REAL ‘age-appropriate’ chores list revealed in new research
New research from Online Carpets reveals the chores appropriate for each age, according to real British parents as the number of British children doing chores has increased by 10% in a single generation.
While some experts recommend that children as young as two can start chores, the age they start each chore can differ. For example, a 2-year-old might be able to help tidy up toys, but you probably wouldn’t equip them with an iron and a growing pile of clothes to tackle. So, what do British parents deem age-appropriate chores?
Online Carpets found that by the time children reach the age of 11, parents expect them to be doing most household chores, with the exception of cleaning the bathroom, washing clothes, making dinner, and ironing.
The latter of which parents believe is the most senior task, waiting until their kids are teenagers before they think they can handle this chore – 13 years and 2 months old, to be exact.
Household chores aside, they found that most parents wouldn’t ask their children to babysit until they were at least 13 years and 11 months old.
While there is no legal minimum age for babysitting in the UK, parents will remain legally responsible for all their children’s well-being if they leave them with another child under the age of 16. For more guidance on when babysitting is an age-appropriate chore, visit the NSPCC site.
Additionally, Online Carpet’s research also found the average child in the UK spends around one hour and 24 minutes each week completing chores equivalent to 12 minutes each day, but which chores do parents feel are best suited to children?
20 of the best household chores based on your child’s age:
Age 6+
Research from Online Carpets found that parents consider six years and eight months to be the ideal age for children to start tidying up their toys.
Best Household Chores: Tidying toys
Age 8+
Eight-year-old children are at an ideal age for tidying up a bedroom, according to the research. Parents find children at eight years and six months, particularly skilled at putting clothes away, and by eight years and seven months, they’re perfectly suited for tasks like setting the table.
Best Household Chores: Tidying toys, tidying the bedroom, putting clothes away and setting the table
Age 9+
The ideal age for making beds is nine, with dusting and cleaning surfaces best suited for children around nine years and three months. By nine years and ten months, kids are well-suited to take on washing the dishes.
Best Household Chores: Tidying toys, tidying the bedroom, putting clothes away, setting the table, making beds, dusting & cleaning surfaces and dishes
Age 10+
Hanging clothes out to dry is ideal for children at around ten years and five months, while tasks like vacuuming, mopping, changing beds, and taking out the bins are best suited for those at ten years and six months. Feeding or walking pets is well-suited for children aged ten years and nine months, followed by cleaning the kitchen at ten years and ten months. Whereas household chores like gardening which are more labour intensive are perfect for children around ten years and eleven months.
Best Household Chores: Tidying toys, tidying the bedroom, putting clothes away, setting the table, making beds, dusting & cleaning surfaces, dishes, vacuuming, mopping, changing beds, taking bins out, feeding or walking pets, cleaning kitchen and gardening.
Age 11+
Cleaning the car is well-suited for children around eleven years and three months, while cleaning the bathroom is ideal at eleven years and five months. Washing clothes is a good chore for children at about eleven years and seven months.
Best Household Chores: Tidying toys, tidying the bedroom, putting clothes away, setting the table, making beds, dusting & cleaning surfaces, dishes, vacuuming, mopping, changing beds, taking bins out, feeding or walking pets, cleaning the kitchen, gardening, cleaning cars, cleaning bathroom and washing clothes.
Age 12+
Parents believe children aged 12 years and seven months are the best age to start making dinner.
Best Household Chores: Tidying toys, tidying the bedroom, putting clothes away, setting the table, making beds, dusting & cleaning surfaces, dishes, vacuuming, mopping, changing beds, taking bins out, feeding or walking pets, cleaning the kitchen, gardening, cleaning cars, cleaning bathroom, washing clothes and making dinner.
Age 13+
Ironing is ideal for children around thirteen years and two months, while babysitting is best suited for those at thirteen years and eleven months.
Best Household Chores: Tidying toys, tidying the bedroom, putting clothes away, setting the table, making beds, dusting & cleaning surfaces, dishes, vacuuming, mopping, changing beds, taking bins out, feeding or walking pets, cleaning the kitchen, gardening, cleaning cars, cleaning bathroom, washing clothes and making dinner.
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