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Chores for 10-year-olds

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Quick answer

Many 10-year-olds can help in the kitchen with an adult nearby and run a load of laundry from start to finish: sort, wash, dry, fold and put away. They can also keep their room tidy, load the dishwasher and sweep. Kids vary, so teach one new skill at a time and stay close.

Two new skills worth teaching now

Ten is a good age to teach two skills that last: helping with a meal, and doing laundry. Both have clear steps and a clear finish, and both are easier to teach before the teen years get busy.

Kitchen help with an adult

Your 10-year-old can wash vegetables, measure ingredients, stir, spread and set timers. Knives, the stove, the oven, hot pans and boiling water need an adult at their side, and you decide when your child is ready.

Laundry from start to finish

  1. Sort lights and darks.
  2. Load the machine without overfilling it.
  3. Measure detergent with you nearby, since it is a cleaning chemical.
  4. Move the load to the dryer or rack.
  5. Fold, then put away.

The guides on sorting laundry and folding laundry cover each step.

A table of jobs for age 10

Chores for a 10-year-old
ChoreDaily or weeklyNotes
Tidy own roomDailyMake the bed, clear the floor
Help with one dinner taskDailyWashing, stirring, setting the table
Load or unload the dishwasherDailyAdult removes sharp knives
Feed the petDailyWash hands afterward
Pack their own school bagDailyNight before
Do one load of laundryWeeklySort to put-away
Sweep the kitchen floorWeeklyDustpan and brush
Wipe the bathroom sinkWeeklyAdult nearby for cleaner
Take out recycling and trashWeeklyWash hands afterward

Kitchen and laundry chart, age 10

Week of ____________________
ChoreMonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Tidy own room
Help with one dinner task
Load or unload the dishwasher
Feed the pet
Do one load of laundryonce this week
Sweep the kitchen flooronce this week
Take out trash and recyclingonce this week
Tick a box or add a sticker when it’s done.Made with Pouch · thepouchapp.com
🖨 Customize and print Add these to Pouch

Teaching the first load

Do the first load together and say each step aloud. On the second load, let your child talk you through it. By the third, sit nearby with a book. Keep a short card by the machine listing the settings your family uses, so the answer is on the wall rather than in your head.

Pay at ten

Ten-year-olds in the Netherlands typically get €2.30 to €2.80 a week, according to Nibud's 2023 children's survey. Allowance for 10-year-olds describes ways to keep the number simple. Many families treat the first-time skills as part of the family contract and add pay for extras.

When the skill lands badly

A pink sock in the whites is a rite of passage. Let the result stand once, then walk through what happened together. A tough laundry mistake teaches faster than a lecture.

Around this age

Step back to chores for 9-year-olds or forward to chores for 11-year-olds. You can build a chart of these jobs in Pouch, or print the one above.

Questions parents ask

Can a 10-year-old do their own laundry?

Many can, once you have shown each step. Stay nearby for the detergent and the dryer at first.

Can a 10-year-old cook?

They can often help with simple, cold recipes. For anything with a knife, stove or oven, an adult should be at their side.

How many chores should a 10-year-old have?

Four to six daily jobs and two or three weekly ones is a common range. Adjust for school and sports.

What if my 10-year-old only does chores for money?

Separate family jobs from paid extras. Everyone helps with the first group, and the second group is optional and paid.

Sources

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