Do you need ideas to give your child chores?
As we talked about in the last podcast episode, one of the benefits of teaching your child the value of money was to pay them for some of their chores. Not all chores need to be paid.
Many parents have difficulty choosing what chores are appropriate for certain age groups. Paying your child to do chores can help him or her feel important and serves as a motivator and accountability factor.
Ideas for Your Child to Do Chores (By Age Group)
Ideas for Your Child to Do Chores (By Age Group)Here are ideas you can try with children of different ages.
Children ages 3-5 years
- Feed the pets
- Clear their dishes from the table
- Dust
- Clean up spills
Children in this age group will likely need supervision when they are doing their chores. Their attention spans are short, and they may need to be gently reminded to stay on task. The more excitement you show about them completing their chores, the more enthusiasm they will have when it’s time to do chores again.
Children ages 6-8 years
- Setting the entire table for supper
- Clearing the table
- Prep some food for supper
- Put away groceries
- Vacuum
At this age, children will have the additional load of homework. Make a plan for when they need to do chores. Some families save chores for the weekend; other families split up different chores each day. A dry-erase board with lists of daily chores may help your child understand your expectations, so you need to remind them less often.
Children ages 9-10 years
- Take out trash
- Load the dishwasher
- Put clean dishes away
- Hand-wash dishes
- Wash and fold laundry
- Assist with meal prep
- Clean the bathroom
- Wash windows
Children in this stage can earn extra rewards for completing chores without being reminded. They should be able to work without much supervision, depending on developmental stages. You will need to adjust their payment upward since their tasks truly take a load off the entire family.
Why It’s Important to Pay Your Child for Some of These Chores
Paying your child for chores can increase motivation. We all like to be rewarded for our work. Why not seize the opportunity to teach your child the value of hard work as young as three years old? When your child makes a purchase with his or her own money, he or she will place even more value on the item, knowing they worked for it. Paying your child for chores will require a bit more bookkeeping for you as a parent, but will reap great dividends for your child in the future.
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