6 Chore Chart Strategies to Get Organized and Get More Done Without the Stress

Want to get your kids helping with the chores? This checklist is a guide to assign kids age-appropriate tasks.

I’ve done chore wheels that doubled kids up (a 3-layer chart) so there were fewer chores, and more kids working on them. I also made sure I was doing the chores WITH them and we spent a little time every day, then the bulk of cleaning on the weekend. This means it wasn’t as stressful during school days and (for me) working. Doing it together, playing music, making bets, and sharing in the workload helped make something that’s not super fun — a little easier.

First, I wrote out all the chores. This takes some time because some chores (like trash) don’t happen daily and aren’t a hard chore that takes a lot of time. We tend to not realize all the things that get done — like wiping down counters — on our way through a room, or at the end of the day.

Second, once I had a list, I broke them down into chores that took a longer time, and the fast easy chores. I could then combine chores so they were “equitable” — each one took about the same amount of time & effort. I did this by room and/or by either doubling up kids OR breaking rooms into more than one chore.

The kid’s bathrooms were distributed between them separately from the household chores, and I checked monthly. Their bedrooms were the same. In order to vacuum, the bedrooms needed to be done first, so there was an order and flow to how we got things done on the weekends when we did more “deep cleaning”. When kids were too young to do something alone, it always meant I did it with them.

Kids Chore Checklist

Children Ages 2–3

❏ Pick up toys and put them in bins or designated areas

❏ Put laundry in the hamper

❏ Wipe up spills

❏ Help load washer and dryer

❏ Wipe walls and baseboards with a wet cloth

Children Ages 4–5

❏ Put away belongings

❏ Help with laundry

❏ Carry and put away groceries

❏ Set the table

❏ Help clear the table

Children Ages 6–8

❏ Help care for pets

❏ Fold and put away laundry

❏ Vacuum

❏ Match socks

❏ Wipe down counters and sinks

Children Ages 9–12

❏ Help wash the car

❏ Learn to wash dishes or load and unload the dishwasher

❏ Rake leaves

❏ Learn to wash laundry/switch loads

❏ Take care of pets

Children Ages 13–18

❏ Do the laundry

❏ Wash the dishes

❏ Take out the trash

❏ Help prepare meals

❏ Clean windows

❏ Clean bathrooms

❏ Mop the floor

❏ Sweep the floor

❏ Help with many outdoor chores

Two of the many chore charts I’ve done over the years