their children pocket money for doing chores. With GoHenry, parents can quickly and easily set up tasks and pay their child's pocket money when they are marked complete. This helps children learn responsibility and the value of work.
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