Looking for ways to teach your kids responsibility while also getting some extra help around the house? Consider introducing them to chores kids can do for money. Chores can help your children learn responsibility, independence, time management, and more, all the basic skills that will make adulthood much easier down the line.
And if your kids need a bit of a push to help around the house, some monetary incentive should be more than enough to give them the motivation they need. If you’re going to give your kids an allowance, letting them earn it will help them appreciate what they get.
Talk with your kids to determine the allowance they can earn and assign them some of these chores.
Chores For Children Aged 7-12
When it comes to teaching kids about money and responsibility, having a list of chores kids can do for money tailored to their age is essential. You can’t expect a 7-year-old to be able to do all the tasks that a 17-year-old can handle. So, having a list of tasks suitable for different age ranges is in your and your child’s best interest.
Kitchen Chores
The kitchen is usually the messiest place in the home. Fortunately, if you have kids between 7 and 12 years of age, they could help you keep it tidy. Here are some ideas of kitchen chores kids can do for money.
1. Put Away the Groceries
Putting away the groceries is a simple chore that even a 5-year-old could learn to do. Start by having your child help as you put away groceries so they can learn precisely what goes into the fridge and what goes into the pantry. Then let them complete the chore alone.
2. Set/Clear the Table
Setting the table and clearing it after meals should not be too difficult for your 7-to-12-year-old. They don’t have to master the art of folding napkins into elegant swans, but they can certainly set the tablecloth, a few plates, and some cutlery.
3. Sweep the Kitchen Floors
Hand your kid a broom and have them sweep the kitchen floors after meals… and yes, they need to sweep under the table, too, not just around it. Don’t expect perfection, but make sure that your kids do a good enough job to earn their allowance.
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4. Help With Cooking
Having a young child around knives and hot stoves could be dangerous, but your child should still be able to help you with cooking. Have them peel vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, hand you the ingredients you need, put away condiments after you’ve used them, and more. Every little bit counts.
5. Prepare and Pack Their School Lunch
Making a PB&J sandwich or putting leftovers into a container and packing it into their lunch box is something that any 7-year-old should be able to do. Let your kid take care of their school lunch. Just keep an eye on what they’re making to ensure they don’t go to school with a lunch box filled with candy bars!
6. Clean Countertops
You don’t want to let your young child clean the countertops using harsh chemicals. They can still use a damp microfiber cloth or paper towels to clean the countertops daily.
7. Fill Up Ice Trays
If you’re like most people, you don’t notice that your ice trays are empty until you really need some ice. Put your child in charge of checking and filling the ice trays on time.
8. Prepare Simple Foods
If your kid can read, they can most likely follow simple instructions. Have your kid prepare simple meals such as mac and cheese, smoothies, fruit salads, and the like. This isn’t only a chore kids can do for money, but it’s also a great way of exposing your child to what preparing and enjoying the food cooked by him actually mean.
Bathroom Chores
Some kids might find bathroom chores disgusting, but it’s still essential for them to learn how to do them. The sooner, the better!
9. Wipe Up Spills and Smudges
Water stains can be a pain in the neck to clean if you tend just to let them be. You’ll want to teach your kids to always wipe spills and smudges in the bathroom as soon as they notice them. Have a handy microfiber towel ready so they can always clean after themselves when they’re done with the shower.
10. Empty the Bathroom Trash Bag
Have your kids check all the bathroom trash cans daily and empty them when they’re full. Of course, the chore is not complete until they’ve also replaced the bag!
11. Clean the Mirrors
While cleaning the mirrors can be an ordeal if you’re looking for perfection, keeping them in a presentable condition is not all that difficult. Hand your kid a damp cloth and a squeegee, and let them keep the mirrors in the bathroom looking nice.
12. Clean and Fill Soap Dispensers
Liquid soap dispensers can get pretty gross and gunky even after a little bit of use. Your child can undoubtedly handle the responsibility of cleaning and refilling the soap dispensers in the bathroom every few days.
13. Clean Water Stains From the Shower
If you have a glass shower door, keep your child responsible for wiping it down daily. A task that takes just a few minutes to complete daily will save you some serious time, as you’ll never have to deal with hard-set water stains.
14. Put Out Clean Towels
Some people change their bathroom towels daily. Others are a bit more lenient with this schedule. Whatever the rules are in your house, have your kids responsible for putting out clean bathroom towels regularly.
