Chores by age: what children can do from 3 to 12
In short
Zupzi is a free family chore app, and this guide sums up AAP and AACAP advice: at 3, children can put toys away and dress with help; at 5 to 7, make their bed and set the table; at 8 to 10, vacuum and walk a pet; at 11 to 12, do laundry and cook a simple meal with supervision.
Updated
What chores can children do at each age?
Two groups of children's doctors publish chore lists by age: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), on its parent site HealthyChildren.org, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, in its Facts for Families sheet on chores. They use slightly different age brackets, so the table below lines them up side by side and names the bracket each idea comes from. Everything in it is theirs; nothing is ours.
| Age | Chores the experts list | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 | Put toys away. Put groceries away. Get dressed with help. Help feed a pet. Make the bed, maybe not perfectly. Help clear the table after dinner. | AACAP, ages 2–3 and 4–5 |
| 5 to 6 | Make their own bed. Set and clear the table. Put toys away and neaten bookshelves. Put dirty clothes in a hamper. Fill the pet's food dish. Water flowers. Bring in the mail. | AAP, ages 5–7; AACAP, ages 4–5 |
| 7 to 8 | Wipe tables and counters. Put laundry away and sort it. Sweep floors. Empty wastebaskets. Dust. Wash plastic dishes in the sink. Help make and pack school lunches. | AAP, ages 5–7; AACAP, ages 6–7 and 7–9 |
| 9 to 10 | All of the above, plus vacuum, help make dinner, make their own snacks, take a pet for a walk, put away their own laundry and the groceries, and load and unload the dishwasher. | AAP, ages 8–10; AACAP, ages 7–9 |
| 11 to 12 | All of the above, plus change the bedsheets, clean the kitchen and the bathroom, do and fold laundry, do yard work, wash the car, cook a simple meal with supervision, and help with a younger sibling while an adult is home. | AAP, ages 11–12; AACAP, ages 10–11 and 12 and up |
Read the ages as a guide, not a test. The AAP reminds parents that children bring different temperaments to tasks: some drift away in the middle of a chore, some find it hard to get organized or to switch from one activity to another, and expectations should allow for that. Its advice on first chores is equally plain: don't expect perfection, and praise the effort rather than the outcome.
At what age should kids start chores?
Around age 3, with small tasks. The AACAP says research suggests there are benefits to including chores in a child's routine as early as age 3. It links doing chores with higher self-esteem, more responsibility, and a better ability to deal with frustration, adversity and delayed gratification.
The AAP says young children are naturally eager helpers and that most preschool-age children can start pitching in with simple household tasks. Its tips for parents of young children add that when little ones copy everyday household tasks, they are really learning how to contribute, and that as they grow they can take on real responsibilities such as setting the table, putting away their toys, feeding the pets and putting dirty clothes in a basket.
The same AAP page suggests turning the day into short routines a child can predict: in the morning, use the bathroom, get dressed and have breakfast; at bedtime, take a bath, brush teeth and read a story. Those routines are where most first chores live.
How many chores should a child have a day?
Neither the AAP nor the AACAP gives a number. What both say is to keep the list short and let it grow. The AAP suggests that a school-age child who has not had chores before gets one new task at a time, because a long list can be overwhelming, and it warns against overloading. The AACAP suggests small, manageable tasks for younger children.
Zupzi starts short on purpose. When you add your child, the everyday basics for her age are already switched on, and there are never more than five of them. For a six-year-old, that is Brush teeth, Get dressed, Make the bed, Put away toys and Tidy your room. You can turn any of them off and add others from the list whenever she is ready.
Should chores be daily or weekly?
Both, and it helps to say which is which. The AAP asks parents to make sure a child understands what is expected of her on a daily and on a weekly basis, and suggests doing chores at the same time each day. The AACAP's version is to establish regular routines and be consistent, since changing rules and expectations can create confusion and frustration.
In Zupzi, each ready-made mission comes as daily or weekly. These are weekly: Tidy your room, Tidy the bookshelf, Put away laundry, Take out the trash, Sweep the floor, Tidy the pet's bed, Water the plants and Draw or paint. Missions you write yourself can be daily, weekly or once, and a daily mission can have a time of day. Reminders arrive on your child's device at the time you choose.
How do you make chores stick without nagging?
Be specific, be consistent, and praise more than you scold. The AAP says that badgering or scolding a child is not an effective way to build responsibility, and that rewarding successes and giving encouragement is always much more effective. Here is what the two groups recommend, in short:
- Spell the task out. The AACAP's example of a clear expectation is "please take out the trash from the kitchen after breakfast."
- Make it visible. The AAP says a chore chart or checklist works as a visual reminder and gives a child a sense of accomplishment with each finished task.
- Use a star chart or reward system with specific goals. That is the AACAP's wording, and it pairs it with joining in your child's pride when a chore is done.
- Be a role model. Children learn to keep their rooms neat more easily when they see others in the family doing the same, the AACAP notes.
