28 Chore Ideas for Toddlers

Chores

Apr 4

It’s hard to believe that there once was a time when parents didn’t question when children should start doing chores and how many they should have. However, times have changed . Assigning your child chores can be crucial to their development into an independent and responsible adult.

So, how young is too young to start? Well, studies suggest that by the time a child is 2 to 3 years old, they can start doing chores. Let’s delve into what kind of chores will help your toddler create that important foundation!

How to Teach Your Child Chores

Now that you know your child would benefit from doing chores, how do you start? This is a common question, but luckily, it’s one with a straightforward answer.

First, make sure to set expectations for yourself. Your 2-year-old isn’t going to be able to learn most chores without error the first time they do them. Your patience might be stretched as they learn, but it will be worth it for everyone if you don’t become frustrated or upset.

In addition, try to resist the urge to just step in and do it yourself because it’s the “easier” road to take. This can make your child feel discouraged and may teach them that when things get hard, someone else will do it for them.

Here are some helpful tips to make this transition as smooth as possible:

Demonstrate and patiently explain the chore first. Try to explain why the chore matters in your household, which can add perspective and show them why it’s important they play their part. For example, you may explain why plants need watering or pets need feeding.
After showing them, do the task along with your little one. Slow things down so they can keep up and make it simple to copy. The first time around, you may try it without talking so that they can focus on the task at hand.
Take things step-by-step so that they aren’t overwhelmed.
Don’t be afraid to be enthusiastic and keep things lighthearted and fun!
If they’re having a difficult time, don’t worry. They may not be ready, but they can learn!
Try not to aim for perfection, but rather for them to put forth the effort.

Keep in mind that the end goal for toddlers doing chores is to learn how to contribute to their household, follow directions, and see their job to completion. Even if you end up having to redo their work, they’ll get there with practice and patience.

Cleaning Chores for Toddlers

Here are some cleaning chores you can ask your toddler for help with:

Wipe down the table with the aid of a parent or older sibling
Pick up toys and put them in bins or on shelves after playtime
Use a cloth or sock on their hand to dust furniture, baseboards, or cabinets
Put dirty clothes in their hamper
Help make the bed with help from older sibling or parent
Clean up small spills under supervision
Put away books after reading/bedtime
Sweep floor and use small, child-appropriate dustpan
Help sort laundry by color, alongside parent or older sibling
Help load and/or unload the dryer with supervision
Line up shoes, pair clean socks together
Put trash in trash cans

Outside Chores for Toddlers

Doing chores outside can be fund for toddlers, especially in the warmer months:

Water plants with a small watering can or hose
Return gardening tools to their original place after completed
Help weed the garden under supervision or with parent’s help
Put away toys in the yard/help tidy up the garage
Pick up sticks around the yard

Pet Care Chores for Toddlers

If pets are an important part of your family, don’t be afraid to ask your toddler to help out with taking care of them:

Help feed pets with supervision and guidance from older sibling or parent
Help water pets
Help brush pets with guidance
Help walk dog or tend to other pets with help from a parent

Food Preparation Chores for Toddlers

Your toddler isn’t quite ready to prepare a family meal just yet, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help out!

Throwing food scraps away in the garbage
Adding pre-measured ingredients to a bowl
Mixing easy ingredients
Pour drinks into cups for meals with supervision or assistance
Set the table/clear the table after meals
Wash and sort veggies, sort small finger foods and snacks
Fetch and then put away ingredients from the fridge and pantry

Consider Their Interests

Just because they’re chores doesn’t mean your toddlers have to despise doing them! While children who are toddler-age typically love helping out in just about any way they can, they’re likely to have some kind of preference when it comes to what they help with. So, what chores do you think they’d like to do best?

Do they show a particular interest in caring for animals or plants? Perhaps they’d like to feed and take care of them rather than pairing socks up. Maybe they have an interest in cooking and would prefer to help you cook and set the table. You get the idea.

Tracking Chores

Rather than the actual skill of doing the chore, what’s more important is consistency. You want your child to develop the habit of contributing to the family. This means doing a chore every day (or close to every day). It can be something that takes even 5-10 minutes, so long as they know that it’s expected of them.

A fantastic way of ensuring they’re done every day is by using a chore tracker. It seems like most people these days are already on their phones quite often, making it much easier to keep track through a tracking app like Family Daily.

Family Daily allows you to create and track the chores that still need to be done, and those that have been done. Not only that, but you can even plan meals, share calendars seamlessly, and manage to-do lists!

Shayanne Weeks

Shay is a versatile writer originally from Boise, Idaho, now based in Los Angeles, California. When not writing, she's a touring music producer and DJ who tries to fit in time with her partner and 4 fur babies as much as possible.