Kids Chore Chart Checklist + Printable

Ages 2–4 (helpers)

• Put toys in a bin
• Put laundry in the hamper
• Wipe up small spills
• Put shoes on a mat
• Feed the pet with supervision
• Help set the table

Ages 5–8 (routine)

• Make their bed
• Get dressed independently
• Pack their school bag
• Set + clear the table
• Sort laundry into darks/lights
• Water plants
• Take out recycling

Ages 9–12 (contributors)

• Load + unload the dishwasher
• Take garbage/recycling to the curb
• Vacuum common areas
• Fold + put away their own laundry
• Prepare simple meals (sandwiches, eggs)
• Walk the dog
• Shovel or rake in front of their door

Ages 13+ (young adults)

• Do their own laundry start to finish
• Cook one family meal per week
• Clean a full bathroom
• Mow the lawn / snow-blow driveway
• Grocery shop from a list
• Babysit younger siblings
• Manage their own schedule + assignments

Yard, garden & pet care

• Pulling weeds and weeding garden beds — age 6+ with supervision, independent by 9-10
• Raking and picking up leaves, and clearing sticks and yard debris before mowing
• Harvesting vegetables and fruit from the garden or greenhouse — a genuinely fun chore for most kids
• Watering the garden or greenhouse on a set schedule
• Mowing the lawn — typically age 12+ with supervision, independent in the mid-teens
• Pet care assigned by animal: dog walking and feeding, litter box scooping, fish tank cleaning, cage cleaning for small pets
• Match pet chores to age — younger kids feed with help, older kids manage the full routine

Rewards, allowance & screen time

• Weekly flat allowance: $1 per year of age (common Canadian baseline)
• Split model: 50% spend, 30% save, 20% give
• Basic chores unpaid (they're household membership); extra jobs paid
• Build a reward menu instead of one fixed prize — small rewards at 10 points, bigger ones at 30-50
• Screen time can be a fixed daily limit, fully earned by chores, or a fixed limit plus bonus earned time — pick the model that matches your family, not a default
• Pay allowance and reset the chart on the same day every week — Sunday works well

Practical tips

• Post the chart where the kids stand — fridge, mudroom, or bedroom door — not on your desk.
• Rotate weekly. Kids resent doing the same worst chore forever.
• Give a 3-strike rule before consequences. Consistency beats intensity.
• Let older kids pick one yard or garden chore themselves — ownership beats an assigned task every time.

Frequently asked questions