As children grow and crave independence, it's necessary for them to take on more responsibility. Chores are a good way to make them more responsible. Here are some age appropriate chores for your children from Sears Imported Autos.
2-3
The good thing is 2-year-olds want to help. The bad thing is it takes twice as long fixing what they did than it would if you actually did it yourself. It pays off in the long run, however, so instruct your young ones in how to help make the bed, help clean up messes, help put away toys, and put dirty clothes in the hamper.
4-6
Improve on the things your child already does, with the ultimate goal of your not having to clean up so much afterward. At this age, kids should be able to set the table with minimal breakage, water the garden with minimal flooding, help with yard work with minimal worm eating, and make their beds without lighting anything on fire.
7-9
Kids should now be able to do chores without destroying your morale. Age-appropriate chores include cleaning their rooms, setting the table, taking care of pets, taking out the trash, writing thank-you notes, keeping track of school work, and letting mom take a five minute nap before yelling in her face to wake up.
10-12
Your kids are no longer cute; in fact, they kind of smell. They're not teenagers yet, so they still like you and might even listen to you. This is your last chance to truly teach them before they turn 13, so teach them to do the dishes, clean the bathroom, prepare simple meals without burning down the house, and turn on the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer. This is also a perfect age to call them in from the back yard to change the TV channel in case the remote control breaks.
13-17
As teens take on more responsibility outside of the home--added school work, more social obligations, sports, and learning how to text without the teacher seeing--it's important not to overwhelm them at home. Setting up a routine or chore chart can help, especially with their input. Hanging things over their head--not giving them money, setting their curfew at 7:30, not letting them borrow the car--helps more. Although you may have to teach them a few things, teenagers should be able to complete all common household chores, including doing the dishes, doing the laundry, preparing meals, giving you a foot massage, washing the car, and anything else you want them to do.
The key to assigning chores involves patience. Don't expect the job to be perfect the first time. It's also important to note that each child develops differently and what may be age-appropriate for one may not be age-appropriate for another.
