For UK families
Age-appropriate chores for kids (UK)
We suggest children start helping at home from about 3, with toys away and their plate on the side. At 6 to 8, try emptying the dishwasher and folding laundry. At 9 to 11, hoovering and changing their bed. At 12 to 14, cooking a simple meal and their own laundry. From 15, most of what a home needs. Start with one new job at a time and praise the effort, as the American Academy of Pediatrics advises (source: AAP).
These lists come from the 89 children's jobs in Famoo's library, each with a starting age, a time and the steps. Pick your child's age to see the jobs, a morning and evening routine, safety notes and a chart to print.
Which chores suit which age?
No health or safety body sets exact ages for chores. The starting ages below are our suggestions, from Famoo’s own job library, checked against the American Academy of Pediatrics’ age-by-age chore lists (source: AAP). Some of ours start earlier than the AAP’s and some later. Every child is different: you know yours. School years are for England, from GOV.UK.
| Age | School year (England and Wales, roughly) | Jobs to try |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | Nursery to Year 1 | Put your toys away, Put your plate on the side, Give the pet fresh water, Set the table |
| 6 to 8 | Years 2 to 4 | Empty the dishwasher, Fold the laundry, Sweep the kitchen floor, Load the dishwasher |
| 9 to 11 | Years 5 to 7 | Hoover downstairs, Change your bed sheets, Make your packed lunch, Walk the dog |
| 12 to 14 | Years 8 to 10 | Cook a simple meal, Do your own laundry, Do the ironing, Mow the lawn |
| 15 to 17 | Years 11 to 13 | Cook dinner for everyone, Do your own laundry, Clean the bathroom, Plan your spending |
Why do chores matter?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says chores teach life skills and how to work as a team, and that helping to look after the home builds a child’s self-esteem (source: AAP). A 2022 La Trobe University study of 207 children aged 5 to 13 found that those who did more self-care and family-care chores, like making a meal, had better working memory and self-control (source: Tepper et al. 2022). It shows a link, not proof that chores cause it, and the authors call for more research.
How do I start my child on chores?
- Pick one job. The AAP suggests adding one new job at a time (source: AAP). We suggest something short with a clear finish, done every day. Put your toys away, or set the table. Show them once, do it together, then let them.
- Make it a routine. Put the job in the same place every day, next to things they already do: after breakfast, before bath. Famoo's routines have five steps or fewer.
- Praise, then points. Notice the effort first: the AAP says to praise the effort, not the outcome (source: AAP). If you use points or pocket money, give them for jobs that help the whole home, not for brushing teeth or homework. Bigger jobs earn more.
Questions parents ask
What chores are right for my child's age?
We suggest jobs that take a few minutes and have a clear finish. At 3 to 5 that is toys away and plates on the side. At 6 to 8, emptying the dishwasher and folding laundry. At 9 to 11, hoovering and changing their bed. At 12 to 14, cooking a simple meal and their own laundry. From 15, almost anything a home needs.
How many chores should a child do a day?
Famoo suggests a short morning and evening routine, of five steps or fewer, plus one job that helps the home. Under 9, one home job a day is plenty. Bigger jobs, like tidying a bedroom, fit best at the weekend.
Should I pay pocket money for chores?
It is your choice. MoneyHelper says paying for chores teaches that money is usually earned, but may not suit you if you want children to help because they are part of the home (source: MoneyHelper). Famoo gives points by default for jobs that help the whole home, like the washing up, and none for brushing teeth, homework, reading or being kind. We think paying for those can turn them into a deal. You decide what points are worth.
At what age can children use cleaning products?
Famoo starts jobs with a cleaning spray at 8, like cleaning the bathroom sink, with an adult handing the spray over and taking it back. Keep cleaning products locked away or high up, in their original containers, and put them back straight after use (source: CAPT). Never mix cleaning products: some mixes, like bleach and ammonia, give off a toxic gas (source: nidirect).
What if my teenager will not help?
From 12, Famoo offers routines and jobs to the young person to accept or change, rather than setting them. In our experience, a job they chose is a job they own. Keep school nights light, especially in exam years.
Turn this list into a points chart your kids can tick in Famoo
Every job on this page is ready-made in Famoo, with the same times and steps, and a suggested routine for every age from 3 to 17. Pick the jobs, choose who does them, and your child ticks them off on their own view of the app. You decide what points are worth.
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Where this comes from
We opened and read each source below to check it says what we say it does. No health, safety or money body sets exact ages for chores, so the starting ages are our own suggestions. Where a line on this page has no source, it is our view as parents, and we say so.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Age-Appropriate Chores for Children, last updated 9 February 2024. Checked 30 October 2026.
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Household Chores for Teens, last updated 9 February 2024. Checked 30 October 2026.
- Tepper, Howell and Bennett, La Trobe University. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 69(5), 585 to 598: Executive functions and household chores: Does engagement in chores predict children’s cognition?, 2022. Checked 30 October 2026.
- Child Accident Prevention Trust: Poisoning prevention. Checked 30 October 2026.
- nidirect, Northern Ireland government: Chemical safety in the home. Checked 30 October 2026.
- MoneyHelper, Money and Pensions Service: Pocket money and saving. Checked 30 October 2026.
- GOV.UK, Department for Education: The national curriculum (school years and key stages). Checked 30 October 2026.
Some words and pictures on this page were drafted with AI. Not yet checked by a person. The starting ages, times and steps come from Famoo’s own job library. The ages are where we suggest starting, not rules: you know your child.
