In our house, Leo’s chores currently include putting his shoes in the shoe basket and carrying carrots from one side of the kitchen to the other. He takes both roles very seriously, and occasionally does one of them.
It’s a start. And starting early is most of the trick. Here’s a guide to chores by age, and the simple token system we use to keep everyone pitching in.
Chores by age
Every child is different, so treat these as a starting point.
Ages 2–3 (the enthusiastic helpers)
- Put toys in a basket
- Put shoes away
- Help feed a pet (with supervision)
- Carry light things to the table
- Wipe up their own spills
Ages 4–5
- Set the table (non-breakables)
- Help unpack the shopping
- Water plants
- Make their bed (loosely defined)
- Match socks from the washing
Ages 6–8
- Pack their own school bag
- Help pack lunchboxes
- Sort the washing into colours
- Feed pets
- Help wash and chop soft veg (with supervision)
Ages 9–12
- Empty the dishwasher
- Take the bins out (and bring them back in)
- Help cook a simple meal
- Vacuum a room
- Hang out washing
Teens
- Cook a family dinner once a week
- Do their own washing
- Clean the bathroom
- Write the shopping list from the meal plan
- Mow the lawn
A reward system that works
We use tokens. It’s simple, it’s fair, and it doesn’t involve a sticker chart that gets lost behind the fridge.
- Every chore earns 1 to 5 tokens, depending on how big it is. Shoes away: 1. Cooking dinner: 5.
- The family sets the goals together. For example: 40 tokens for a new toy, 100 for a day out, or 5 to choose Friday’s dinner.
- Kids can see their progress. Watching the tally climb is half the motivation.
- Adults can earn tokens too. Somebody has to empty the dishwasher, and a bit of friendly competition never hurt anyone.
Tips to make chores stick
- Make them repeat. Same chores, same days. Routine beats nagging.
- Show, then share, then step back. Do it together a few times before they fly solo.
- Praise the effort, not the perfection. A wonky bed is still a made bed.
- Keep the list visible, on the fridge or on a tablet in the kitchen.
Where My Tomte helps
On the Family and Premium plans, My Tomte gives each child a profile with their own chores and token tally. Recurring chores reset themselves (bins on Tuesday, every Tuesday, forever), and kids can see how close they are to their goal. Adults can earn tokens too.