Chores for 4 and 5 year olds
Four- and five-year-olds can do a job from start to finish if it's short and they've watched you do it a few times. They like having jobs that are theirs, with their name on them.
Make their bed
Pull the comforter up and put the pillow on top. That counts.
Set the table
Forks, spoons and napkins. Leave the knives and glasses to you.
Clear their own plate
Scrape it into the trash, then into the sink.
Water the plants
A small watering can, filled halfway.
Match socks from the clean laundry
A game, not a job.
Put away groceries that go low
Cans in the pantry, snacks in the drawer.
Dust with an old sock on their hand
Baseboards and low shelves.
Feed the pet
With the scoop already in the bag.
What makes it stick at this age: Give them two or three jobs that are always theirs, rather than whatever needs doing. Owning the job is the part they're proud of.
For the rest of the house
The printed list is yours to keep. Pitch In is a free app for the grown-ups and teenagers in the house: chores with names on them, a shared calendar, the grocery list and the bills, in one place everyone can see. It’s for 13 and up, so when your kids get there, they get their own list.