Age Specific Chores for a 3 Year Old and 5 Year Old

They can take their own laundry to the wash room and help you sort it. My kids loved this "game." I'd tell them to put all the whites together, all the blues together, etc.
They are also old enough to help with simple cooking chores, like breaking the lettuce for salad, getting out (and putting away) condiments and dressings, etc. The more they do, the more capable they are of helping more.

1 mom found this helpful

My now 6-year-old learned how to sort laundry when he was about 3 and we were talking about colors, and now he can sort lights from colors. He also regularly moves wet laundry from the washer to the dryer, and hauls the dry laundry up to my room so I can fold it. Then, he and my almost-3-year-old put some of it away.
My 3-year-old wipes baseboards and windowsills off, and can put placemats on the table for dinner. He also wipes off light switches with a bit of Lysol on a rag. I make a big deal about how he's keeping our family healthy.
They both LOVE to use spray bottles, so washing windows or wiping off the table is a "treat"! They also love to scrub out the tub and shower because I let them strip down to their underwear and climb in with scrub brushes. They say they are being Tarzan cleaners and they are actually very thorough--what they lack in force they make up for in going over things again and again. We've talked about how germs like to hide in cracks around the drain and faucet, so they are enthusiastic about kicking all germs out of the tub.
My oldest son also likes to scoop out the cat box. This required some special instruction and supervision at first, since it's a dirty chore, but I was willing because I sure don't like to do it. He does a great job and is mad if anyone beats him to it. They both feed the dog and cat crunchies and water--they have learned to count by counting out the right amount of scoops.
My oldest also likes to vacuum out the car--something else I personally hate doing but he loves because it's fun to crawl around in there.
Have you visited www.forsmallhands.com? It has great, functional tools for children to help with cleaning and lots of other jobs. It's a division of Montessori Services. Their quality is excellent, and just browsing their products might give you more ideas.
I have learned it's worth it to show my kids how to do things because they really don't know that chores are a bummer and I don't want my kids to be the ones at college who have never done their own laundry, or the ones on Mother's Day who only know how to praise me for being their housework slaves because they've never done any work. Sometimes I get whining, but they are ususally happy to help, especially if I am also working and I make a big fuss over how hard they are working (and not necessarily the perfection of the finished product, especially if it's a new job that still needs practice.)

1 mom found this helpful

A 5 year old can sweet and dust. You might need to go over it again when he's done, but it's a good way to start. He can also help unload the dishwasher, so that can be his job when he can reach all the cupboards. As for the 3 year old, he can help you load and unload the washing machine and dryer, he can probably help a little bit unloading the dishwasher, and they can both make their beds and keep their room clean. Putting their own clean clothes away in drawers is another good chore. The 5 year old can maybe hang things up, if the bar is low or he has a safe stool to stand on.

On trash day they can empty trash cans.

Take dirty laudry to laundry to laundry room.

Once a week have them plan a meal and when you go to the grocery store they have a list of ingredients to pick out.
(cuts down on their impulse grabbing).

Pull weeds. (does require close suppervision so you don't lose any flowers:)

Once in awhile I like to suprise the kids with a little reward for doing lots of work. (the key is to reward them when it's not expected) ....they get to pick a movie or go out for ice cream ect.

You are an awesome mom for getting them started doing chores now. It will make things a lot easier as they get older and you start having them do more important things to help. It's great when they can cook, do laundry and mow the yard!

Definitely sorting laundry and putting laundry away, maybe even folding it. Our 5yo is just getting folding. Also, setting the table and, if dishes are in a low cabinet, putting away clean dishes. They can dust and sweep, although it won't be as good as if you did it, but our boys both love those assignments, especially dusting or sweeping with a small broom. Kids will do anything if you're not to worried about the end result. If you are, you can always fix it later.

Your 3 year old can put the silverware away from the dishwasher. He's tall enough to reach the drawer. Your 5 year old can wipe down counter tops or the dining room table after meals. And of course, they can both make their beds, and sort laundry (finding pairs of socks can also be fun for them).

Hope that helps some!

Some of the things my 4 year old is always responsible for:
Getting dressed, making bed, feeding his fish, brushing his teeth (we have a token reward system). Then other things that he can do to earn tokens (to do fun things) but is not necesarily an every day thing...
Dusting, using the swifter (dry -- but use a microfiber cloth) on the floors, watering the plants, other cleaning (which he'll do if I am doing it too). Sorting the dirty clothes into color piles.

Definitely make it fun!