16. Dust the Cabinets
With all the moisture in the bathroom, it can be difficult to notice dust accumulation on the cabinets. You can rest assured it’s there. Hand your child a damp towel and have them dust the cabinets at least once a week.
17. Clean Chrome Fixtures
Depending on the condition of the chrome fixtures in your bathrooms, you might need some harsh chemicals to clean them. However, if they have just some minor water stains, let your child take care of this with a simple damp cloth and some baking soda.
Living Room Chores
With kids ages 7 to 12, the living room can get pretty messy pretty quickly. Here are some living room chores kids can do for money.
18. Dust the Bookshelves and the TV Stand
A light dusting is a simple chore kids can do for money that will keep your living room looking, smelling, and feeling fresh. Kids as young as 7 can dust the bookshelves and the TV stand, but you might have to help them with some hard-to-reach places up top, and you might want to keep them away from fragile items.
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19. Sweep/Vacuum the Floors
Operating the vacuum isn’t generally difficult, so you should feel free to hand your 7-year-old a vacuum and have them clean the living room floors. If you have a bulky vacuum that’s hard to drag along, hand them a broom.
20. Put Away Their Toys and Other Items
Regardless of your child’s age, they should be able to put away all their toys, outdoor clothes, and other items and keep them away from the living room when they’re not using them.
21. Fold and Store Blankets
Throw blankets aren’t designed just to lay scrunched up on the couch. Your child can easily fold and store away blankets when they’re not in use, keeping your living room looking tidy. For more convenience, have a blanket basket (or other storage solution) right there in the living room.
22. Clean Side Tables
Side tables often get neglected and dusty, something you’ll notice whenever you have guests over. To avoid getting embarrassed by it, have your child responsible for cleaning the side tables every week.
23. Dust Picture Frames
It’s easy to overlook picture frames hanging on the walls of your living room. Can you remember the last time you cleaned them? Have your child in charge of their upkeep – a simple cleaning with a damp cloth will do wonders.
24. Put Away Books, Magazines, and Newspapers
While books and magazines are educational and can serve as sophisticated home decor, they’ll only make your living room look messy when they’re just lying around. Your children should put away all books, magazines, newspapers, and other items every day.
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25. Put the Remote in Its Usual Place
Putting the remote control where it belongs doesn’t sound like much of a chore at first, but have you considered how long it takes you to find it when it’s not in its usual place? Make sure your child knows where to keep the remote control and always puts it in its designated place.
Bedroom Chores
As a general rule of thumb, when your child reaches the age of 7, there’s really no reason for you to be responsible for the daily upkeep of their bedroom. They should be easily able to handle most of these tasks. Check out the following bedroom chores that kids can do to earn money.
26. Clean the Floors
If you have hardwood, tile, or similar floors in the bedroom, mopping them daily will help keep them in good condition. If your kid’s bedroom is carpeted, they can instead vacuum their bedroom.
27. Organize Laundry
At 7, your children are old enough to know whether their clothes are dirty or not, and they’re old enough to keep their laundry organized. Let that be one of their daily chores.
28. Strip the Sheets
Regularly cleaning the bedsheets is essential, especially if your child tends to sweat through the night. Have your child strip their bedsheets regularly, whether that’s daily or weekly, and for convenience, keep a laundry basket for the linens in their bedroom.
29. Put on New Bedding
Stripping the sheets is no more complicated than putting them on (unless we’re talking about fitted sheets). If your child can do one, they can certainly do the other.
30. Tidy Up Toys and Books
At the end of every day, your child should put away all the toys, books, and other items they used. Just ensure they have enough storage space in the bedroom for all their things.
31. Fold Clothes
A 7-year-old might not know the perfect “Marie Kondo” way of folding clothes, but they probably have enough dexterity to keep their closet nicely organized.
32. Empty Waste Paper Baskets
It takes less than a minute to empty the waste paper basket and put it in a new trash bag, so there’s no reason why you should do it. Let your children be responsible for the cleanliness of their own rooms.
33. Clean the Study Area
Whether they’re doing homework, doing arts and crafts, or playing at their desk, the study area in most children’s bedrooms tends to get dirty quickly. Have them keep it organized and clean it with a damp cloth once a week.
Pet Chores
Even the youngest child should take on some responsibility for the family pet. While they should not be responsible for the pet’s overall well-being and vet visits, they can do a few small things to help out.
34. Fill Water Bowls
Your pets should always have access to clean drinking water. To ensure that your kids learn this, make them responsible for filling the water bowls at least once a day. Of course, when they first start doing this, keep an eye out so that they don’t forget!
