Christmas jobs for kids, by age
Updated 30 October 2026 · By Rob and Chris, two Sheffield dads, and our families
Children can help with lots of Christmas jobs. In our homes, 3 to 5 year olds hang unbreakable decorations and set out cutlery, 6 to 8 year olds write cards and wash vegetables, 9 to 11 year olds wrap presents and help cook with a grown-up beside them, and 12 plus cook one part of Christmas dinner. Every child is different, so treat the ages as a rough guide.
Christmas jobs for ages 3 to 5
One clear job, done together. Nothing sharp, hot or high.
| Job | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Hang unbreakable decorations on the low branches | 15 min | Felt, wooden or plastic ones. A grown-up does the lights. |
| Put out cutlery and napkins for Christmas dinner | 10 min | Count the chairs first, then one of each per chair. |
| Count the plates and cups we need | 5 min | Good counting practice. A grown-up lifts the heavy ones. |
| Stick labels on wrapped presents | 5 min | A grown-up reads the names, the child sticks. |
| Hang Christmas cards on a string | 10 min | Pegs or tape. They choose the order. |
| Tidy toys away to make room for the tree | 10 min | One basket, one song, done. |
| Put wrapping paper in a bag after presents | 10 min | A grown-up checks which bits can go in recycling. |
Christmas jobs for ages 6 to 8
| Job | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Write names in Christmas cards | 30 min | A grown-up writes a list to copy from. |
| Wash and dry the vegetables | 15 min | Carrots, sprouts, potatoes in a bowl of water. A grown-up does the peeling and chopping. |
| Make place cards for the table | 20 min | Folded card, a name and a drawing on each. |
| Set out crackers and decorate the table | 15 min | Crackers on plates, a few decorations down the middle. |
| Wrap soft presents | 20 min | A grown-up cuts the paper to size, the child folds and tapes. |
| Hoover pine needles round the tree | 10 min | A grown-up checks the hoover cable is clear. |
| Help write the food shopping list | 10 min | They check the cupboards and call out what’s missing. |
Christmas jobs for ages 9 to 11
| Job | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Wrap presents with scissors and tape | 30 min | Round-ended or children’s scissors. Measure the paper first. |
| Peel vegetables with a peeler | 20 min | Peel away from the hand, with a grown-up in the kitchen. |
| Chop soft veg with a small knife | 20 min | A grown-up beside them the whole time. Claw grip, board on a damp cloth. |
| Mix stuffing or Yorkshire pudding batter | 15 min | In a bowl, away from the hob. A grown-up does the oven. |
| Lay the whole table | 20 min | Cutlery, glasses, crackers, place cards, napkins. |
| Write thank-you notes | 30 min | One line about each present and why they like it. |
| Plan the Christmas Day games | 20 min | Three games, the rules written down, a prize from the house. |
Christmas jobs for ages 12 plus
| Job | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Cook one part of Christmas dinner | 1 hour | Roast potatoes, veg or a pudding, with a grown-up nearby when the hob or oven is on. |
| Plan the Christmas Day timetable | 30 min | What goes in the oven when, working back from dinner time. |
| Wrap presents for younger brothers and sisters | 45 min | Keep it secret. Label them clearly. |
| Run the washing up rota after dinner | 30 min | Wash, dry, put away. They decide who does which. |
| Make the Christmas playlist | 20 min | Songs for everyone, from grandparents to toddlers. |
| Write and post cards to relatives | 30 min | A short message in each. Post by the last posting date. |
| Get the room ready for visitors | 30 min | Hoover, clear surfaces, find extra chairs. |
How do we share out Christmas jobs fairly?
- Write every job on one list, including the grown-ups’ jobs.
- Let each child pick from the jobs for their age, oldest picks last.
- One or two jobs a day is plenty. Christmas is a holiday for them too.
- Pair an older child with a younger one: the older one reads, the younger one does.
- Say thank you for the job, not just the result. A wonky place card still counts.
For jobs all year round, see our chores by age lists.
Should Christmas jobs earn pocket money?
That is your call. Some families treat Christmas jobs as helping out, and some pay a little extra so children have money for presents. If you pay, our pocket money calculator works out what each job is worth, and our guide to budgeting for Christmas presents shows children how to plan it.
Keeping it safe
These are our own house rules, not official ages. No knives for under-9s. From 9, a grown-up stays beside a child using a knife. Under-10s do not use the hob unless a grown-up is right beside them, and a grown-up handles the oven and hot trays for younger children. Children do not climb ladders or chairs to decorate: a grown-up goes up, children hand things up. A grown-up puts up and plugs in electrical decorations, checks them for damage and loose wires first, and switches them off and unplugs them at night. Keep glass baubles, small decorations and anything with a button battery out of reach of under-3s: RoSPA says under 3s are most at risk from decorations with parts that pull off, and swallowed button batteries can cause severe internal burns.
Our Christmas jobs chart
Write a name next to each job, then tick each day it’s done. Add your own in the blank rows.
Or use your browser’s Print. Only the list prints.
| Job | Who | Mon 21 | Tue 22 | Wed 23 | Thu 24 | Fri 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay the table | ||||||
| Tidy toys | ||||||
| Wash the veg | ||||||
| Wrap presents | ||||||
| Hoover round the tree | ||||||
| Recycling | ||||||
| Washing up | ||||||
| Thank-you notes | ||||||
Get the Famoo app Family life, sorted together. The family calendar, jobs and lists, shared by everyone at home.
app.famoo.app
Questions parents ask
What Christmas jobs can a 4 year old do?
Hang unbreakable decorations on the low branches, set out cutlery and napkins, stick labels on presents, hang cards on a string and tidy toys away. Keep it to one clear job, done with a grown-up, with nothing sharp, hot or high.
Can children help cook Christmas dinner?
Yes, with jobs for their age. In our homes, 6 to 8 year olds wash vegetables. From 9, they peel and chop soft vegetables with a grown-up beside them. 12 plus cook one part of the meal with a grown-up nearby. Under-10s only use the hob with a grown-up right beside them.
Should I pay children for Christmas jobs?
It is up to you. Some families see it as helping out; some pay a little extra so children can buy presents. If you pay, agree the amount before the job, not after.
How do I get teenagers to help at Christmas?
Give them a job with real responsibility, such as cooking one dish, running the washing up rota or planning the day’s timetable. Let them choose how they do it.
Turn these into a jobs chart your kids can tick in Famoo
In Famoo, you pick jobs from ready-made lists and change the words so they sound like your family. Little ones see pictures, older children see their jobs and points, and teens see their own week. Join the beta and set up your Christmas jobs in a few minutes.
Famoo is a family app for UK homes, in beta, so things may change.
Where this comes from
Each fact on this page links to one of these. Everything else is our own view from our families.
- Electrical Safety First, Electrical safety advice for Christmas lights, checked 30 October 2026
- RoSPA, Christmas novelties safety tips, checked 30 October 2026
- NHS, Baby and toddler safety, checked 30 October 2026
