A good chore chart does two things. It makes each child's responsibilities clear, and it matches chores to what a child can actually handle. Give a four-year-old the dishwasher and you'll both be frustrated. Give a twelve-year-old only "put toys away" and they'll be bored. This free chore chart by age breaks it down so you can pick the right chores for each child, and you can print it or turn it into a digital chart in minutes.
How to use this page
Skim to your child's age band, pick three to five chores that fit them, and decide which are daily and which are weekly. You can print this page straight from your browser, or set the same chores up in a chore app so kids can check them off and earn rewards.
Ages 2 to 3: Toddlers
The goal here is habit and imitation, not real help. Keep it playful and always do it together.
- Put toys in a box
- Put books on a shelf
- Put dirty clothes in the laundry basket
- Wipe up small spills with a cloth
- Feed a pet under close supervision
Ages 4 to 5: Preschoolers
Still simple and picture-friendly, but they can start owning a task from start to finish.
- Make the bed (a rough attempt counts)
- Set the table with unbreakable items
- Water plants
- Brush teeth morning and night
- Match socks from the laundry
- Feed a pet with help
Ages 6 to 8: Early primary
Now they can handle multi-step chores and follow a short routine on their own.
- Sort laundry into lights and darks
- Sweep floors
- Make a simple breakfast, like cereal or toast
- Pack their own school bag
- Tidy their room
- Empty small bins
- Wipe down bathroom sinks
Ages 9 to 11: Older primary
Kids this age can take real responsibility and be trusted with more of the household routine.
- Load and unload the dishwasher
- Take out the trash and recycling
- Vacuum
- Help prepare dinner
- Walk the dog
- Change bed sheets
- Rake leaves or do basic yard work
Ages 12 and up: Teens and tweens
Aim for chores that build genuine independence and life skills.
- Do laundry from start to finish
- Cook a simple meal for the family
- Mow the lawn
- Clean the bathroom
- Wash the car
- Babysit younger siblings for short periods
- Manage their own school and activity schedule
Every child is different
These bands are a guide, not a rule. Some kids are ready earlier, some later, and safety always comes first, so supervise new chores until you're confident. Move a chore up or down a band to fit your child.
Paper chart vs. digital chart
A printed chart on the fridge is a great start. The downside is that it's easy to ignore, hard to keep updated, and offers no built-in motivation, so you're still the one nagging.
A digital chore chart solves those problems. Kids see their own tasks on a phone or tablet, check them off themselves, and earn points toward rewards. The chart updates instantly, works for multiple kids with different chores, and the app does the reminding instead of you.
Raccoon Kids is built for exactly this. You can take any of the age-appropriate chores above, assign them to each child, set point values, and let kids trade points for rewards you choose, like screen time, pocket money, or a family outing. Recurring chores can even rotate between siblings each week so things stay fair.
A quick word on rewards
Whether or not you tie chores to allowance is up to your family. Some parents reward every chore with points or pocket money to build early motivation. Others keep basic chores unpaid and reward only bigger, optional jobs. Both approaches work. What matters most is consistency. When kids know exactly what is expected and what they will earn, chores stop being a negotiation.
Print this chart, pick your child's chores, and start this week. And if you'd like the digital version that reminds, tracks, and rewards for you, try Raccoon Kids free.