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Age Appropriate Chores: 40 Jobs for Ages 3 to 8

By Chaz Bagri6 November 202610 min read

A girl helps a woman fold laundry from a wicker basket on the sofa.

Age appropriate chores for ages 3 to 8, with 40 household jobs, realistic finish points and a simple way to teach each task without taking over.

Which chores should you start with?

Age appropriate chores for ages 3 to 8 include putting toys away, sorting washing, laying the table and helping with simple food preparation. Start with a small part of a job and agree what finished looks like. Use the age bands below as starting suggestions, adapting them to your child's experience and abilities.

NHS advice on independence recommends small household responsibilities, simple steps and patience. You'll need everyday household kit and time to work alongside your child; choose any familiar job to begin.

Which household jobs are grown-up only?

Keep hot pans, kettles, sharp knives, broken glass and cleaning chemicals as adult jobs. Use lightweight, unbreakable things at a height your child can reach, and stay beside them while teaching a new task. These boundaries follow NHS home safety guidance.

Keep button batteries, coins, small toy parts and loose cords away from all young children, including those doing the chores. Adults should handle and put away mat straps. The NHS highlights choking, internal burns and strangulation risks. Adults handle batteries, detergent and appliance controls.

What can a 3-year-old help with?

At 3, choose jobs you can do side by side: carrying, collecting and putting something back. Coram's suggestions include toys, books and laundry. For the examples below, give your child a small amount to handle and point to its destination.

1. Put big toys in a basket

"Put the big toys in here." Done: the chosen patch of floor is clear. Sorting everything by type can wait.

2. Return books to a low shelf

"Put these books back beside each other." Done: the books are on their shelf, even if the spines face different ways.

3. Drop clothes into the laundry basket

"These dirty clothes go in the basket." Done: the clothes you pointed to are inside. You decide what needs washing.

4. Park shoes together

"Put your shoes side by side here." Done: both shoes are in their usual place, ready to find when you leave.

5. Lay out napkins

"Put a napkin at each place." Done: everyone has one. You can point out the places while your child walks round.

6. Put sofa cushions back

"Let's put these cushions back on the sofa." Done: they're off the floor. A slightly wonky arrangement still counts as finished.

7. Fetch a clean tea towel

"Bring the tea towel from this drawer." Done: it's beside the washing-up. Keep the towel somewhere your child can reach.

8. Return an empty cup

"Put your empty plastic cup on this tray." Done: it's in the collection spot. You carry the full tray afterwards.

9. Restock the flannel basket

"Put these clean flannels in the bathroom basket." Done: they're ready to use. Your child doesn't need to fold them first.

10. Roll the mat away

"You start rolling, and I'll help." Done: the mat is rolled and back in its usual spot after yoga together.

Which jobs can you try at 4 to 5?

For ages 4 to 5, try a job with a visible result, such as a cleared place at the table or a duvet pulled up. Coram includes making beds, wiping spills and watering plants. Agree your finish point before you start.

11. Straighten the duvet

"Pull the duvet towards your pillow." Done: it covers the mattress. Leave the wrinkles and take care of awkward corners yourself.

12. Dust a low shelf

"Wipe this empty shelf with the dry cloth." Done: the visible dust is gone. You move ornaments before the job starts.

13. Wipe their place at the table

"Wipe your space with this water-dampened cloth." Done: the visible crumbs and spills are gone. You handle any further cleaning needed.

14. Water an indoor plant

"Pour this water onto the soil." Done: the water you've measured out is used. Choose a plant within easy reach.

15. Set out spoons

"Put a spoon beside each bowl." Done: each place has what it needs. Getting the spoon on a particular side can wait.

16. Dry unbreakable cups

"Dry these washed cups with the clean towel." Done: they're ready to put away. Start with the cups you've set aside.

17. Sort clean washing by person

"Make a pile for each person." Done: the clothes you've selected have an owner. Help with anything that looks alike.

18. Put crayons back

"Put these chunky crayons in their box." Done: they're off the table and ready for next time. Colour order doesn't matter.

19. Hang up their coat

"Put your coat on your hook." Done: it's hanging by its loop. Help them find the loop before they start.

20. Put pyjamas away

"Put your pyjamas in their usual drawer." Done: they're put away after dressing. You can leave folding for another job.

What can you hand over at 6 to 7?

For ages 6 to 7, choose a familiar job to practise from beginning to end. Coram's older children's list includes folding towels, pairing socks and replacing toilet rolls. Keep the amount manageable: the selected pile of washing is enough for a start.

21. Match clean socks

"Find the socks that go together." Done: matching pairs sit beside each other. Put the odd ones aside without a hunt.

22. Fold hand towels

"Bring the corners together, then fold again." Done: each towel fits its shelf. Matching edges exactly can wait for another day.

23. Put away their clean clothes

"These piles go in your drawers." Done: the clothes are in their agreed places. Point out which drawer takes each pile.

24. Sweep crumbs with a hand brush

"Brush these crumbs into the dustpan." Done: the patch under their chair is clear. You can hold the pan steady.

25. Replace an empty toilet roll

"Swap the empty roll for this full one." Done: paper is ready to use and the cardboard tube is set aside.

