Today's Tip for Families

2026-06-20

Let Your Child Be Your Helper

Age-appropriate chores are an effective way to teach children how to take responsibility for themselves and how to be helpful to others. But what’s appropriate for your elementary-aged child?

Your child may be able to:

Help wash and vacuum out your car.
Wash dishes and the floor.
Water plants.
Prepare a lunch or a snack.
Help read recipes.
Change bed sheets.
Help with projects around the house.
Read to younger siblings.
Put clean laundry away.

Give your child regular responsibility for one or two of these tasks. Explain them step by step so your child will know exactly what is expected. One word of caution: Don’t assign “low dignity jobs”—such as taking out the garbage or cleaning up the dog’s messes. This gives children a bad taste for chores. Plus, it makes them feel used.

Brought to you by:

West Point Consolidated School District