Updated: April 23, 2023
Originally Published: April 23, 2023
Are you familiar with those overly ambitious chore charts for children circulating on social media platforms? They often suggest that toddlers should be hauling firewood or that a 10-year-old should handle dinner prep, deep cleaning the kitchen, and even sewing. It’s no wonder many parents are left shaking their heads in disbelief. At 36, I often feel overwhelmed by the expectations set by these charts, so I decided to create a more pragmatic guide for “the average family”—those of us who have realistic views on what children can manage and what parents can tolerate, especially considering that when kids do chores, it usually means parents end up fixing things anyway.
Infants
Let’s be real, infants aren’t capable of chores—not even for those zealous parents who meticulously organize their days with chore charts.
Toddlers
- Aim to toss dirty clothes and a toy or two into the general vicinity of the hamper.
- Try not to throw food onto the floor.
- Keep bath water in the tub where it belongs.
- Dispose of trash in the trash can—not in mom’s hand, pockets, or other random places.
- Attempt to fetch your juice box and open it without creating a juice explosion on the carpet.
- Inform mom immediately if a juice catastrophe occurs.
- Gather all toys into the toy box; the living room floor is not a toy box.
- Place used dishes in the sink without throwing them.
Elementary School Children
- Get dirty clothes closer to the hamper—think about aiming for the floor spot Dad manages to hit.
- Hang up jackets and backpacks upon entering the home without needing multiple reminders from Mom.
- Put the lunch box in the sink as soon as you get home—preferably not the next morning when everyone is in a rush.
- Make sure to tidy up the Legos, so Mom doesn’t step on them and exclaim in pain.
Middle Schoolers
- Gather all bathroom items into a drawer where Mom can’t detect them.
- Charge your own devices without complaint.
- Empty the dishwasher without grumbling.
- Toss your clothes into the hamper, and while you’re at it, help out by picking up Dad’s socks that missed the mark. Yes, life’s not fair.
High School Students
- Surprise your mom by vacuuming or dusting something around the house.
- Cook a meal occasionally.
- Familiarize yourself with the washing machine.
- Get a part-time job to cover your own gas and cell phone expenses.
- Mow the lawn and take out the trash; responsibility looks good on you.
College Students
- If you’re not living at home, your chore responsibilities are minimal until we visit—please make an effort to tidy your dorm room. And seriously, avoid dropping out, facing legal troubles, or developing substance issues.
Young Adults Moving Back Home
- Run errands for Mom when she needs supplies.
- Handle your own laundry.
- Prepare your meals.
- Clean your dishes.
- Really? We still need to go over this? You’re now an adult.
Adults in Their 30s Living at Home
- It’s time to move out.
I acknowledge that no parent wants to raise entitled children, but do we really need to set unrealistic expectations for kids? Should we make parents feel guilty for not following these absurd guidelines set by so-called experts? Every family is different; at our home, one child enjoys cleaning while the other prefers walking the dog or fixing broken items, which we see as equally valuable to the family dynamic. For further information on family planning and fertility, you can check out this resource on pregnancy.
In conclusion, fostering responsibility in children should be balanced with realistic expectations and understanding that not every child will excel in the same tasks. It’s about finding what works best for your family and nurturing those skills.
Keyphrase: Practical chore chart for families
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