26. Empty their lunchbox

"Open your lunchbox and show me what's left." Done: leftovers are handed to you and the open box is ready for washing.

27. Hang damp flannels to dry

"Spread these flannels over the airer." Done: they're opened out instead of bundled together. You set up the airer beforehand.

28. Sort paper and cardboard

"Put this clean paper and card in the recycling box." Done: the pieces you've checked are collected. You handle other waste.

29. Put away cooled dishwasher items

"Put these plastic bowls in their cupboard." Done: the bowls you've handed over are stored. You unload sharp, heavy or breakable items.

30. Pack their school bag

"Check your picture list and pack each thing." Done: the agreed items are inside. You do the final check together.

Which longer jobs can an 8-year-old try?

At 8, try combining familiar actions into a whole job, while keeping adult help available. Coram's suggestions include folding clothes and putting groceries away. For the food jobs below, wash your hands before preparing food and wash vegetables before use.

31. Fold T-shirts

"Fold the sides in, then bring the bottom up." Done: each shirt fits the drawer. Neat enough to find is enough.

32. Fit a clean pillowcase

"Push the pillow into the corners." Done: it's inside the case. Hold the opening together if getting started is awkward.

33. Help strip their bed

"Take off the duvet cover for washing." Done: the cover is in the laundry basket. You handle fastenings and lifting.

34. Put away light groceries

"Put these sealed packets on their shelf." Done: the items you've chosen are stored. You handle anything heavy or needing refrigeration.

35. Assemble a cold sandwich

"Put these prepared fillings between the bread." Done: lunch is on the plate. You prepare ingredients and handle any cutting. If anyone eating has a food allergy, check ingredient labels, keep allergens separate and clean surfaces and utensils before starting.

36. Wash vegetables for dinner

"Wash these carrots in fresh water." Done: visible soil is removed and they're ready for you to prepare. You check them.

37. Wipe low cupboard fronts

"Wipe these marks with the water-dampened cloth." Done: the selected marks are gone. You deal with anything needing a cleaning product.

38. Match containers with lids

"Find which lid fits each clean tub." Done: the tubs you've chosen have lids. Set any unmatched pieces aside for you.

39. Help write the shopping list

"Check this shelf with me and list what's missing." Done: the agreed items are written or drawn, ready for your shopping trip.

40. Reset the table for a meal

"Check how many places we need and lay them." Done: the unbreakable plates, spoons and napkins you've provided are set out.

How do you teach a chore without taking over?

Teach the job before expecting it to happen on request. Devon's NHS service recommends splitting activities into manageable steps and using pictures where helpful. Here's a four-step example for folding a hand towel, with a clear finish you can both recognise.

Show: fold a towel slowly while your child watches.
Share: hold the corners together and make the fold.
Hand over: let them fold another while you stay nearby.
Check: does it fit the shelf? Thank them for helping.

What if they won't do their chosen job?

If your child refuses, make the request smaller and offer a choice: "Towels or socks?" Try working alongside them without a running commentary. Keep the request concrete: "Put these books on the shelf" gives you both a finish point to work towards.

NHS advice encourages patience, gentle reminders and resisting the urge to redo completed work. A missed crease doesn't need a correction. Choose a quieter moment if everyone's fed up, and explore our ideas for encouraging confidence.

If you have wider concerns about your child's development, speak to your GP or health visitor.

Where can chores fit into an ordinary day?

Attach a chosen job to something that already happens, then stop at the agreed finish. You don't need to work through an age band in order. These are example combinations to borrow once the individual jobs are familiar, with your help as needed.

After breakfast: your 3-year-old returns their cup; your older child wipes their place. You deal with the rest of the table.
After school: your 5-year-old hangs up their coat; your 7-year-old empties their lunchbox. You check leftover food and wash the box.
After yoga: your child starts rolling the mat and you help put it away. The activity ends with its equipment back.

For school mornings, fit the chosen job into your before-school routine. Begin with whichever combination suits your day.

For yoga followed by a shared tidy-up, explore our mats. Each has 15 numbered poses laser-engraved into its surface and is designed for ages 3 to 8. Finish with the rolling job, helping whenever your child needs you.

Frequently asked questions

What are good chores for 4 and 5 year olds?

Try straightening the duvet, wiping their place at the table or watering a plant with water you've measured out. Choose a job from this list and do it together first. Agree a visible finish point, such as the duvet covering the mattress, and leave the wrinkles alone.

How many chores should a child do each day?

Start with one small daily job and see how it fits, rather than assigning the whole age band. Add another once the first feels familiar. This is a suggested starting point, not a daily quota: clearing your own cup after breakfast can be the whole job while you're learning.

What should a 7-year-old be doing on their own?

For a job they've already practised, try matching socks, folding a hand towel or replacing an empty toilet roll. Check that your child knows where everything goes and when to ask for help. Doing a familiar chore independently doesn't mean supervising a younger sibling or being left home alone.

Should children get pocket money for chores?

You can pay for agreed jobs or keep ordinary household help separate from pocket money. MoneyHelper describes both approaches. If you choose payment, agree the task and what counts as finished before it starts. You can also thank your child for helping without putting a price on each job.

Sources

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