Growing up, we all had chores that were assigned to us around the house that were suitable for our age. By that I mean chores for 8 year olds shouldn’t be the same as chores for 13-year-olds, but it’s important for kids to have chores as they get older. Chores for kids don’t have to be the same in each household, but the parents can decide based on what their kids can handle.
Although you might not realize it at the time, the chosen chores can teach you some pretty important life lessons. For starters, time management skills because you have to complete your chores before going out to play with your friends. Then there are chores for the morning, things that you must do before leaving for school otherwise you’ll be late. This, and other chores for kids, teach them about prioritizing.
As kids grow older, the chores assigned to them need to change. Chores for 8 year olds can’t be the same as chores for younger kids because their capabilities at each age are different. It’s important that the chores you give your kids are age-appropriate and allow for a natural progression as they mature.
Read more:
9 Helpful Chores For 4 Year Olds (And 5 Year Olds)
13 Perfect Chores For 6 Year Olds (and 7 Year Olds)
Why chores are important for kids
Chores for kids are about more than just giving you a break, they play an important role in building character and raising responsible kids. Some kids might not admit it, but I’m sure chores make them feel like they are contributing towards running the household, which is great!
By giving your kids chores to do around the house, you teach them about responsibility and hard work. Having chores also teaches kids about consequences, because if they don’t stick to their end of the bargain and complete the chores assigned to them, there will be repercussions.
I know this all too well.
In my pre-teens, one of my chores was to pack my own lunch box. I seem to remember one particular Sunday where my mom told me not to go to bed too late, otherwise I’d oversleep the next morning. Did I listen? No. I went to bed too late, overslept and didn’t get a chance to pack my lunch. Safe to say that was the longest Monday ever!
Not only did I understand the importance of managing my time better, but I also understood the consequences of not doing my chores through that one incident.
Chores teach kids different lessons, others can even help them improve their teamwork skills if they are chores that require a joint effort with siblings or friends. When it comes to chores for 8 – 10 year olds, it’s all about fine-tuning the basics they learnt in their younger years. Here are some age-appropriate ideas on chores for 8 – 10 year olds.
Chores for 8 year olds
Chores for 8-year-old kids can be slightly more physically and mentally demanding and come with a higher level of responsibility. At that age, kids can start doing chores in the kitchen with adult supervision.
Watering the plants: This is one of a few chores that kids of different ages can do. Think about it, the worst that could happen is your child overflooding the plants and you having to replace them or your child getting themselves wet with a bucket of water or sprinkler!
Feeding the pets: Depending on how your child feels about pets, then this may be one of the relatively effortless and easier chores on the list. This is the perfect way for them to spend time with the furry members of the family; chances are, this may be amongst the popular chores that all your kids could end up fighting over.
Making the beds: Some chores need to become second nature, and this is one of them! You shouldn’t expect this one to be done perfectly, but a little effort when your child wakes up wouldn’t hurt. All it takes is for you to run them through it once or twice before letting them take the reins forever.
Taking out the trash: Possibly one of the less glamorous and not-so-appealing chores on the list, but it must be done. Taking out the trash is fairly simple and requires only a bit of strength and muscle power. This is typically not an everyday chore, so your child will be able to catch a breather in-between the days.
Tidying up the toys: By the age of 8, this is one of the chores that your child will probably have mastered! Nobody likes a messy playroom or play area, so teach them about cleaning up after themselves by putting this task on their list of chores.
Chores for 9-year-olds
Chores for kids aged between 8 and 10 are relatively similar, so 9-year-olds get to do the not-so-easy yet not-so-difficult ones on the list of chores.
Assisting with meals: When it comes to kitchen chores, it’s always best for kids to tackle them with adult supervision. If you have an aspiring chef on your hands, then this will probably be one of their favorite chores. Kitchen chores don’t always have to cooking or dishing up, especially because of the possible dangers of allowing your little one near a stove or letting them touch a knife while chopping the veggies.
Instead, one of the safer chores could be assisting with plating or setting the table.
Packing lunch for school: This is one of the chores that a lot of kids are familiar with and are pretty good at. You know why? Because if they don’t do it, they’re bound to starve! I doubt there’ll be much following up on chores like this one that directly impact your kids.
Sweeping: This one requires very little elaborating on. Once they’re tall and strong enough to hold a broom, this is one of the easier chores for kids to do.
Chores for 10 year olds
Chores for 10 year olds can be more exciting and slightly challenging because 10 year olds can handle a bit of a challenge! You’ll be able to decide which are the best chores for your kid based on their strengths and personal attributes.
Walking the dogs: If your 10-year-old is an animal lover, then this will be one of their favorite chores. Taking the dog for a walk around the block after school seems like one of the more exciting chores. At the same time, your child will get a bit of exercise as well, so it’s a win-win situation.
Cleaning windows: Chores for 10-year-olds may require a bit more height and strength than the other age groups, like this one! If all else fails, you can get a two-step ladder to help your little one with chores like these around the house.
Packing the laundry away: When it comes to safe and easy chores for 8 – 10-year-olds, this is one that comes to mind. Now, to challenge your kids a bit more or add an extra layer to packing the laundry away, you could tell them to make sure that everything is color coordinated. That should make the chores list a bit more fun!
Washing dishes: Some families may differentiate between chores for boys and chores for girls, and this one tends to fall under chores for girls. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Washing the dishes can be an enjoyable chore for both boys and girls, and it can be done collectively amongst siblings and encourage a sense of teamwork.
Pulling weeds from the garden: Wondering if there are any chores for kids with green fingers? This is a good one. Teach your kid how to know what to pull out and let them do it weekly or as needed.
How to approach chores for your kids
When it’s all said and done, giving kids chores is about instilling certain values and life lessons in them, not so much about how well they can do the chores. This is especially true if your kids are still young and are only just starting out with doing chores.
When assigning chores, don’t seek perfection and don’t be too hard on your kids, after all, they are still learning! Chores for 8 – 10-year-olds can vary in their level of difficulty to accommodate your kids’ capabilities and preferences.
Give praise where it’s due and show appreciation for the effort that your kids put into making sure that their chores are done. Try to mix it up and pick chores for your kids that may help them discover new interests and problem-solving abilities.
Read more:
9 Helpful Chores For 4 Year Olds (And 5 Year Olds)
13 Perfect Chores For 6 Year Olds (and 7 Year Olds)
Special thanks to author: Sannie Nkosi is the founder of Four-Leaf Consulting. After a few years in journalism, she ditched the newsroom to write about things that really matter (like family, finances and travel). On a regular day, you can find her creating content, listening to podcasts, or engaging with small business owners.
