chore chart

Chore List for Toddlers

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Chores for toddlers can be tricky – they want to help with everything, but cannot always handle what they want to do or aren’t always listening so that its more of a hassle than helping.

My daughter, who is 4, LOVES to help me around the house. No matter what I am doing, she wants to help. I’ve had to come up with some creative ways to let her help, but also let me get done the list of chores I need to!

Chores for Toddlers

Laundry: Since for moms, laundry is seriously the one chore that never, ever ends, even if you do manage to catch up, it’s a great one to let the kids help with. My daughter loves to help me change the laundry. I put the laundry on the door of the dryer and she pushes it in. Then I lift her up so she can start it.

Pick Up Toys: This is probably the trickiest one – because it’s almost inevitable that the kids want to start playing. I try to break it up into small tasks for my daughter so that she can focus a little better and it’s not just – pick up your toys!

I’ll say – put all the dollies in the bin or put all the books back on the shelf. I’ve found that if I make the chore smaller, she is more likely to help and actually finish it! It also takes one small thing off of my list so I can focus on other things!

Empty the Dishwasher: I know this one might seem a little bit of a stretch, but given a little direction, kids can surely help! My daughter usually helps put together all of her and her brothers plates (plastic of course!) and puts away silverware, excluding knives. She does a great job and helps me speed up the process!

Put Clothes in the Laundry: Whenever my daughter changes her clothes, she knows that they need to go right into the hamper. She’s pretty good about it – with a few reminders of course!

Setting the Table: Whenever I am making dinner, my daughter wants to help. But generally it involves the stove or oven or both so I don’t want her around it. My compromise, which she goes for, is to help me set the table. So she is always in charge of getting forks for everyone, putting hers and her brothers plates on the table and anything else that is easy enough to handle – putting condiments, napkins, etc.

Clearing the Table: This is a newer one we just started – my daughter now helps me to clear the table at night. She picks up her plate first and then her brothers and helps put away anything that she can easily handle.

What chores do your kids do at this age?

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chore list for toddlers

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chore list for toddlers

14 thoughts on “Chore List for Toddlers”

  1. Love this idea! While mine is not yet 2 years, I definitely want him to learn to be helpful and involved in making our house a home. I’ll start small! Love it!

  2. Wow these are great suggestions! My daughter also loves to help around the house and I’ll catch her trying to sweep but pushing a huge pile of something into like the heat radiator or underneath the bathroom door. I like these smaller tasks to help prevent her from making a bigger mess while trying to help me (LOL). Thanks for the suggestions!

    1. I’ve had my daughter try to do things like that too! I appreciate the willingness to help, it just backfires sometimes!

  3. These are great ideas for toddlers doing chores. My little guy isn’t quite ready yet, I try to have him help me pick up his toys but he just throws them on the floor lol. He is obsessed with our vacuum though so I’m thinking of getting him a toy vacuum.

    1. That’s a great point about the dishwasher! My daughter also learned which knives she couldn’t touch and always wants to count them so she’s practicing her counting as well! Double win!

  4. I find that my kids liked to wipe things, so I would give them a wet rag to wipe down tables, play tables, windows, etc. Obviously the windows will end up smeary, but if they are already dirty it isn’t a big deal because I have to go over it anyway. When my kids were younger I also had them help with laundry, like gathering up dirty laundry or I would have them put it in the washing machine. They can also pick up sticks or pinecones in the yard 🙂

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  6. I am a single mother with three children under the age of 5. I use the Manini app for three children. In the app, you can mark the completion of tasks and children like it very much. And the app has a goal Board that lists all chores and self-care for kids under the age of 5. We mark together with the children the tasks that have already been mastered. Also they actually ask for tasks themselves to make a mark the task. I felt much better. And I’m not nervous and it’s easy for children to become independent.

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