- Talk about it together. The AAP suggests regular family meetings to review progress and ask for your child's ideas about chores.
- Pick your battles. In the AACAP's words, a messy room is not the end of the world.
Zupzi is built around that loop. Each ready-made mission comes with a checklist of two or three steps. When your child sends a finished mission, it lands on your phone and you approve it with one tap; a small celebration plays when she sends it and again when you approve. Approved missions earn Stars, and she spends them on rewards you set up yourself, like a movie night or a trip to the park. See Stars and rewards and the video Approve with one tap.
What if a child can't read yet?
Use pictures and say the steps out loud. The AAP's advice for getting dressed shows the idea: a young child may need to be reminded of all the steps, one after another ("First, use the bathroom, then take off your PJs, and then put on your clothes"), as its page on growing independence describes. The AACAP adds that for younger children, songs or games can make longer jobs fun.
Every ready-made Zupzi mission has its own picture and its own screen with two or three short steps. A Read it to me button reads the mission aloud: for the 26 ready-made missions, a recorded clip in Zuzi's voice reads the mission and its steps, and missions you write yourself are read by the iPhone's own voice. More on the read-aloud missions page and in the video Your kid does her missions.
Which pet chores fit which age?
Simple pet chores from about 5, with a grown-up close by. In an AAP answer about getting a family pet, a pediatrician writes that children roughly 5 or older can be expected to help with simple chores such as leashing the dog, giving out treats after walks or refilling the water bowl. The same page says parents will likely do most of the work, that young children need close supervision around animals, and that each child develops differently.
Zupzi's pet missions follow the same order: Feed the pet is suggested from age 5, Tidy the pet's bed from 6 and Walk the dog from 9. Whether a walk happens alone or with you is always your call.
A step-by-step chore list you can use today
These are the 26 ready-made missions in Zupzi, grouped by the age from which the app suggests each one. The app uses that age to put the missions that fit your child first in the list and to choose the basics that are switched on; the others stay at the end of the list, and you can switch any of them on. The Stars are the starting values, and you can change them. Missions marked "with a photo" ask your child to take a picture with the camera when she finishes; see photo proof.
You can copy this list onto paper just as well. The steps are what make it work: "make the bed" becomes three things a child can check.
Missions suggested from age 3
| Mission | Steps your child checks | Stars | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brush teeth | Brush for two minutes · Rinse the brush · Put it back in its place | 20 | Daily |
| Get ready for bed | Pajamas on · Teeth brushed · Lights low | 20 | Daily |
| Get dressed | Clothes on · Shoes on · Pajamas put away | 20 | Daily |
| Wash hands before meals | Soap and water · Scrub for 20 seconds · Dry your hands | 10 | Daily |
| Put away toys | Pick up every toy from the floor · Each toy in its box or shelf · Floor is clear | 30 | Daily, with a photo |
| Eat a fruit | Pick a fruit · Wash it · Eat it all | 20 | Daily |
Missions suggested from age 4
| Mission | Steps your child checks | Stars | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower or bath | Wash with soap · Dry off · Hang up the towel | 20 | Daily |
| Comb your hair | Brush out the tangles · Brush back in its place | 10 | Daily |
| Make the bed | Pull the covers up · Smooth them flat · Pillow at the top | 30 | Daily, with a photo |
| Water the plants | Fill the watering can · A little water for each plant · Can put away | 30 | Weekly, with a photo |
| Play outside | Shoes on · Play for 30 minutes · Toys back inside | 30 | Daily |
| Draw or paint | Make something · Show it · Supplies put away | 30 | Weekly, with a photo |
Missions suggested from age 5
| Mission | Steps your child checks | Stars | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tidy your room | Clothes off the floor · Desk and shelves tidy · Trash in the bin | 60 | Weekly, with a photo |
| Set the table | A plate for everyone · Forks, knives and spoons · Cups and napkins | 30 | Daily, with a photo |
| Tidy the bookshelf | Books standing up · Spines facing out · Nothing left on the floor | 40 | Weekly, with a photo |
| Reading time | Pick a book · Read for 15 minutes · Tell someone what happened | 40 | Daily |
| Feed the pet | Food in the bowl · Fresh water · Scoop put away | 30 | Daily, with a photo |
| Practice music | Warm up · Practice for 15 minutes · Instrument put away | 40 | Daily |
Missions suggested from age 6
| Mission | Steps your child checks | Stars | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Put away laundry | Clothes folded · In the right drawer · Basket is empty | 40 | Weekly, with a photo |
| Pack the school bag | Homework inside · Pencil case inside · Bag by the door | 20 | Daily |
| Do your homework | Find a quiet spot · Finish every task · Pack it in your bag | 50 | Daily |
| Tidy the pet's bed | Shake out the blanket · Bed back in its spot · Toys next to it | 30 | Weekly, with a photo |
Missions suggested from age 7
| Mission | Steps your child checks | Stars | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help with the dishes | Plates rinsed · Dishes on the rack · Sink is empty | 40 | Daily, with a photo |
| Sweep the floor | Sweep into a pile · Dustpan to the trash · Broom put away | 40 | Weekly, with a photo |
Missions suggested from age 8
| Mission | Steps your child checks | Stars | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take out the trash | Tie the bag · Take it to the bin outside · New bag in | 30 | Weekly |
Missions suggested from age 9
| Mission | Steps your child checks | Stars | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk the dog | Leash on · A good walk · Leash put away | 50 | Daily |
How do you turn this list into missions in Zupzi?
