parenting
Every age brings new opportunities for kids to grow, and 9 can be a really pivotal year! 9-year-olds are learning more about their interests, developing a stronger sense of self, and becoming more independent. With chores, they can learn how to do more things for themselves and help contribute to the family: a win-win for everyone!
So, what are some good chores for 9-year-olds? We’ve put together a helpful guide for parents with a list of household chores that are a great fit for this age group.
How to choose the right chores for 9-year-olds: Key tips for parents
9 marks the start of the “pre-teen” years, and motivating kids to do chores can be somewhat challenging. Kids can be really focused on friendships and fitting in, and they might want more space and privacy. Parents often become less “cool” during this time, too (sorry parents).
While your 9-year-old will still need guidance and supervision from time to time, you can have them do some chores on their own. Letting them take ownership of certain tasks can give them a bit of that independence they’re looking for.
When choosing household chores for 9-year-olds, think about what they enjoy, what they’re good at, and what skills you want them to learn. If they’ve been loving to cook, put them in charge of simple recipes, like making salads or sandwiches for the family. If they’re good at math, have them help younger siblings with their homework. If they want to wear whatever they want whenever they want, help them learn how to do laundry from start to finish. 9-year-olds are super capable and can help out with a bunch of different tasks!
Age-appropriate chores for 9-year-olds
To help you get started, here are some of the best chores for 9-year-olds:
Cleaning chores
There’s nothing like the feeling of a clean house! But keeping it that way can be tough, especially when you’re shuttling between school drop-off, sports practices, and all of your other responsibilities as a parent. With these cleaning chores for 9-year-olds, kids can help out by:
- Vacuuming
- Sweeping the floor
- Wiping down countertops
- Cleaning windows
- Taking out the trash
- Dusting
- Cleaning out the family car
- Tidying up the living room
Kitchen chores
From prep to clean-up, 9-year-olds can be a huge help in the kitchen! These fun and easy chores make mealtime easier and give every family member the fuel they need to get through the day:
- Loading and unloading the dishwasher
- Washing dishes
- Drying dishes
- Setting and clearing the table
- Helping with meal prep (measuring ingredients, washing vegetables, etc.)
- Making snacks and lunches
- Putting away groceries
- Making a grocery list
- Cleaning the sink
If your 9-year-old has been helping out in the kitchen for a few years, you can definitely give them more advanced tasks like chopping vegetables and preparing food. Whatever is best for them and their skill level!
Outdoor chores
Spending even 30 minutes a day outside is great for kids! Time in nature can improve their mood, reduce stress, and make it easier for them to focus on things like homework. Plus, it can give their immune system a boost. Give them a reason to head outdoors with these chores:
- Mowing the lawn
- Watering plants
- Raking leaves
- Picking up sticks
- Pulling weeds
- Shoveling snow in the winter
- Washing the family car
- Cleaning outdoor furniture
- Planting seeds in the garden
Some of these, like washing the family car, can be a fun way to start teaching teamwork through chores. If you have more than one kid, everyone can pitch in on bigger tasks! They’ll be done faster, and your kids will get to spend some time together.
Bedroom chores
Does it look like a tornado touched down in your 9-year-old’s room? From toys and books to clothes and water cups, the mess can really add up. Encourage them to keep their space tidy with these daily chores for 9-year-olds:
- Making their bed
- Putting clothes away or in the hamper
- Dusting furniture
- Putting away sports equipment, school supplies, or toys
- Vacuuming their floor
Bathroom chores
While the bathroom might not be the most glamorous room in the house, it’s a good idea to clean it regularly so that chores don’t pile up. Kids can help by:
- Cleaning the mirror
- Emptying the bathroom trash can
- Sweeping or mopping the floor
- Cleaning the shower
- Bringing towels to the laundry room
- Replacing towels
- Organizing the bathroom cabinet
- Refilling hand soap
To keep kids safe, have them use natural, child-safe cleaning products or stick to vinegar, baking soda, and warm water. You probably want to wait until they’re older to introduce anything with potentially harmful chemicals.
Laundry chores
Laundry can be fun—especially when your 9-year-old is on the job! They can keep the laundry from piling up by:
- Sorting laundry by color and type (jeans, towels, etc.)
- Running a load or two of laundry
- Moving laundry from the washer to the dryer
- Hanging up clothes
- Sorting clothes by family member
- Folding laundry
- Putting laundry away
Detergent and other laundry products can be harmful. You’ll either want to use eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets, which are safer for kids, or give your pre-teen some safety pointers. They’ll want to keep these products out of reach so that younger kids can’t get into them, avoid contact with their skin or eyes, and always wash their hands after handling any of these products.
Organizing chores
It’s easier to find things in the pantry or closet when someone takes the time to organize. The following can be fun projects for kids that help keep the house in order:
- Organizing closets
- Tidying up their desk or study area
- Organizing the pantry or fridge
- Sorting schoolwork and supplies
- Organizing shoes
Other chores
From pet care to homework help, here are a few other items you can add to your 9-year-old’s chore checklist:
- Feeding pets
- Walking the dog
- Helping younger siblings with homework
- Bringing in the mail
How often should a 9-year-old do chores?
Every family’s chore routine will look a little bit different! When setting up a family chore system, try to pick a mix of daily and weekly chores. Daily chores can include the essentials, like having kids make their bed, put dirty clothes in the hamper, and set the table. Depending on your schedule, you can always add more.
If your kids are really involved in extracurriculars and weekdays are busy, you might want to keep daily chores to a minimum. After all, kids need time for schoolwork and deserve to have some time to relax, too! Maybe you decide to block off an hour or two on Sunday instead, where every family member pitches in to get the house ready for the week ahead.
The important thing here is consistency! Kids build good habits and develop a sense of responsibility when they do chores regularly. Plus, they’re less likely to feel overwhelmed or complain about the tasks they have to do when they’re a part of their routine.
Teaching kids responsibility through chores Chores aren’t just about cleaning up; they’re about learning to take responsibility and building really important life skills.
Your 9-year-old might not always be excited about helping out around the house. That’s okay! Most parents aren’t super thrilled to do laundry or wash dishes, either. But when they do chores, kids become more disciplined and build a stronger work ethic. They also learn about teamwork and see how the work every family member does comes together to keep things running smoothly.
Plus, with every chore they complete, kids get a little boost of confidence. Turns out, they can wash their own clothes and make their own food, which makes them feel accomplished and capable.
Should kids be rewarded for doing chores? Motivating kids to do chores isn’t always easy, and plenty of parents wonder if they should reward their kids when they help out. Well, there is no one-size-fits-all answer!
Here’s the thing: it can be good for kids to feel appreciated for the work they’re doing. Praising them or giving an occasional reward, like a sticker or extra screen time, can help encourage them. But a lot of parents want their kids to view chores as a family responsibility. If you give your kids something every time they clean their room or fold laundry, they might view chores as a way to earn rewards instead.
The same goes for paying your kids for chores. There are pros and cons to each approach, but it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your family.
If you want to give your kids allowance, either for chores or just to teach them about money, the Stockpile app is a great tool. You can set up automatic transfers to send allowances every week and divide money between savings, investing, and spending to help kids learn to budget. Kids even learn to spend responsibly with their very own debit cards.
