Chores for 3 Year Olds
According to research (source: AACAP), it is recommended to involve children as young as 3 years old in doing chores. When children participate in household tasks, they tend to experience certain advantages. These advantages include having a higher self-esteem, be more responsible, and be better equipped to deal with frustration, and having improved abilities to handle frustration, challenges, and the ability to wait for delayed gratification.
Three year olds are anxious to help out at home and become independent. They want to feel “big” and capable. A three year old will probably be more into doing chores than a capable teenager. You can give them some minor responsibilities as long as the chore is age-appropriate. They cannot lift anything heavy or anything that will break. They should also not be given anything dangerous. Whatever they do will probably need to be redone but the point is to get them started and develop good habits. It will pay off when they are older. It will take longer to show them how to do something than to do it yourself but at this age the point is not to get them to help you but rather to develop good habits and prepare them for these skills when they are older. It will pay off eventually.
Any chore that you ask your 3 year old to do should be compatible with their developmental level both physical and mental. Ask them to do things that they are capable of doing so that when they complete the chores they will get to feel like they accomplished something. If the task is too hard it will be discouraging.
Chore List for 3 Year Olds
Here are some age appropriate chores for a 3 year old:
- Discard trash away
- Store toys in a toy container
- Place books on the shelf
- Assist with table setting
- Deliver light objects
- Pick up blanket or pillow from the floor
- Dust shelves or boards
- Straighten bed sheets and tidying up pillows with assistance
- Put clothes away in a hamper
- Get dressed with assistance
- Put on shoes with assistance
- Brush teeth, wash face and brush their hair with assistance
- Tidy up after play
- Wipe down play table
- Clean up small rubbish or paper scraps
- Wipe small spills
Chore Chart for 3 Year Old
We offer free printable chores charts with pictures that you can upload. Since 3 year olds cannot yet read you can add photos that will describe each chore or task.
See more toddler reward chart templates.