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Chores for 6-year-olds

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Quick answer

Many 6-year-olds can make their bed, feed a pet with an adult, set the table, put away their own clean clothes, and wipe the table after a meal. Age 6 is also a common time to try a first allowance, because Nibud notes kids can recognize the different coins around then. Kids vary.

Why six is a natural time to start paying

Nibud, the Dutch family budget institute, names about age 6 as a starting point for pocket money, because kids can usually tell the different coins apart by then. That makes it a handy age to link a little responsibility to a little money, if your family wants to.

Nibud also says its figures show what kids typically get, not a recommendation. Its 2023 children's survey puts the typical weekly amount for 6-year-olds at €1.20 to €2.30. Your own number can be smaller, larger or none.

A list of jobs for a 6-year-old

Chores for a 6-year-old
ChoreEvery day or once a weekNotes
Make the bedEvery dayStraight enough is fine
Feed the petEvery dayWith an adult nearby
Set the tableEvery dayPlates, forks, napkins
Dirty clothes in the hamperEvery dayTie it to pajamas
Wipe the table with a clothEvery dayWater and a cloth only
Put away clean clothesOnce a weekInto low drawers
Water the plantsOnce a weekUse a small watering can
Tidy the shoe areaOnce a weekPair them up
Take recycling to the binOnce a weekLight items only

Pretend money, step by step

A first allowance can stay pretend. You track a number on a chart or in an app, and your child watches it grow. If they want to spend it, you decide together what a real treat or toy is worth, which keeps the idea of value clear.

  1. Pick a small weekly amount, for example the price of a small treat. That is only an example.
  2. Tell your child which jobs are expected and which earn extra, if any.
  3. Show them the balance once a week on the same day.
  4. Let them save for something small, so they see a result within a few weeks.

For the reasoning behind amounts, read allowance for 6-year-olds and the guide to starting an allowance.

First-allowance chart, age 6

Week of ____________________
ChoreMonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Make the bed
Feed the pet with an adult
Set the table
Wipe the table
Put away clean clothesonce this week
Water the plantsonce 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

What the first weeks tend to look like

Interest can start high and dip after a few days, so keep going through the dip. Keep the weekly check-in short and friendly, and celebrate a full week of checkmarks with something that costs nothing, like choosing the family game.

Keeping jobs safe

Let them carry a plate. Pots of hot food stay with adults. Hot food, the stove, knives and sprays stay with adults. When they feed the pet, stay near and wash hands afterward.

What to try next

If a job is too much, use the list for 5-year-olds. For more challenge, look at chores for 7-year-olds. The guide to making the bed is a good first teaching tool, and you can add these jobs to a chart in Pouch.

Questions parents ask

Should 6-year-olds get an allowance?

It is optional. Nibud names about age 6 as a starting point because kids can recognize coins then, but many families wait.

How much allowance does a 6-year-old get?

Dutch 6-year-olds typically get €1.20 to €2.30 a week, per Nibud (2023). Use that as context, not a rule.

Which chores should be paid?

Many families treat daily self-care as expected and pay for extra jobs, but you choose. See the guide on tying allowance to chores for both views.

What if my 6-year-old loses interest in the chart?

Change the pictures, shorten the list, or trade one job for another. A fresh chart can restart the habit.

Sources

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