- Add your child in three short steps; the everyday basics for her age are already switched on. See the video Add your child.
- Pick more missions from the ready-made list, or write your own with 1 to 1,000 Stars, daily, weekly or once, and a photo if you want one. See Pick missions, or write your own.
- Try a practice mission from your side with See it as she does, before you hand over the device. See See it the way your kid does.
- Your child opens her side with her 4-digit PIN, follows the steps and taps I did it!, or takes a photo when the mission asks for one.
- You approve with one tap, and the Stars are hers to spend on the rewards you created. See Create rewards.
Zupzi is free, with nothing to buy in the app and no ads. It runs on iPhone and iPad, in the United States and Brazil. If you are comparing options first, see free chore apps compared; for questions about photos, Zuzi and your family's data, see Safety and privacy and Help & FAQ.
Zupzi is free on the App Store
iPhone and iPad · United States and Brazil · nothing to buy inside
When should you ask a pediatrician?
When chores stay a struggle despite your efforts. The AACAP suggests trying to understand why a child is unable or unwilling to help, and says that if the struggle continues or gets worse, it may be a sign of other conflicts or issues that need attention; talk to your pediatrician or family physician. The AAP says a pediatrician may simply reassure you that your child is behaving in an age-appropriate way, and may be more concerned if everyday home responsibilities are consistently missed along with similar issues at school.
What Zupzi doesn't do
- There is no Android version.
- Each family can add up to two children.
- The app's screens are in English.
- Stars have no cash value, and Zupzi has no allowance account or card.
What else do families ask?
What chores can a 3-year-old do?
Small, simple ones: putting toys away and getting dressed with help. The AACAP lists putting toys and groceries away and dressing with help for ages 2 to 3, and helping feed pets, making the bed (maybe not perfectly) and helping clear the table for ages 4 to 5.
What chores can a 5-year-old do?
Quite a few household basics. For ages 5 to 7, the AAP lists making their own bed, setting and clearing the table, putting toys away, neatening bookshelves, putting dirty clothes in a hamper, filling a pet's food dish and watering flowers.
What chores can an 8-year-old do?
Everything younger children do, plus bigger jobs. For ages 8 to 10, the AAP adds vacuuming, helping make dinner, making their own snacks, walking a pet and putting away their own laundry and the groceries. The AACAP lists loading and unloading the dishwasher for ages 7 to 9.
What chores can a 10- to 12-year-old do?
Real household jobs, some with supervision. The AACAP lists changing sheets, cleaning the kitchen or bathrooms and yard work for ages 10 to 11. For ages 11 to 12, the AAP adds doing and folding laundry, washing the car and cooking a simple meal with supervision.
How many chores should a child have a day?
There is no official number. The AAP advises adding one new task at a time for a school-age child new to chores, because a long list can be overwhelming, and the AACAP suggests small, manageable tasks for younger children. Zupzi switches on at most five everyday basics when you add a child.
Should children be rewarded for chores?
Rewards and praise both help, according to the experts. The AACAP suggests a star chart or reward system with specific goals, and the AAP says rewarding successes works much better than scolding. In Zupzi, approved missions earn Stars that your child trades for rewards you choose. See Stars and rewards.
What if my child refuses to do chores?
Try to understand why first. The AACAP suggests looking for the reasons and talking to your pediatrician if the struggle continues or gets worse. The AAP recommends clear expectations, honest praise and steady routines, and notes that badgering or scolding does not work well.
Which ages is Zupzi for?
Zupzi has no age range. It is a family app run by a parent: you choose the missions that fit your child, and the ready-made list simply puts the ones that fit her age first. Accounts are for parents and guardians; children never create one.
Can a child who can't read use a chore list?
Yes, if the list uses pictures and someone reads the steps. Each ready-made Zupzi mission has a picture, two or three short steps and a Read it to me button. See read-aloud missions.
Does Zupzi cost anything?
No. Zupzi is free, there is nothing to buy in the app or on this site, and the app has no ads. See Help & FAQ.
Zupzi is free on the App Store
iPhone and iPad · United States and Brazil · nothing to buy inside
Where do these facts come from?
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Age-Appropriate Chores for Children (last updated February 9, 2024) — checked
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Growing Independence: Tips for Parents of Young Children (last updated November 2, 2009) — checked
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: How old should our children be before we adopt a pet? (last updated April 22, 2026) — checked
- AACAP Facts for Families No. 125: Chores and Children (updated June 2018) — checked
- Zupzi on the App Store — checked