I was able to get my 5-year-old to clean the toilet. Be very specific in your directions. He took the sponge to the INSIDE of the toilet as well because he wanted to do a good job. I have two ways for him to pick up the floors --- a little dustbuster vacuum and a sweeper (not broom). Let him set the table. Try to get him to make his bed. My mom always made my job as a kid to dust. I hate dusting to this day. Watering plants. It's a good idea to teach your kids responsibility. But, I find myself wanting to do it over so it is done well. Don't do that. I remember my mom redoing everythin I did. It was very frustrating.

Hi S.- I think it's great that you want your children to participate in chores. I totally agree. My children have been doing chores since they were 3. I think it really helps their self-esteem. Here are some ideas:
pick shoes up and take to baskets
clean room
dust house
put away their clothes
water the plants/flowers
sweep and mop the kitchen (the swiffers are great for this!)
put mail in mailbox for pick up and retrieve mail
wash stair rails (baby wipes work great)
spray air freshner
fold towels
turn out lights
bring bathroom garbage cans to big garbage and return
dinner shopping list
pick out lunch box supplies from store
take clean dishes out of dishwasher and place on counter top

.....my kids love it. I let them earn a prize (I don't give them money for chores yet. I think the toys mean more to them at this age)

Good Luck! H.

My two younger ones (5&7) have been doing the following chores for a over a year now: feeding animals, brushing teeth, getting dressed, making their beds, getting backpacks & snacks packed, clean up their rooms, empty their basket on the steps and put stuff away where it belongs, put dishes away (either into the dishwasher or help put away from the dishwasher), put empty milk bottles in box out front, put water bottles in recycle bin & take to curb every other week, bring me their full laundry hampers, help hang up clean clothes (I started out putting things on the hanger, and they used a stool to hang up). My older one used flushable wipes to clean the toilets & floor, as he's the one who seems to miss all the time! They do sell small gloves that they can wear at Wal-mart. They can vacuum stairs, you just have to help move the vacuum cleaner up. My guys LOVE using our electronic scrubber to clean tiles too!!! You can get a cheap little bucket and put their names on them, decorate with colored sharpies and put all their cleaning supplies in it as well.

Hi S., I also have a 3 year old and 5 year old, along with an 8 year old. My boys 3 and 5 do all the basic but I've added to clean the bathrooms for my 3 year old. Not with cleaning solutions, but to pick up any dirty cloths, toys from bath time, or trash that might be in there. He loves to put the papers in the recycle box and he know where the laundry goes. He is quite good at his job. My 5 year old helps to unload the dishwasher. Anything that he can't reach he leaves on the counter for me to help. I really helps me out even if I have dishes on the counter waiting for me. They all love to feel needed and to know they get to help the family!!! Good luck, hope these ideas can help.

Thanks to everyoe for the ideas. I found i was actually haiving my nearly three and four year old doing "chores" and didn't even know it. What i just started was that they are both in charge of the main room floor including the family and dining areas which are attached. That means everything from toy pick up to sweepting. I have them share stickers for rewards...doesn't matter who does it, they both get stickers on one chart. If both work, they get more. This seems to work better then each having a chart and builds team work. Other things are expected like the other moms listed here. Still working on the bed making though as theirs are antiques and very high off the ground.

I have a 5 year daughter that puts away the dishes from the dishwasher and if she can't reach where they go then she puts the dish or cup in a nice neat stack on the counter for me to put away. She's also in charge of carrying her dirty clothes and her little brothers clothes to the washer on wash day. I have her fold towels once they come out of the dryer, I just set them on the couch so she have a little bit of a flat surface since she lays it out to fold it. Also whenever I clean house she loves to dust, I have one those swiffer dusters, and she dust end tables, coffee table and a bookself. Then I also have little chores that she doesn't even realize are chores, like going grocery shopping she's in charge of holding my list and crossing things off, and once we get home she helps me put away bathroom items or diapers. My daughter has always been a little mothers helper since she was 2 years old, she's always asking what she can do to help I know the one thing I have noticed since she's gotten older is if I call it a chore she moans and complains about doing it but if I just say do you want to help with this or do this for me there is no complaining, and probably in a couple more years I will just have to say these are your chores and if you want to go out you have to get them done but for now I just ask if she wants to help. Hope this suggestions help for you. Good Luck