35. Put Out Food
In addition to filling the water bowls, they should also take responsibility for feeding the pets at designated times. Always double-check to ensure that your pets are well-fed.
36. Pick Up Pet Droppings
While it’s a bit gross at first, picking up pet droppings is essential. After all, picking it up using a bag is less gross than accidentally stepping in it.
37. Clean the Litter Box
Just like your kids should pick up after their dogs when they go potty, they should pick up after their cats. Have them clean out the litter box at least once a day.
38. Brush the Pet
Brushing pets can be an exhausting chore. If your kid can’t handle it themselves, you could step in and help them while still keeping this mainly their task.
39. Walk the Dog (If It’s Not Large)
If you have smaller dogs, let your kids be responsible for taking them on a daily walk. It’s beneficial for both the pet and the kids as it will keep them active. Refrain from letting your younger kids walk larger dogs by themselves, even if the dogs are well-behaved.
40. Help With Training
Teaching pets new tricks and training them can be a wonderful bonding experience, so let your children participate. Make sure they’re using lots of positive reinforcement and healthy treats.
41. Help with Bathing
Bathing your pets is likely not a daily chore you need to take on, but it’s important. Have your kids help with bathing your animals and teach them the importance of proper pet hygiene.
Chores To Do Around the House for Children Aged 13–18
The older your kids are, the more responsibilities they should take on around the house. Here are some chores kids aged 13 to 18 can do for money.
Kitchen Chores
Your teens can offer a lot of help around the kitchen, from organizing the kitchen counters to cooking full-blown meals. These are our ideas of kitchen chores older kids can do for money:
42. Disinfect Countertops
Disinfecting the countertops should be no problem for your teens. Give them a pair of rubber gloves and some cleaning supplies, and let them take care of it daily.
43. Clean Out the Refrigerator
Cleaning the refrigerator could be a somewhat more time-consuming chore, but it’s an important one. Have your teen in charge of the monthly fridge cleanliness, then help them do a deep clean every three or four months.
44. Throw Away Expired Groceries
Every once in a while, have your kid examine the expiration dates on all the groceries, condiments, and other food and discard the expired items.
45. Cook Meals
When they enter their teens, your kids should start offering more assistance around meal times. While you shouldn’t expect them to cook meals daily, you can pick a day of the week when they’ll be responsible for cooking.
46. Organize the Kitchen Counters
It’s more complicated than it seems to keep your kitchen counters nicely organized. Your kid can help you clean and tidy them every couple of weeks.
47. Start the Dishwasher
Starting the dishwasher isn’t a complicated process, so keep your teen in charge of it. They can also do the dishes by hand when there’s not enough for a full load.
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48. Clean the Sink
Your sink needs regular scrubbing and cleaning to stay nice and shiny. Show your teen how to scrub the sink properly, then let that be their responsibility from now on.
49. Degrease the Stove
Whether just boiling some water or cooking a full-course meal, your stove will always get dirty, gunky, and greasy. Have your teen responsible for cleaning and degreasing the stove after you’re done cooking.
Bathroom Chores
Most teens can easily handle any bathroom chores that adults can do. While they might not think it’s fair to be responsible for all the house bathrooms, they could at least take care of the one they use the most often.
50. Clean the Toilet
Technically speaking, the toilet is the cleanest part of your house, but that’s only if you clean it regularly. So, have your teen clean the toilet every now and again to help you out.
51. Scrub the Shower and Bathtub
No one wants to take a shower in a dirty-looking bathroom. Your teen is old enough to scrub the entire shower and bathtub, keeping them looking pristine.
52. Clean the Shower Curtain
Even though they might not always look dirty, shower curtains are a breeding ground for bacteria. Your teen should strip and wash them at least once every three to four months.
53. Clean the Bathmat
Unsurprisingly, bathmats quickly accumulate a lot of dirt and bacteria. Have your kid wash them at least on a weekly basis.
54. Wipe the Medicine Cabinet
You don’t want your young kids cleaning the medicine cabinet as they could accidentally ingest something they shouldn’t. Your teens, however, should be more than capable enough to wipe the medicine cabinet clean without exposing themselves to risks.
55. Wipe Down Walls and Doors
If you have tiled walls in the bathroom, they’ll need good scrubbing on occasion. Have your teen take on the chore of wiping down walls and doors of the bathrooms.
