Super Mom Hacks

What Jobs Can Kids Do Cleaning House?

My mama just finished her top-to-bottom spring housecleaning, and is rightly proud of herself for having that checked off. I’m just getting started on mine, now that my spring consignment sale events are behind me. And just as when I was growing up, there are certain aspects of seasonal deep-cleaning that are definitely a family affair around here. Which may have some of you wondering, “What jobs can kids do cleaning house?”

You’d be surprised. More than you think, I bet.

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Seriously?

To be fair, there are some jobs even grownups should leave to the pros. But now that we’ve gotten into a more regular family cleaning schedule, where all four of us pitch in each Sunday for a “Cleaning Power Hour,” the big spring deep-cleaning shouldn’t be so bad.

So while I’ve written elsewhere about different techniques to help get your kids involved in routine chores (including cleaning chores), this post is going to focus more on what sorts of cleaning jobs kids can handle at different ages.

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Caveat:

This does not mean ALL kids SHOULD be able to handle EVERY job on this list at every minimum suggested age. After all, some kids are developmentally ahead of the curve in some areas, while others lag further behind in those same areas. Also, you should not expect your child to do a given job perfectly on the first try (or even on the hundredth!). Like anything else, learning to clean involves lots of practice and trial-and-error.

But at the same time, you might be surprised at all the ways your child is willing (or at least able) to “help.” Especially if you

Ready to learn age-appropriate ways to encourage your kids to pitch in? Then read on!

Have you ever wondered what jobs kids can do cleaning house? The answer is more than you think! Here, a guide by age to what you can expect developmentally.

This is a collaboration post. However, please know I stand behind everything written here, and only include links to products/services/resources I’m willing to recommend personally.

What Jobs Can Kids Do Cleaning House? List By Age

Ages 0-24 months

Yes, seriously! You are your newborn’s first and most important teacher! Now is the time to be building those good habits that will lead to cooperative helpers later on!

And there really ARE so many things little ones can learn and practice at this age:

Working on these skills will give your child practice in social interaction, number correspondence, color and shape recognition, and motor skills. Not to mention quality one-on-one time with her favorite grownups!

Ages 2-4

Once kiddos enter preschool (which in our area is at age 2), you’d be surprised how many new “cleaning” jobs they get to practice every day at school. There’s no reason you can’t use this fact as a starting point for jobs at home. (Learning what your school’s “cleanup” song is will go a long way toward cueing them on what they’re supposed to do.)

And not only can kids do many jobs, but teaching them to help out gives them a sense of accomplishment! All while teaching them motor skills, counting skills, etc.

Jobs that kids this age can learn to do (and practice doing correctly over time) include

Ages 5-7

By the time kids reach kindergarten, teachers expect they’ll already know how to put away toys, clean up their own messes, etc. This is all the more reason that practicing these skills at home with them is important. Likewise, just as teachers teach your kids that these chores are part of being a “good citizen” at school, you need to help your child learn – and take pride in the fact – that contributing at home is part of being a member of the family, where everyone pitches in and helps each other out.

Skills your child can work on at this age include:

Ages 8-10

Once kids get a little taller and stronger, there are all sorts of things they can do to help keep the house tidy. They may not ENJOY doing these things, mind you. But if you started early with teaching them to pitch in around the house, then you should be well on the way to rewarding them for being “big-kid” enough to take on these additional tasks:

Ages 11-14

As your tween/young teen continues to seek more independence, you can keep reminding them that the flip-side of greater independence is greater responsibility. After all, you’re getting them ready to go out into the world on their own in a few years. And some of them may already need some of these skills, whether at sleepaway camp (which I first attended by myself at age 9), or on a group trip for school. (I was an exchange student for two weeks the summer I was 13. I first learned to iron my own clothing in preparation for that trip!)

Kids this age can practice a bunch of new skills:

Many of these jobs are skills that teens can continue to practice, especially in preparation for after-school/summer jobs as well as life once they “fly the nest”.

Jobs Best Left To The Grownups And/Or Pros:

There are, of course, some jobs that only adults can handle – and some that you will want to leave to the pros altogether. For example:

Your turn:

What cleaning jobs have I missed? What cleaning tasks do YOUR kids help with around the house? Let us know in the comments!

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