Age Appropriate Chores for Boys via The MOB Society
It’s important that we instill values and hard work into our children in order for them to grow responsibly and independent. After all, it’s our job to raise independent children. I am a big advocate of teaching kids responsibly with chores. They need to know that our home is their home and we all need to pitch in and help with helping our home run!
I’ve come up with a list of age appropriate chores to give you some ideas of what chores kids can do at any age:
Ages 1-2 Years Old:
- Put toys away in bin (with Mom’s help)
- Wipe: Just give a damp rag and a table and them go at it
- Hand Mommy things to put away
Ages 3-4 Years Old:
- Get dressed, put pajamas away
- Brush hair
- Brush teeth
- Set the table
- Make the bed
- Fold clothes and small items
- Empty wastebaskets
- Pick up toys before bed
- Load dishwasher
Age 5-6 Years Old:
- All of the above
- Clean bathroom sink
- Help clean and straighten drawers in closet
- Help put groceries away
- Clean up after pet
- Vacuum room
- Feed pet
- Help walk the dog
- Dust furniture in the room
- Match socks
- Clean room
Ages 7-9 Years Old:
- All of the above
- Wash windows
- Wash floor in small area
- Wash bathroom mirrors
- Sweep
- Empty dishwasher
Ages 10+:
- All of the above
- Fix an entire meal
- Iron
- Clean refrigerator
- Wash car
- Paint
- Do yard work
- Make dessert
- Mow lawn
If you need another great way to keep track of chores and media time this summer is my printable “Media Minutes” and “Chore Cards” to hold kids accountable.
Now that you’ve gotten some ideas for chores for your boys, what are you going to have them start doing today? What other chores do your boys do that may not have been included on this list?
Does anyone else feel like they are seriously lacking in this department? My boys are 9, 15 ( the ones still at home- three others have left the nest ) and there are so many age- appropriate things on this list they do not do- how do you get them started?
Oh definitely my boys too! I have to step sons that just came into my life 3 years ago and they had no responsibility at all before so its been a struggle to teach them that what I’m asking of them its actually really little. So I pinned this article and I’m going to show them what they can be capable of if they work for it!
Today we assigned new chores for the summer. Really they were all practically the same, only we stepped up their responsibilities and focused on how this is their job, not an inconsistent suggestion that can be argued. I am not a strong woman – I quake and give in easily. Simply can’t do that with my three boys. Our boys are learning to be men within our homes… that means responsibility and good work ethics… and hearts that don’t argue. I’ve taken to asking my sons, “what’s going to happen if you argue with your professor in college? What’s going to happen if you argue what’s expected of you with your boss one day? What’s going to argue if you are constantly arguing with your wife?” If they can learn to be hard working cheerful men here in our homes… they will carry those skills out into the world via all their jobs and all their relationships. Thanks for reinforcing the main point that this is all good for them (and good for me too!)
I love what you are saying about arguing. I will try this at home. Our boys do help but not to the level we’d like. And almost definitely not with arguing. Maybe the “arguing argument” will help get the point across. Thanks!
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I read the list and was pleasantly surprised that my son, at almost 14, does most of this stuff. I’m a tough mom and my kids know they can’t push me but I’m also an encourager and I thank them every time they do their chores. I remind them that the more they help, they more fun things we can do because I’m not burdened with all the chores. I focus on teamwork and I work beside them. If you have problems with arguing, you could try “the more you help, the more we can do fun things” approach, but bribery is great too. We are homeschoolers and I use a marble jar in homeschooling. If they get an answer right, they get a marble. Fill the jar to a certain point and they get $5. The prize has changed over the years, as they’ve gotten older, but it works. Try giving a marble for every chore they do without arguing. Let them know the prize ahead of time and mark where it needs to be filled. Just hide the marbles, if you have someone who will want to “cheat” ,and put more marbles in their jar when you aren’t looking. Make sure it takes time to earn the prize, unless they are very small. Just some ideas, one mom to another. Hope it works. 🙂
I disagree with you on kids and chores a 100%!
No kids should NOT have regular chores. Kids are kids NOT mini adults and need childhoods! Play is the MOST IMPORTANT thing in childhood. Kids have school, homework, etc already. EVERYTHING they can learn with chores they can learn in other ways. Yes, we should teach kids skills, etc and its OK if they help once in a while but making them have chores on a regular basis is WRONG! I did not have chores as a kid and have NO problems as an adult, I thank my parents for giving me a CHILDHOOD. I do the same with my kids!
Sincerely,
Th. Papaioannou