56. Disinfect the Drains
Younger teens can use some dishwashing liquid to clean the drains, while older ones can use dedicated cleaning agents to clean and disinfect them.
57. Mop the Floors
Bathroom floors need daily mopping to stay fresh and clean. Your teen can take up the mop and clean the floors in less than 5 minutes.
Living Room Chores
The living room is one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, and it needs some TLC every single day. Here’s how your teen can help with living room chores.
58. Remove Pet Hair From Couches
If you have a pet, you likely struggle with pet hair getting stuck into every nook and cranny of the house/ Your teen can help minimize the pet hair problem by frequently removing it from couches and cushions.
59. Clean the TV Screen
The electromagnetic waves coming from the TV screen are a magnet for fine dust particles. Have your teen clean the TV screen regularly to minimize this nuisance.
60. Organize Books and CDs
Your teen can easily organize all the books and CDs in the living room, whether alphabetically, by color, size, type, or more.
61. Vacuum the Couch Cushions
As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to deep-clean your couch and cushions at least twice a year. In between these cleanings, your teen can vacuum the cushions to prevent them from developing that odd, stuffy smell.
62. Clean Up Their Belongings
If your teen has their own bedroom with enough storage, there’s no reason why their personal items like notebooks, clothes, and more should be in the living room. Have them clear away their belongings every day.
63. Wipe the Coffee Table
Coffee stains can be a bit challenging to remove, but it’s nothing your teen can’t handle. Have them wipe the coffee table clean every day.
64. Remove Everything From the Shelves and Clean Them
Dusting the shelves doesn’t mean just dusting around all the books, decor, and do-dads. Your teen can remove everything from the living room shelves, clean them thoroughly, then place everything back where it belongs.
65. Dust Hanging Lights
Hanging lights in the living room attract dust and spiders. Have your teen dust them frequently, especially if they have brass and glass decorations.
Bedroom Chores
Bedroom chores shouldn’t be much of a hassle for your teen. Here’s how they can keep their bedroom well maintained.
66. Keep the Bedroom Tidy
Your teens will likely spend most of their time in their bedroom, so there’s no reason why it should be messy. Have them keep up the bedroom mess every day. This is a great way of teaching them to be well-organized while also doing chores to earn money.
67. Fold and Organize Their Clothes
A messy closet is typical for teens, but you should at least have them fold and organize their own clothes. Don’t tidy up their closet for them.
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68. Dust and Wipe Shelves
Regular dusting and wiping will ensure your teen’s bedroom is nice and clean and ensure that it smells pleasant at any time of day. Your teen should remember to dust and wipe all the shelves without you having to interfere.
69. Disinfect Light Switches and Door Knobs
Light switches and door knobs are some of the dirtiest places in your entire house – after all, they’re the objects everyone most frequently interacts with. Your teen should disinfect all the switches and door knobs regularly to keep harmful bacteria away.
70. Vacuum Under the Bed
Even if they mop the floors daily, your teens will find that their bedroom is often stuffy and dirty. That’s because all the dust from under the bedspreads around easily. Vacuuming under the bed should be added to the list of chores your teen is responsible for.
71. Scrub Down the Study Area
On occasion, a good clean of the study area is required. Some light dusting will keep the area looking clean, but thorough cleaning is necessary every couple of weeks.
72. Dispose of Items They No Longer Use
Whether it’s books, toys, clothes, or anything in between, your teen should pick out all the items they no longer use, pack them in donation boxes if they’re in good condition, or throw them away if they’re not.
73. Bring Out Seasonal Clothing
Your teen likely doesn’t wear the same clothing items in the middle of winter and in the middle of summer. So, they should rotate their clothing and bring out seasonal items when needed.
Pet Chores
Teens can take on more pet chores and responsibilities than young kids. Pet chores aren’t only a great way for your kids to earn money, but they’re also an opportunity for them to learn more about responsibility and commitment. If their schedule allows for it, have your teen responsible for the following pet chores.
74. Fill the Water Bowl Twice a Day
Most pets will need their water bowls filled at least twice a day. It’s a simple chore that every teen can remember to do daily.
75. Make Sure the Pet Is Fed
Different pets will have different dietary needs. Regardless of the type of pet your family has, your teen can ensure they’re well fed.
76. Take the Dog for a Daily Walk
Older teens should have no trouble walking even larger dogs. Make sure that your kid takes the dog for its daily walk.
77. Handle Bath Time
By age 15, teens should be able to handle bath time for their dogs or cats without adult interference.
