RoutineKit

Chores for 3-year-olds

Three-year-olds love real jobs. Expect help-level quality and keep each task to one clear step. The chart below is already filled in with these jobs: edit it, then print.

Daily

  • Tidy toys into labelled bins
  • Clothes in the hamper
  • Carry plate to the counter
  • Put shoes by the door

Weekly

  • Water plants with a small can
  • Feed the fish (you measure)
  • Wipe the low table
Tasks (7)
Look & print settings
My jobs this week
TaskMonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Tidy toys into labelled bins
Clothes in the hamper
Carry plate to the counter
Put shoes by the door
Water plants with a small can
Feed the fish (you measure)
Wipe the low table

Reward: Pick the Saturday movie

✎ Edit

In the print dialog choose Save as PDF for a file, and turn on Background graphics to keep the colours. Your chart saves automatically in this browser.

Making it work at 3

Tip: Name the job the same way every time, so the picture and the words match.

At this age, a picture matters more than the words. Keep words on if you want to build early reading, but make each picture big.

General suggestions drawn from common child-development guidance (for example HealthyChildren.org, the AAP’s parenting site), not milestones. Every child is different.

Questions parents ask

What chores can a 3-year-old do?

Daily: tidy toys into labelled bins, clothes in the hamper, carry plate to the counter, put shoes by the door. Weekly: water plants with a small can, feed the fish (you measure), wipe the low table. Three-year-olds love real jobs. Expect help-level quality and keep each task to one clear step.

How many chores should a 3-year-old have?

As a general suggestion, two or three daily jobs plus one or two weekly ones. A short list that really gets done beats a long one that gets ignored.

Should a 3-year-old get paid for chores?

Families split on this. A common approach is that everyday family jobs are unpaid, while extra jobs can earn pocket money or a reward. The reward line on the chart works either way.

More free charts