C: Chores

It's week 3 of Blogging Through the Alphabet, and I'm going to talk about chores. When you homeschool, and you and your kids are home all day everyday, having your kids perform chores is vital to keeping your house clean and organized. Even the youngest of your children can do chores and contribute to a clean house. Here is a list of chores that I have my children do, organized by age.

Ages 2-4

Even young toddlers can do chores. Of course, I teach my kids how to do these things and supervise them while they are doing them, but this is the perfect training age!

• Folding small rags and kitchen towels.
• Dusting furniture with a damp rag (no chemicals).
• Picking up toys and putting them in a toy box.
• Using a dust-buster or other small vacuum to clean up crumbs or couch cushions.
• Putting a new garbage bag in the garbage can.
• Collecting dirty laundry from bedrooms and bathrooms and bringing it to laundry room.
• Matching clean socks.

Ages 5-7

This is another great age for training your children in more difficult chores. After this age, you shouldn't have much training left to do. Some of these chores should be supervised, but most should not.

• Folding towels and rags.
• Dusting furniture with cleaner and a rag.
• Cleaning (low) windows with glass cleaner.
• Using a Clorox wipe to clean bathroom and kitchen counters.
• Make up their own beds.
• Folding T-shirts and socks.
• Using a vacuum cleaner.
• Feed and water pets.

Ages 8-12

This is a 4 year age gap, but I find that this age group can complete most of the same chores. Of course, each child is different and only you know your child's abilities.

• Wash and dry dishes.
• Unload and load the dishwasher.
• Hand clothes in closets and put clothes away in dresser drawers.
• Clean windows.
• Sweep and mop.
• Clean their own rooms.
• Clear the table after a meal.
• Take out garbage.
• Change bed sheets.
• Put away groceries.

Ages 13 and up

This age group can do almost any chore or household duty. Here are some that my children are responsible for.

• Cleaning out the refrigerator.
• Clean out the microwave.
• Sweep and mop.
• Cook a meal.
• Wash dishes.
• Put away leftovers after a meal.
• Wash and dry clothes.
• Fold and put away clothes.
• Clean toilets and showers.
• Clean the yard.
• Vacuum the house.
• Wash the cars.
• Organize closets.
• Baby sit.

What are some chores that your children are responsible for?

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