12 Chore Ideas for Preschoolers
Giving kids the right chores based on their age is important for their development.
And, believe it or not, kids can (and should) help around the house. It may feel like they’re just getting in the way, but with the right direction, and using this list of chore ideas for preschoolers, even your preschooler can help with the household chore list.
Using a chore chart template, you can create a helpful guide for your preschooler to complete their chore list.
The key to success for your preschool is to find age-appropriate chores they actually like to do. If you aren’t sure what that looks like, I am going to help you out by sharing some simple chores for preschoolers.
This list of easy chore ideas for preschoolers will take some of the household chore burdens from you while teaching kids responsibility.
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Chore 1- Clean Your Room
Let me say, don’t just tell your preschooler to clean their room. You MUST give them clear instructions for the first few times you expect them to clean their room. After you’ve helped your child complete the chore 4 or 5 times, they should at least be able to get started with the task on their own. This is one of the easiest chore ideas for preschoolers to help them get started.
Chore 2- Put Dishes in the Sink or on the Counter
At the age of 3, we expect our kids to put their dishes in the sink. And, they know that breakable dishes go on the counter, and everything else can be dropped in the sink. Are we slavedrivers? Not at all. We just know that our kids are capable, and so we’re giving them the chance to have some responsibility.
Chore 3- Dust the House
Ever heard of Swiffer? They make these Swiffer dusting wands and my kids think they’re great. After a time or two of some instruction, they can actually do a pretty decent job of dusting the flat spaces. Obviously, I don’t let my preschool dust around breakable things, but they’re glad to be helpful with guided instruction. This is one of the best chore ideas for preschoolers.
Looking for more tips on teaching kids to clean? I’ve got ya covered!
Some of my FAVORITE PAPER CHORE CHARTS we have personally used!
Chore 4- Feed Your Pet
If you have a scoop and a bucket of food, your preschooler can feed the dog or cat. In fact, they will likely love this chore. Instruct them how to do it, and then it’s AMAZING when you can just ask them to do it, and you don’t have to.
Chore 5- Lock the Pet Up When Leaving
Our kids take turns locking our dog in the cage when we leave. We have worked with them on how the cage needs to be closed and locked, and now they do it without us even asking!
Chore 6- Help Empty Dishwasher
There are certain items in the dishwasher that our kids are allowed to touch. They are allowed to help take out the forks, spoons, bowls, plates, serving utensils, and plastic cups. Everything else they leave for us. The bigger items that are on higher shelves, they hand up to us and we put them away.
My FAVORITE MAGNETIC CHORE CHARTS!
Chore 7- Make the Bed
If you haven’t noticed, I have a pattern of giving kids instructions a few times and then allowing them to complete the chore on their own. Making the bed is a great chore idea for preschoolers. Help your child make their bed a few times, and then give them the autonomy to do it on their own.
Chore 8- Help Water Plants
The watering bucket might be a little heavy, but just don’t put a lot of water in it. Better yet, get them their own watering can and let them go around and help you. Our kids love to help in the garden too!
Chore 9- Get Dressed
Most preschoolers are capable of getting dressed by themselves. If they need some guidance, offer it. We usually pick clothes out together, and then it’s up to them to get dressed.
Related Post: Fun Indoor Activities for Kids!
Chore 10- Brush Teeth
We brush teeth both morning and night. One time, we let our preschoolers do it alone with us watching and reminding if a step is missed. The other time, we do the brushing to ensure their teeth are being cleaned well.
Chore 11- Set the Table for Dinner
Much like emptying the dishwasher, an age-appropriate chore for a preschooler is to help set the table. Show them where things go, and how many place settings to complete, and that’s one more thing you won’t need to do anymore.
Chore 12- Clothes to Laundry
After the bath, our kids know that the dirty laundry needs to go in the hamper. After getting dressed in the morning, their pajamas need to go to the bathroom for bathtime later that night.
I shared some of my favorite chore charts for kids, but I left out the dry erase chore charts for kids. For me personally, my kids would end up having a lot of it erased by the end of the week. Their little hands would touch it and the writing would disappear.
Pick Household Chores Your Kids Can Do!
Kids are capable of so much and sometimes as parents, we limit them because we’re afraid they won’t be able to do something. Stop letting your own thoughts of what your kids can or can’t do limit what you give them the opportunity to try. Give them some chores to try and let them have a shot at it. This list of easy chore ideas for preschoolers is a great place to start.
Make it fun and let them have a chore chart to track their progress. This can be a win-win for everyone! When we first introduced chore charts to our kids, I was fully prepared to offer an incentive for chores completed. BUT, the kids were just excited to put stickers and magnets on the chore charts. WIN!!!
Check out this AWESOME Coloring Chore Chart for Preschoolers!
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