It is important to assign your children responsibilities as team members of your family. Provide your children and teens with age-appropriate tasks, making sure you spend time teaching your children how to master a specific task. Try and not overwhelm them with too many tasks at once. Consider each child’s ability and temperament. Expect your children to be responsible and they will be.
Appropriate Responsibilities for Children Ages 3-4 Make bed Brush teeth and hair Put shoes away Unpack and hang up backpack Put lunch in the backpack Put toys away Put napkins on the table Put personal dishes on the counter Put dirty clothes in the laundry basket Sort laundry Empty room/bathroom trash cans Feed and brush furry pets Bring in all personal items from the car | Additional Appropriate Responsibilities for Children Ages 5-7 Bring in the mail Take a shower/bath independently Clean room independently Set the table properly Help cook dinner Put dishes in the sink Clear the table Empty their lunchbox Take out the trash and recycling Pick out their outfit the night before school Water plants Bring in light grocery bags |
Additional Appropriate Responsibilities for Children Ages 8-9 Unload/load the dishwasher Sweep/Dust/Vacuum Do personal laundry Put away all clothes Put away the groceries Packs lunch Make lunch for school Help cook dinner Wash toilets | Additional Age Appropriate Responsibilities for Children Ages 10-11 Fold and hang up clothes Mop bathroom floors Clean bathroom mirror Rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher Unload the dishwasher Change bed sheets and fold clean sheets Unload the dishwasher Pull weeds/Rake leaves Put the groceries away independently Walk the dog/Clean the cat litter |
Additional Age Appropriate Responsibilities for Teens Change light bulbs Mow the grass Replace vacuum cleaner bags Clean out the refrigerator, stove, and microwave Cook dinner Clean out the garage Pet sit for others | Other Responsibilities for Your Children |