My 4 year old has been emptying the silverware from the dishwasher since he was 2! He loves sorting things, so he did it very well. However, my 2 year old isn't interested.
My 4 year old is also supposed to make his bed, get dressed by himself, and put his pajamas in his drawer. He also gets his pj's on by himself, and when I send him up to do that, he has to pick up 5 toys from his floor.
He also sets the table. His latest fun thing is that he realized that he can set the table from the silverware tray as he's emptying the dishwasher. He thinks he's so smart! He's also learning left and right that way.
He could definitely water plants, too, outside anyway.
My boys also help me at the grocery store, by putting the food on the conveyor belt for me.
I'm still working on this one, mostly to get myself organized. I have tubs with everyone's name on them (printed out and taped on with clear packaging tape) and when clothes get folded, I put them in each person's tub. The plan is that then my 4 year old (and I'm working on my husband doing this, too) will take the tub and put his clothes away.
He folds towels and dishcloths for me, and also gathers hangers (the boys have low closet rods) for me when I'm doing laundry. He can also bring his dirty clothes hamper down for me, and has helped me sort laundry for years.
Oh, he also loves to vacuum. If you didn't know it, most vacuums will lay almost flat. Push that handle release lever that lets you lay the handle down a bit (instead of locked straight up), and lay it down as far as it can go. Push the lever again and see if it will go down further. That makes it the right height for kids!
I was looking for more chores for him to do, but suddenly it seems like he does a lot! Most of them don't seem like chores as much as just teaching him to do things. I guess we make (some of it) so fun that it doesn't seem like a chore!

my 4 yr old likes to take clothes out of the washer and dryer. he can reach most of the clothes from the washer by standing on a stool. i just supervise a little and turn the dryer on. my 2 yr old can take clothes out of the dryer too, but gets easily distracted and likes to try climbing in, so that one i definitely have to supervise. they both like to help me wipe the table clean and set the dishes on. we have a little hand vacuum that they do well with too.
good for you for teaching your kids to do chores!

Have them help with meals. They can begin to learn how to measure, count, retreive things from the fridge, stir, kneed and so much more. It may be a little messy at first, but they can become great helpers in the kitchen and at the same time get great lessons in math and science. On a different note, never let them use a magic eraser for cleaning, it can cause a chemical burn on kid's skin.

the night before garbage day, my husband has each of the kids bring him two or three of the garbage cans to empty into the big trash bag. Another good one is emptying the silverware from the dishwasher. My 3 year old Loves this job, because she gets to play match. The five year old can probably dry dishes. Another one my kids like to do is spray the fingerprints on the walls and then wipe them with the rag. My three year old even helps me scrub the toilets. I usually just let my kids help with whatever they want. They can do a lot along side of you. I know it takes longer, but it teaches them good skills.

Hi!
I have my 5 year old take out the trash. He needs a little help with the lid outside but other then that he does great. My 3 year old is in charge of clearing the table and my 2 year old sets the table. I dont know if this helps but its an idea. Good luck!

My boys (ages 17 months, 4 & 6 1/2) love cleaning with a damp cloth - they love rinsing the cloths- and cleaning the baseboards, doorknobs, doors and walls. With three boys each has a different outlook on what clean actually is, but the sure enjoy working together, even if it does mean a change of clothes is in order afterwards!

There are various cleaning wipes/products that are easy for them to use as well, but just be careful to find those that are age appropriate and won't harm them (skin irritation, if they put things in their mouths, etc). When in doubt, stick with water & a clean wash cloth!

Also, if you haven't already, making a chore chart for them helps. This site, http://www.dltk-cards.com/chart/ has some simple, FREE, custom charts you can build. Or you can google "chore chart" and find tons of options.

Good luck!

Some early childhood educators did a little study in their 4 year old class about chores that children can do. The parents hesitated, but the children were able to do all of the following with some practice and supervision from parents. By the end of the study, 100% of the parents felt their four-year-old children could successfully:
--save energy by turning lights off when you leave a room
--vacuum
--wake up to an alarm
--fold and put away laundry (towels, own clothes, washcloths, etc.)
--dust furniture
--make bed
--set the table for meals
I'm still working on this with my children, but I thought this was helpful info.

I think you have great chores already in place.
I have a four year old and seven year old, they have to put their clothes away after I have folded them, clean up their messes, take their plates from the table at meal times and put them in the sink, put dirty clothes in the hamper.
My daughter puts the silverware away and my son any tupperware and cups we have to put away from the dishwasher after they have been cleaned.
As they get older add to the chores like making their beds.
What you have in place is awesome for their ages!!
My daughter even now gets a towel and has to wipe down the counter in the bathroom after everyone has gotten ready for bed since there is usually water all over it, hee hee.
Praise them for helping when they aren't asked, that is a big one around here. When they start doing it out of it being their job instead of me standing over them directing them what to do. Every night before bed they have to pick up the living room, put toys back where they go and get their own jammies on, they have to get themselves dressed every morning.
You are doing great!

unloading the silverware in the dishwasher works well for us, also cleaning up dog poop in the back yard. ( we have rubber gloves they wear). Also watering flowers( although I usually do it too because she tends to not water enough!). That is great you are getting them involved, it helps to start them early!