parenting
Having your 8-year-old help out around the house is a great way to encourage good habits and prepare them for the future.
At 8, kids can have a ton of energy! They might want to do more things by themselves, which means you can give them some tasks of their own and spend a little less time supervising than you might with younger kids.
But that leaves a pretty big question: what chores should you give them, exactly? We’ve got you covered with a list of 15 age-appropriate chores for 8-year-olds.
What chores can an 8-year-old do?
While every 8-year-old is different, these kid-friendly chores are a good place to start. You can always make adjustments to match your kid’s unique interests and skills!
1. Loading the dishwasher
An easy chore they can do almost every day? Loading the dishwasher! You’ll just want to give them a few pointers first to make sure everything gets clean. Explain where each item goes and why it’s important not to stack things on top of each other. Depending on your dishwasher, you might ask them to give each plate a quick rinse before loading it. Then, as a final step, you can teach them how to add dishwasher detergent and start the washing cycle. You might want to help out at first, but they’ll be a pro in no time!
2. Washing dishes
Make dinnertime cleanup a little bit easier by having your 8-year-old help with the dishes.
Since heavy ceramic plates and fragile glassware can be tough to handle, keep it simple by having them start with utensils, lightweight containers, or plastic plates and cups. Wash anything sharp or heavy yourself first, and as they get older, they can “graduate” to more challenging dishes.
3. Feeding pets
If you have a pet in the house, kids can help out by feeding them. Explain how often your pet eats and at what time, and show them how to measure the correct amount of food. They can also fill up your pet’s water dish before they leave for school and throughout the day once they’re home.
It can be helpful to explain why it’s important that your pet eats at the same time every day. If you think your 8-year-old will have a hard time remembering at first, try tying it to an activity they already do every day. For example, if you feed the dog before having dinner as a family, have your kid feed them before washing their hands for dinner every night. You can also set an alarm on your phone and give them a reminder.
4. Wiping down countertops
Between breakfast, after-school snack time, and dinner, kitchen counters can get pretty messy. Have kids help out by putting things away and wiping down the counters with a washcloth. Teach them that they might have to scrub a bit to get things clean!
5. Cleaning their room
This one’s important for every age, but 8-year-olds might be developing new hobbies and interests that lead to… even more stuff. Have them keep their room tidy as a daily chore, which might include putting away toys and sports equipment, returning homework and school supplies to their backpack, putting laundry in their laundry basket, vacuuming their floor, and making their bed.
6. Organizing sports gear, toys, & more
Keeping things clean and organized can be hard! Especially when the kids start extracurriculars. Suddenly, there’s everything from cleats and art supplies to basketballs and dance bags everywhere.
8 is a great age for kids to organize things. You can have them organize gear, put shoes on the shoe rack, put things back where they belong in the kitchen, or help find a place for the younger kids’ toys.
7. Walking the dog
Most dogs need to go for 1-3 walks per day. While you’ll want to consider the size of your dog and their personality, your 8-year-old should be able to take them for a short walk. They’ll not only check an item off the family to-do list and get to spend quality time with their pet, but they’ll also get a little outdoor exercise in, which is a win-win for everyone!
Of course, if your neighborhood is really busy or doesn’t have sidewalks, you might want to accompany them or wait until they’re a bit older.
8. Running a load (or two!) of laundry
Laundry is one of those chores that just piles up. And when your kid keeps spilling juice on their favorite shirt, knowing how to do laundry can come in handy.
If your 8-year-old has already learned how to sort laundry by color and type, you can teach them washing basics, like how to treat stains, load the washer, measure and add things like detergent and fabric softener, and start a load of laundry. When laundry is ready to be moved to the dryer, you can teach them how to clean the lint trap and how long certain clothing should be dried for.
Some supervision is a good idea here, especially at first. You’ll also want to explain that detergent, stain remover, and fabric softener can be very dangerous. Teach them to keep cleaning products out of reach so that younger siblings can’t get at them, and to wash their hands after dealing with any of these products. If you’re nervous about your 8-year-old handling cleaning supplies, you can always wait until they’re older or use laundry detergent sheets, which are safer to use and better for the environment.
Start by teaching them one skill at a time, and get more advanced as you go. Eventually, they’ll be able to wash and wear their favorite shirt whenever they want!
