Found: Chore List for All Ages!

My new favorite site - freshly discovered today, http://www.totallytogetherjournal.com/, provided me with this glorious and uproarious list of chores that OUR children (that means yours too) can handle!  Please note that I did not take the time to edit the list (refer to phrase "bed clothes" listed below) as my contact lenses have now been glued to my eyes for 36 hours.  In a fun, but unfortunate lapse in judgement last night (3 margaritas too many) I couldn't find my eyes, much less pry my dry-as-corn-flakes contact lenses out of my eyes.  Enough said!  Here's our list:

One to Two Years of Age


Babies and young children enjoy being “big helpers,” and can begin to participate in the following household chores with adult supervision, help, and guidance:

- sort laundry
- empty wastebaskets
- bring in the mail/newspaper
- match socks
- pull up bed clothes
- empty spoons and plasticware from the dishwasher caddy
- put toys away in appropriate containers
- “dust and clean” with a baby wipe

Three to Six Years of Age

Preschool-age children can continue to help with all of the chores listed above, along with the following added responsibilities:

- make their own beds
- load and unload the dishwasher with assistance
- help younger siblings clean up strewn toys
- feed and water pets
- pull weeds
- water plants
- use a whisk broom to clean up crumbs under the dinner table
- use a handheld vacuum cleaner to spot-clean, or to vacuum the stairs
- put away their own laundry
- set the table for meals

Seven to Ten Years of Age

School-age children are capable of fulfilling all of the tasks listed above, as well as these new additions:

- complete an entire load of wash
- help younger siblings put away laundry
- vacuum their own rooms
- maintain order in their bedrooms
– sweep the kitchen
- load and unload the dishwasher independently
- walk the dog
- clear the table after meals

Pre-teen through Teenage Years

Although teenagers would rather lie around and talk on the phone (or text, whatever) all day, they are fully able to help their parents out with most of the housekeeping duties, inside and out, including these new ones listed below:

- vacuum the house
- sweep the house
- clean the refrigerator
- wipe down the bathrooms
- wipe down the kitchen countertops
- help younger siblings as needed
- perform more strenuous work in the garden