Giant List of Chores for Kids to Earn Money (Age-Appropriate)

Wondering how to get your kids to start helping out around the house? One way is to offer them money in exchange for their help. But what kind of chores can you ask them to do? And how much should you pay them? I’ve got you covered with this giant list of chores for kids to earn money.

In this blog post, I’ll provide a list of age-appropriate chores that kids can do in order to earn money. I’ll also give you tips on how to manage their money and create a chore chart that will make everyone happy!

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Table of Contents

HOW TO ASSIGN CHORES FOR MONEY

There are certain questions you need to ask yourself when deciding how to structure your chore chart. For example, how many chores should your child do? Are the chores mandatory or kid-initiated? And how much money should they earn for each one?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making these decisions:

Start with a small list of chores. You can always add more later!

Starting a chore chart can be overwhelming at first, especially for younger children. They need to understand how it works and what to do, so it’s best to keep the list of chores small. Once they get the hang of it, you can start adding different chores to the list.

If you keep the list short and simple, kids will have a better chance at achieving their goals. Setting goals can help motivate kids, thus keeping them consistent long-term.

Consider your child’s age and ability level when assigning chores.

Making a chore chart is not one size fits all. It will look very different for every family. You need to consider physical strategies, cognitive abilities, emotional development and prior experience before assigning a particular task.

Assigning tailored chores to your child’s strengths and weaknesses not only helps them learn valuable life skills, but also gives them a sense of accomplishment when finished. You know your children best, so you need to decide what they can do and what will be most helpful for you.

Be sure to include both easy and hard tasks.

You want your kids to be excited about completing chores and earning money. Including both easy and hard tasks will allow them to feel successful, while also helping them work on skills of hard work and determination.

On one hand, easy tasks are necessary for allowing people to get comfortable with the basics and build momentum. On the other hand, hard tasks are also essential because they challenge kids to overcome difficult things.

Choose the basic structure of your chore chart.

There are so many different ways to go about assigning chores. You want to think about what will work best for your family and your schedules. These Easy Chore Chart Ideas will get you started on finding the perfect system for your family.

You’ll also need to decide if the chores on your list will be mandatory or kid-initiated. There are certain chores I would expect my kids to do without getting paid. Kids need to understand that some chores are expected because they are part of the household and they need to contribute.

Decide how much money your child will earn for each chore.

Here comes the fun part- the money! There are several things to consider for this category. First, choose how often you will pay them:

Pay one lump sum each week – With this method, your child will get a certain amount of money each week if they complete all the chores on their list. Or you create a point system for daily chores, with a set goal, and they get a lump sum for reaching their goal.
Assign various amounts to each chore – This method involves keeping a running tally of what chores your child completes, as well as, assigning each chore a specific amount. You can pay them each day, each week, or each month.
Combination of lump sum and extra money – You can also combine both of these concepts, which is what I plan to do. My kids will get a set amount each week for completing daily chores, and then they will have a choice to earn more money from the list of weekly chores that are optional.

Then, decide on the money amount or reward system you will go by. Make sure to get your kids involved in this discussion. Listening to your child’s input on the amount of money they deserve is beneficial for both of you. This can ensure they feel good about the pay they receive for completing their expected responsibilities.

MONEY CHORE CHARTS

Now that you know how to get started, it’s time to create a chore chart! You can make your own chart, or buy one that fits your needs. You just want to make sure you have a chart that will keep everyone on track to actually stick with the plans.

I use this Magnetic Chore Chart for daily and weekly chores. This pack comes with 3 different colored charts for multiple children, and a set of markers. There are multiple variations of this chore chart set- one includes a blank whiteboard, another includes erasers, and you can also buy a set with 4 charts instead of 3. It has an area for each child’s goal, their actual total, and then the reward/money amount. It’s compact, while also providing enough spaces for me to write a good list.

I also liked this Chore Chart & Weekly Planner set because it came with both and even a small thin board for writing down groceries.

This Allowance Chart is also a great choice for kids who want to focus more on the aspect of counting up their money.

If you are looking for printable charts, check out my free cleaning schedule printable. You can modify these weekly and monthly charts to fit your needs.

LIST OF CHORES FOR KIDS

Now that you know how to set up a chore chart, it’s time to choose which chores to include! Here is a list of age-appropriate chores for kids to earn money:

Chores for Preschoolers (ages 3-5)

Put toys away
Put dirty dishes in the sink
Put clean clothes away
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Throw away trash
Light dusting
Help put groceries away

Chores for Elementary Kids (ages 6-8)

Wipe up small messes
Unload dishwasher as a team
Organize playroom
Vacuum
Fold towels
Feed pets
Make bed
Check the mail
Water plants

Chores for Tweens (ages 9-12)

Load the dishwasher
Put the dishes away
Yardwork
Fold clothes
Mop the floor
Take out the trash

Chores for Teenagers (ages 13-18)

Clean the bathroom
Babysit younger siblings
Start dinner
Do own laundry

CHORE PROJECTS FOR KIDS

Chore projects are chores that require more time, thus allowing the kids to earn extra money. These won’t necessarily be on the weekly chore list, but perhaps a special section they can choose from when they want extra cash. Examples might include: cleaning the car, extensive yard work, cleaning out the attic, etc.

LIST OF CHORES TO TEACH MONEY MANAGEMENT

In addition to teaching kids the value of responsibility, assigning chores can also be a great way to introduce them to money management. Here are a few tips:

Help your child set up a savings account and deposit their earnings from chores.
Explain the concept of interest and how it can help their money grow.
Have them create a budget for their spending money.
Talk about responsible credit and saving up for large purchases.

There are also great book you can reference to teach your kids about money management. We absolutely love the Moneybunny series! There are four books in this set and they all teach a different concept:

BEST CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR KIDS

If you plan to have your kids help with the cleaning, you want to make sure you are using safe products.

I began using Norwex products a few years ago and believe they are the safest products to use. Norwex is non-toxic, effective, and offers a variety of products.

If you aren’t interested in Norwex, I would recommend looking into the following cleaning products:

Dr. Bronner’s All Purpose Cleaner – Certified organic and made from plant-based ingredients, Dr. Bronner’s all-purpose cleaner is perfect for everyday cleanups in the bathroom and kitchen. It can be used on surfaces such as countertops, appliances, tile, mirrors and glass.
Babyganics All Purpose Surface Wipes – These convenient and easy-to-use wipes are perfect for tackling messes in the kitchen, bathroom or elsewhere. With an organic, plant-based formula that is free of dyes, fragrances and other harsh ingredients, Babyganics all purpose surface wipes provide a safe cleaning solution for your home.
Method Bathroom Cleaner – This plant-based cleaner is designed to tackle tough bathroom grime. It has a special antibacterial formula that kills 99.9% of germs and leaves surfaces clean without the use of harsh chemicals or fumes.
Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Dish Soap – This gentle yet effective dish soap is made from naturally derived ingredients and is safe to use on dishes, pots and pans. It leaves dishes clean without the risk of exposure to harsh chemicals.

By following these tips, you can help your child develop strong financial literacy skills that will benefit them for years to come!

There you have it! A list of chores for kids to earn money, plus tips on how to manage their money and create a chore chart. By following these tips, you can help your child develop skills that will benefit them for years to come 🙂

A Realistic Cleaning Schedule That Actually Works

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List Of Chores For 6 & 7 Year Olds

List Of Chores For 8 & 9 Year Olds

List Of Chores For 10-12 Year Olds

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