9. Folding and hanging up laundry
Once it’s ready, 8-year-olds can fold and hang up laundry. Have them start with simple items like t-shirts and socks, but just don’t expect perfection! Folding skills can take some time.
10. Cleaning windows
From fingerprints to dust and dirt left over from the winter, windows need a thorough cleaning every once in a while. Mix up a safe cleaning solution (dish soap and warm water should do the job!) and have your 8-year-old use a soft cloth or sponge to clean windows in your car or house. Teach them to start at the top and work their way down, cleaning from side to side to avoid streaks.
11. Helping younger siblings with homework
That homework has to get done somehow, and younger kids usually look up to their older siblings. If you want to start teaching teamwork through chores, your 8-year-old can explain confusing concepts, help younger kids work through exercises, and check answers at the end. Plus, they might get a little confidence boost from being able to help out.
12. Vacuuming the house
At 8, kids can help vacuum floors throughout the house. Just show them how to adjust the settings or swap the brush when moving between hardwood floors and carpet, encourage them to pay attention so they don’t vacuum up anything by accident, and remind them to unplug and put the vacuum away when they’re done.
13. Taking out the trash
On the list of easy daily chores for kids is taking out the trash. Your 8-year-old can learn how to empty wastebaskets throughout the house, secure bags to prevent making a mess, and put everything in an outdoor bin. They might even be able to wheel the bin to the end of the driveway or wherever else you put it for trash day.
This can also be a good time to teach your kids about the difference between trash and recycling. Show them which items can be recycled where you live and how to sort them for pickup or drop-off.
14. Dusting
Dusting keeps the air in your home nice and fresh, which is great for every family member, but especially those with allergies. Give your 8-year-old a microfiber cloth or handheld duster to dust baseboards, furniture, electronics, picture frames, lamps, bookshelves, and more. To keep things clean and reduce allergens, aim to have someone dust at least once a week (more if you have a lot of pets).
15. Meal prep
8-year-olds can wash produce, mix ingredients together, stir pots on the stove, and even start chopping up vegetables. You know your kid best: if they’re still getting the hang of things in the kitchen, you might want to wait to introduce chopping or have them start with a kid-safe knife!
Family chores: tips for parents
Sometimes, having your kids do chores can make life way easier. Other times, you’ll have to devote extra energy to teaching them how to do certain tasks. Studies show that effort is worth it! Kids who start doing chores at an early age are more likely to complete their education and have stronger relationships with friends and family. Chores can even help kids become more confident and caring.
If you’re setting up a chore system in your house, here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:
1. Let them make mistakes
Any new skill comes with a learning curve! Plus, kids don’t remember things quite as well as adults do; their long-term memory is still developing. Learning how to do laundry might mean shrinking a shirt or two along the way, just like figuring out how to wash dishes could lead to the occasional broken plate or a few items that need to be rewashed.
Embrace those mistakes! They’re all a part of the process.
2. Give gentle reminders
When those mistakes happen, respond with kindness and understanding. If your 8-year-old tried cleaning the windows, but all they did was create more streaks, praise their effort and show them what to do next time. If they put too much detergent in when doing the laundry, remind them how much to use. You don’t need to do this every time (kids will make a lot of mistakes!), but doing so can help them learn, without hurting their confidence.
3. Try a chore chart
Kids learn the most (and your space looks the best!) when household chores are part of your family’s routine. Try creating a chore chart for kids to divide up tasks and help them track their progress. You can even make things fun with colorful paper and stickers.
4. Consider giving them an allowance or reward
If you want to pay your kids for chores, you can give them a weekly allowance with the Stockpile app and divide their money between savings, investing, and spending so they learn how to budget.
Some people like to give their kids allowance, but don’t want it to be tied to chores. If that’s you, there are plenty of other ways to reward kids for their hard work, like a family movie night, a small toy, or a new coloring book.
5. Tell them when they’re doing a good job
Did your 8-year-old vacuum the living room all by themselves or do an amazing job chopping vegetables for dinner? Let them know! A little praise and encouragement can go a long way and help your kids stay motivated to help around the house.
Hopefully these chore ideas for 8-year-olds help your family create a routine that works for you. For more family and money tips, check out Stockpile’s Learning Center!