78. Trim the Pet’s Nails
If you have a pet whose nails have to be trimmed regularly, have your teen complete this chore. Just make sure that you show them how to do it properly to avoid hurting the animal.
79. Give Medicine
If your pet needs to take daily meds, your teen could help out. In the beginning, monitor how they administer the meds to ensure they don’t make a mistake.
80. Clean the Pet’s Bed
Your pet’s bed can get dirty fairly quickly, especially if you have a dog that sheds a lot. Keep the teen responsible for ensuring the pet’s bed is properly cleaned daily.
81. Laundry Chores
While sometimes boring, laundry chores are important. You shouldn’t rely on your teen for all the laundry-related tasks, but you should expect some assistance.
82. Organize the Laundry
There’s nothing easier than separating the laundry into whites and colors and grouping similar items together. Rely on your teen to complete this simple chore.
83. Iron Clothes
While ironing t all the clothes for every member of the household could be a bit much, your teen should at least take care of their own clothes.
84. Start the Washing Machine
Starting the washing machine doesn’t take any particular skills. Show your kid how it’s done and rely on them for this chore.
85. Start the Dryer
Starting the dryer is just as easy as starting the washing machine. Just explain to your kid which items are allowed to go into the dryer and which are not.
86. Clean Out Dryer Lint
Cleaning out dryer lint regularly is essential for the appliance’s longevity and your own safety! Accumulated dryer lint can start fires. Ensure your teen cleans out the dryer lint regularly to avoid serious issues.
87. Gather Laundry From Every Room
If your household members tend to leave their dirty laundry around the house, have your teen take on the responsibility of going from room to room and gathering it for washing.
88. Dispose of Outgrown/Unworn Clothes
Teens grow out of their clothing pretty quickly. Your kids should go through their closets regularly to collect all the items that no longer fit (or are no longer in style) and remove them from their closets.
89. Hang Clothes to Air Dry
Air-drying clothes is not only eco-friendly but also beneficial for the clothing. Your clothes will smell fresher and last longer. Have your teen hang clothes to air dry whenever possible.
Full House Chores
Full house chores should be everyone’s responsibility. Here’s how your teen can carry their own weight around the house by doing chores to earn money.
90. Strip and Wash the Curtains
Curtains don’t need to be washed all that often. About once every three to six months is enough. Your teen can strip and clean the curtains with the utmost ease.
91. Clean the Windows
Cleaning the windows is hard work, especially if you have a big house. If they can’t clean all the windows, your teens should at least do the ones in their room.
92. Dust the Blinds
Like any other surface, the blinds can quickly get filthy. Hand your kid a feather duster and have them go around the house, ensuring the blinds are clean.
93. Water Plants
If you’re a fan of indoor plants, have your teen help you out with them. They can go around the house weekly, watering all your indoor plants.
94. Get Rid of Trash
With kids around, trash accumulates quickly. Have your teen go around the house, gather up all the trash, and take it out.
95. Organize the Shoe Rack
If you have a household where everyone just tends to take off their shoes anywhere, have your teen responsible for organizing the shoe rack daily.
👡 Tip: Our recent vlog post on ‘Best Places to Sell Used Shoes‘ could be useful if you have some to sell.
96. Replace All Kitchen and Bathroom Towels
Towels in the kitchen and bathrooms need to be changed frequently. Let your teen gather up all the dirty towels, wash them, and replace them.
97. Dust the Lampshades
Whether you have paper, fabric, glass, or metal lampshades, you can rest assured that they’re filled with dust. Have your teen go around the house and dust all the lampshades.
98. Rake the Leaves
Raking the leaves is an excellent physical activity for your teen. They might even want to start offering this service to your neighbors for a bit of extra money.
99. Mow the Lawn
While you might not want to let your 13-year-old mow the lawn, there’s no reason why your older teen can’t do it.
100. Sweep the Doormats
The job of doormats is to prevent excess dirt from entering your home. That means they need regular sweeping!
101. Water the Garden
Watering the garden is a seasonal activity that can be pretty relaxing and enjoyable. Let your kid take care of watering the garden during summertime. This is a great outdoor chore for kids to earn money, as it also helps them become aware of the natural environment surrounding them.
Final Thoughts
Looking to motivate your kids to help out with household tasks? Consider assigning them chores kids can do for money. While it’s a great idea to motivate them to help out by offering monetary compensation, make sure that the amount you offer by chore suits their needs and your finances.
