Ages 9 to 11, roughly Years 5 to 7 in England and Wales
Chores for 9 to 11 year olds
At 9 to 11, Famoo suggests children can hoover, change their own bed sheets, make their packed lunch, clean the litter tray and clean the windows. From 10, it suggests they mop the floor, clean out the fridge, take the bins out and walk the dog. From 11, clean the bathroom and plan their own spending. Most take 10 to 30 minutes. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists vacuuming and walking the pet from 8, and changing sheets and cleaning the bathroom from 11 (source: AAP).
In our experience, children this age can take a job from start to finish without you. The list also includes jobs from 8, when Famoo marks jobs that need more care or strength, like hot water or a cleaning spray. Everything on the 6 to 8 page still counts.
What jobs can a child aged 9 to 11 do?
Jobs that start between 8 and 11 in Famoo's library, grouped by where they happen. Time is about how long it takes. Effort is how Famoo sizes it for points: small, medium or big.
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.
- Looking after themselves
- Bedroom and their own things
- Kitchen and meals
- Cleaning and laundry
- Pets
- Outdoors and bins
- School, reading and clubs
- Helping others
Looking after themselves
Washing, teeth and getting ready sit in the routines below. Most can do these on their own by now.
Bedroom and their own things
| Job | From age | Time | Effort | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change your bed sheets New at this age | 9 | 20 min | big | Ask an adult to help with the duvet cover. |
| Plan your spending New at this age | 11 | 10 min | big | What you have, what you are saving for, and what is left to spend. |
Kitchen and meals
| Job | From age | Time | Effort | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do the washing up | 8 | 15 min | big | Hot soapy water. Glasses first, pans last. |
| Make your packed lunch New at this age | 9 | 10 min | big | Something filling, some fruit and a drink. Ask before using a sharp knife. |
Cleaning and laundry
| Job | From age | Time | Effort | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Load the washing machine | 8 | 5 min | medium | Ask an adult to choose the wash. |
| Clean the bathroom sink | 8 | 10 min | big | Spray, wipe, rinse. Ask an adult for the spray. |
| Hang the laundry out | 8 | 15 min | big | Shake each one out first. |
| Clean the windows New at this age | 9 | 20 min | big | Spray, wipe, then polish dry with a clean cloth. Inside only. |
| Hoover downstairs New at this age | 9 | 30 min | big | Move small things off the floor first. |
| Mop the kitchen floor New at this age | 10 | 15 min | big | Sweep first. Not too wet, and keep off it while it dries. |
| Clean out the fridge New at this age | 10 | 20 min | big | Out-of-date things out, shelves wiped, everything back. |
| Clean the bathroom New at this age | 11 | 30 min | big | Toilet, bath and floor. Gloves on, and ask an adult for the spray. |
Pets
| Job | From age | Time | Effort | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean out the pet cage | 8 | 20 min | big | Old bedding out, fresh bedding in. |
| Clean the litter tray New at this age | 9 | 5 min | medium | Gloves on. Scoop it, bag it, then wash your hands. |
| Walk the dog New at this age | 10 | 30 min | big | Lead on, poo bags in your pocket. |
Outdoors and bins
| Job | From age | Time | Effort | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wash the car | 8 | 45 min | big | Bucket, sponge, rinse. Ask an adult for the hose. |
| Bins out New at this age | 10 | 10 min | big | Take the bins to the kerb the night before collection. |
School, reading and clubs
| Job | From age | Time | Effort | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revise for a test New at this age | 11 | 30 min | big | Short bursts with breaks. Test yourself rather than just rereading. |
Famoo gives no points for these by default. We think learning is its own reward, and paying per session pushes speed over care.
Helping others
| Job | From age | Time | Effort | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help a younger brother or sister | 8 | 15 min | big | Read with them or help them tidy. |
Famoo gives no points for these by default. We think kindness to family should not be bought.
What does a good routine look like at 9 to 11?
These are the routines Famoo suggests for 9 to 11: at most five steps each. A missed step is just not ticked.
Morning routine
7am to 8.15am, school days. About 32 minutes of steps.
- Make your bed 5 min
- Get dressed 5 min
- Eat your breakfast 15 min
- Brush your teeth 2 min
- Pack your school bag 5 min
After school
4pm to 5.30pm, school days. About 39 minutes of steps.
- Empty your lunchbox 2 min
- Fill your water bottle 2 min
- Do your homework 30 min
- Feed the pet 5 min
Evening routine
6pm to 7.30pm, every day. About 32 minutes of steps.
- Clear the table 10 min
- Put dirty clothes in the laundry basket 2 min
- Have a bath or shower 15 min
- Lay out your uniform 5 min
Once a week
- Tidy your bedroom: Saturday
- Change your bed sheets: Sunday
- Sort the recycling: Tuesday
Printable chores chart for 9 to 11 year olds
Prints on one A4 page. Use your browser's Print, or the button. Tick a box when a step is done; grey boxes are days off.
| Job | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning routine (7am to 8.15am) | |||||||
| Make your bed | |||||||
| Get dressed | |||||||
| Eat your breakfast | |||||||
| Brush your teeth | |||||||
| Pack your school bag | |||||||
| After school (4pm to 5.30pm) | |||||||
| Empty your lunchbox | |||||||
| Fill your water bottle | |||||||
| Do your homework | |||||||
| Feed the pet | |||||||
| Evening routine (6pm to 7.30pm) | |||||||
| Clear the table | |||||||
| Put dirty clothes in the laundry basket | |||||||
| Have a bath or shower | |||||||
| Lay out your uniform | |||||||
| Once a week | |||||||
| Tidy your bedroom | |||||||
| Change your bed sheets | |||||||
| Sort the recycling | |||||||
From famoo.app/chores-by-age
Get the Famoo app Family life, sorted together. The family calendar, jobs and lists, shared by everyone at home.
app.famoo.app
Is it safe? Notes for 9 to 11
Keep cleaning products locked away, even now, in their original containers (source: CAPT). An adult hands over the spray and takes it back. Gloves for the bathroom if the label says so (source: nidirect), and we suggest gloves for the litter tray too. Never mix cleaning products: some mixes, like bleach and ammonia, give off a toxic gas (source: nidirect).
How do I get a 9 to 11 year old to help?
- Give them a job to own, not just do. In our experience, "the recycling is yours on Tuesdays" sticks better than asking each week.
- Agree what done looks like. For a bedroom: clothes away, floor clear, surfaces tidy.
- Let them plan. Plan your spending starts at 11: what they have, what they are saving for, what is left. MoneyHelper says giving even a little money regularly helps children learn to save and budget (source: MoneyHelper).
- Bigger jobs earn more points in Famoo than small ones.
- We put homework first on school days. Keep home jobs short on those days and do the big ones at the weekend.
Questions parents ask
What chores can a 10 year old do?
Famoo suggests: hoover, change their bed sheets, make their packed lunch, mop the kitchen floor, clean out the fridge, take the bins out and walk the dog. Most take 10 to 30 minutes.
Can a 10 year old walk the dog on their own?
Famoo suggests walking the dog from 10; the American Academy of Pediatrics lists walking the family pet from 8 (source: AAP). Whether they go alone depends on your dog, your road and your child. Start by walking it together.
How much should a 9 year old help at home?
Famoo suggests a short routine morning and evening, one home job most days, and one or two bigger jobs at the weekend, like tidying their bedroom or changing their bed.
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 9 to 11. 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.
- 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.
Younger: 6 to 8 Older: 12 to 14
