When I was young, my mom would joke that the reason she had kids was to get help with chores around the house. I can’t remember an age when I didn’t have some task assigned to me, but I’m fairly certain I wasn’t mowing the lawn or scrubbing showers at two or three.
Research shows that chores help children develop confidence, responsibility, and independence. For toddlers, they also strengthen fine motor skills and give little ones the satisfaction of contributing to the family. Every small job is practice for the bigger chores that older kids can handle. Give these 7 chores for toddlers a try with your little one. Use our toddler chore chart to help track accomplishments and celebrate!
1. Put away shoes.
Putting away shoes helps toddlers practice cleaning up after themselves while building responsibility and independence. It also reinforces the importance of putting things back where they belong.
Assign it: Designate one place where your toddler can put away shoes. A basket, a low shoe rack, or even a spot marked with painter’s tape by the door all work well. I originally wanted my daughter’s shoes neatly lined up in the closet, but that wasn’t realistic. Instead, I gave her a large basket with a loose-fitting lid. She happily drops her shoes inside, puts the lid back on, and calls it done.
2. Put away clean clothes.
Putting away clothes helps toddlers learn to sort, categorize, and follow simple directions. It also gives them ownership over their belongings and reinforces that everyone in the family contributes in age-appropriate ways.
Assign it: Make it easy for your toddler to know where everything belongs. I labeled the drawers on my toddler’s dresser with one big letter each (or you could use shapes, superheroes, or colors): “S” for shirts; “P” for pants; “B” for bedtime clothes; “D” for dresses; and “U” for underwear and socks. I showed her how to do it—repeating what goes in each drawer a few times. Now I can give her articles of clothing and tell her to put them “where they belong,” and off she goes (most of the time)!
3. Put dirty clothes in the hamper.
This is one of the easiest chores for toddlers. And putting dirty clothes in the hamper teaches toddlers that chores have a beginning and an end. It helps them learn routines, care for their belongings, and clean up after themselves.
Assign it: Use a low hamper or basket that your toddler can reach. When it’s time to clean up, point to the dirty clothes and ask your child to put them in the hamper. My daughter loves turning it into a game. She does an excited underhand toss into the basket and celebrates when she sinks one.
4. Feed the family pet.
Helping care for a family pet teaches toddlers compassion and responsibility. They begin to understand that pets depend on people for their basic needs, and they experience the satisfaction of helping care for another living thing.
Assign it: Choose one supervised task your toddler can handle, such as pouring food into the dog’s bowl, adding one “shake” of fish food, or pouring water into the cat’s dish. My girl loves animals, and since she has been old enough to say the dog’s name and “food,” she has been reminding me when the dog’s bowl is empty. So we now have the dog food in another huge bucket with a lid with a big cup in it. When we tell her to, she puts two cups of food in the dog’s bowl and replaces the lid.
5. Dust low surfaces.
Dusting helps toddlers strengthen fine motor skills while learning to care for the spaces they use every day. It also teaches them that keeping a home clean is something everyone can help with, even in small ways.
Assign it: Give your toddler a microfiber cloth and point out easy-to-reach surfaces, such as a coffee table, windowsill, or low bookshelf. Show your child how to wipe from one side to the other, then let your little one give it a try.
6. Set the table.
Setting the table helps toddlers practice counting, matching, and following directions while giving them an active role in preparing for family meals. It also reinforces the idea that everyone contributes to the family in meaningful ways.
Assign it: Chores for toddlers at mealtime can be as basic as putting one napkin and one fork by each chair. You can start by pre-counting them for your child. Mine knows we typically have four people at the table, but she sometimes leaves extras, which is helpful in the case of spills!
7. Help put away groceries.
Helping unload and put away groceries teaches toddlers that they are an important part of the family team. They practice carrying, sorting, and putting items where they belong. Plus, they get a first peek at the snack haul!
Assign it: Give your toddler a few light items to carry inside, such as a box of crackers or a bag of apples. In our house, regardless of who goes to the store, everyone helps to put groceries away. My toddler has her own shelf in the pantry, which she gets to stock. That shelf, along with a drawer in the fridge, gives her some independence if she is hungry and wants to get her own food.
Your Mindset About Chores for Toddlers
Simplicity is key with toddlers. And you’ll need a healthy dose of patience. When I remind myself I am helping her become responsible and independent (not perfect), I breathe much easier. Instead of noticing that I have a purple toddler fork at my spot at the table, I notice she remembered that I love the color purple!
What’s the key to teaching toddlers to help around the house?
