Teaching Life Skills: Chores
Many life skills can look an awful lot like chores. (Insert my sheepish grin here.) Therefore one way you can teach life skills to all of your children, at varying ages, is by giving them age appropriate chores to undertake.
Not sure what those age appropriate chores might be? That’s alright. Check out my list of chores by age. While doing so remember that every child is different and many of these can be done sooner or later depending on your comfort level and what each child can handle.
Age Appropriate Chores
Ages 2-3
- Replace books on bookshelf/basket etc.
- Put dirty clothes in laundry basket
- Pick up toys to put in toy box
- Fetch things for you
- Place silverware on the table (minus sharp knives)
Ages 4-5
- Help gather laundry
- Put clean clothes away in drawers
- Empty wastebaskets
- Dust low furniture
- Help empty dishwasher (sorting silverware)
- Clear place after a meal
Ages 6-7
- Organize drawers
- Begin putting dishes away (use of stool for high cupboards)
- Clean windows/mirrors
- Help carry in and put away groceries (like pantry items)
- Rake leaves
- Shovel sidewalk
- Pet care (filling food and water)
- Sweeping
- Help with mixing and stirring during meal preparation
Ages 8-9
- Change sheets on bed
- Use a vacuum
- Carry dirty clothes to laundry room
- Sort clothes by color
- Fold basic laundry (pair socks, fold towels)
- Watering of plants
Ages 10-11
- Fold shirts and pants
- Wipe down kitchen cupboards
- Wash the car
- Weeding of yard and garden
- Take out the trash
- Use the oven to bake
- Cook simple stove top foods
Ages 12+
- Mow lawn
- Load and operate washer and dryer
- Deep cleaning of toilets
- Clean tub
- Prepare a meal
Other Life Skills Posts:
- How to Create A Morning Routine and Chore Chart
- Time Management for Teens
- Help for Holding Teens Accountable
- Money Management for Teens
- Help for Teaching Money Management to Your Middle or High School Student
- Life Skills: Simple Home Repairs
- 10 Tips for Teaching Teen Drivers
- Teaching Life Skills in Real Life (coming soon)
- Teaching Life Skills: Self-Care (coming soon)
- Apps That Teach Kids Real-Life Skills
- Teaching Kids Life Skills
- High School Life Skills: Career Exploration
Life Skills on Pinterest
March 4, 2015 @ 6:17 pm
My kids all do chores and are eager to do more than asked of them, on a good day! Thanks for sharing. Stopped by from this week’s Hip Homeschooling Moms link up
March 9, 2015 @ 11:57 am
What a great list of chores for children. Love that you broke it down by age! Thanks for sharing!
March 10, 2015 @ 3:53 pm
Great & practical list! Pinning this one 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing on this week’s Mom 2 Mom Link Up Party! Hope you join us again soon, Rachael @ Diamonds in the Rough
March 12, 2020 @ 5:21 pm
We call chores family services here because mommy and daddy serve the family and it gives our 4 kids a chance to be a help and blessing to the family
March 13, 2020 @ 9:36 am
Love this Rebecca! What a great way to present it!