Chore Chart guide
Chore chart for kids by age: chore ideas, stars and rewards
Children as young as 2 or 3 can help with simple jobs like putting toys away, and by 10 to 12 most can take on real household tasks such as vacuuming a room or helping cook a simple meal. Start with two or three chores that match what your child can do, show them how, and let stars add up to a reward they chose. Every child is different, so treat any age list as a starting point.
Age-appropriate chores: a rough guide
These lists are ideas, not targets. Children develop at different speeds, and what counts as a reasonable job depends on your home. A chore that needs help today may be one they do alone in a few months. Each age group can also keep doing the jobs from the rows above.
| Age | Chore ideas |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 | Put toys in a box, put dirty clothes in the basket, help feed a pet with a grown-up, wipe up small spills, carry their own cup to the side |
| 4 to 5 | Make their bed (roughly), set out cutlery, match socks, water plants, tidy books onto a shelf, clear their plate after meals |
| 6 to 7 | Sort laundry by colour, put away clean clothes, help unload the dishwasher (no knives), sweep with a dustpan and brush, pack their school bag |
| 8 to 9 | Lay and clear the table, fold laundry, take out the recycling, feed a pet on their own, make a simple breakfast or packed lunch |
| 10 to 12 | Vacuum a room, load the dishwasher, clean the bathroom sink, change their bed sheets with help, help cook a simple meal |
| 13 and up | Do a load of laundry, cook a family meal, mow the lawn, clean the kitchen, look after a younger sibling for a short time |
How to start chores, step by step
- Pick two or three chores. A short list gets done. You can add more once these are a habit.
- Show, then help, then step back. Do it together the first few times. Explain what "done" looks like: a made bed means the duvet is pulled up, not perfect hospital corners.
- Tie chores to a time of day. "Feed the cat after breakfast" is easier to remember than "feed the cat".
- Make it visible. A chart on the fridge or a screen your child can tick themselves lets them see what's left without being nagged.
- Notice the effort. Specific praise ("you put every sock away") goes a long way, especially at the start.
How a star or reward chart works
A reward chart (also called a sticker chart or star chart) turns chores into something a child can see adding up. The idea is simple:
- Each chore earns stars when it's done. Bigger or harder jobs can earn more.
- A grown-up checks that it's done, then the stars count.
- Stars add up to a reward the child chose in advance, such as a trip to the park, a film night, choosing dinner or a small toy.
- When they reach it, they get it, promptly and with a bit of celebration. Then they pick the next one.
Rewards don't have to cost money. Time together, a later bedtime on Friday or picking the weekend activity often work just as well as things you buy.
How many stars should a reward cost?
Work out roughly how many stars your child can earn in a week, then price rewards against that.
Worked example
A 7-year-old has four chores: make bed (1 star, 7 days), feed the cat (1 star, 7 days), tidy toys (1 star, 5 days) and help unload the dishwasher (2 stars, 2 days). That's 7 + 7 + 5 + 4 = 23 stars in a full week.
A small reward at about 15 stars can be reached in under a week, even with a few missed days. A bigger one at around 40 to 50 stars takes about two weeks.
Older kids, pocket money and trust
As children get older, they often need less checking. Letting a 10-year-old mark their own chores as done is a way of trusting them, and you can step back in if things slip.
Whether chores are linked to pocket money is a family choice. Some families pay for chores; others keep everyday jobs unpaid ("we all help at home") and pay only for extra jobs, like washing the car. Either can work if you're consistent.
Setting it up in Chore Chart
Chore Chart puts all of this on a phone or tablet:
- Add your child with a name, a picture and a colour.
- Add chores on the days they happen, each worth 1 to 5 stars. They repeat every week.
- Pick a reward to save up for. A progress bar shows how many stars are left.
- Your child taps a chore when it's done. It waits for a grown-up, who approves it with a 4-digit PIN. For older kids, you can turn approval off.
- Celebrate. When the stars reach the reward there's a celebration, and you give the reward.
The week view works like a sticker chart, and you can look back at past weeks. It's free for up to 2 children with one reward each, with no account and no ads, and everything stays on your device. Chore Chart Pro ($2.99 once, unlocked behind the grown-up PIN) adds more children, a reward shop with several rewards to choose from, bonus chores, every-other-week and monthly chores, a printable chart and themes.
Common mistakes
- Too many chores at once. Start small and build up.
- Rewards that are too far away. A month is forever to a five-year-old.
- Redoing their job in front of them. If the bed is lumpy, let it be lumpy.
- Checking only sometimes. If stars depend on a grown-up, check every day or turn approval off.
- Taking stars away as a punishment. Many parents find a chart works better when stars earned stay earned, and other behaviour is dealt with separately.
- Changing the rules midweek. Agree the chores and rewards, then stick with them until the next week.
Questions
What age should kids start doing chores?
Many children can start helping with simple jobs from about 2 or 3, such as putting toys away or putting clothes in the laundry basket. Keep it short and do it together at first.
How many chores should a child have?
Two or three to start with, especially for younger children. Add more once those are a habit. Older children can manage a longer list, including a few bigger jobs a week.
Do reward charts work?
Many families find a chart helps, mainly because children can see their progress and know what's expected. It tends to work best with a few clear chores, rewards they chose, and a grown-up who checks consistently.
What are good rewards for a chore chart?
Things your child actually wants: a trip to the park, a film night, choosing dinner, extra screen time, a later bedtime at the weekend or a small toy. Rewards don't have to cost money.
Should kids get paid for chores?
It's a family choice. Some families pay pocket money for chores, others keep everyday jobs unpaid and pay only for extras. Being consistent matters more than which you pick.
Is a chore chart good for teenagers?
Teenagers often prefer a simple list they manage themselves, without stars needing approval. In Chore Chart you can turn approval off so they mark chores done on their own.