5 Chores That Every Child Needs To Do

Having your child do chores is a great way to teach them some responsibility and get them to help out around the house. Plus, by giving them chores, you’re also teaching them how to do basic household duties, which will prepare them for their life as an adult when they have a home of their own.

Many parents struggle with choosing which chores to have a child do. Some chores are much more beneficial than others, and the following are five chores that every child should do.

Clean their room

The first chore that you should start with is to have your child be responsible for cleaning up their room. This means that they should pick up everything that is on the floor and put it where it belongs, whether it’s clothes, toys or even trash. They should also know how to make their bed, and depending on their age, you may also want to have them dust and vacuum/sweep their room too. This will help them learn that being clean and organized is important.

Wash the dishes

Even if your family has a dishwasher, you should teach your child how to wash the dishes by hand. It’s possible that they may not have a dishwasher when they’re older and on their own, and it’s possible that your dishwasher may break. Get your child a stool, and teach them how to properly wash and dry dishes by hand. Even if you don’t have them do this on a daily basis, it’s a good idea to have them do it at least once a week so they learn. You could also teach them how to properly load and unload the dishwasher and how to run it. This way, they know how to properly wash their dishes, whether it’s by hand or by machine.

Take care of their pet

Every child wants a pet, and whether you get them one or you already have one, it’s a good idea to teach your child how to take care of it. Make sure that your child is responsible for feeding the animal. Teach your child how much food your pet needs and how often they should be fed. You should also teach your child how to clean up after the pet. If you have a dog, have your child pick up poop. If you have a cat, have them clean the litter box. It may not be something they enjoy, but this will teach your child the proper way to care for a pet, and it will also help them learn how to be responsible.

Do the laundry

Doing the laundry is a chore that every child should learn how to do. Teach your child how to properly separate your laundry and how to turn the machines on and to the proper settings and products to use. By teaching them how to do the laundry, you are making them responsible for ensuring that their own clothes are clean, and they’ll be more prepared to do their own laundry while on their own.

Vacuuming/sweeping

It’s also a good idea to have your child learn how to vacuum or sweep the house. Make sure that they have a regular vacuum/sweeping schedule, but you should also let them know that if they were to make a mess, the proper way to clean it would be to use the vacuum or sweep it up. This will teach your child how to properly clean a home, but it will also teach them how to be responsible for cleaning up their own messes.

Author Byline: Julie Myers is a journalist and a wonderful mother.  She enjoys blogging anything about raising children from parenting tips to chore ideas.