8 Summer Chores for Kids (and Why They’re a Good Idea)

Last updated on May 28th, 2022 at 03:16 pm

Once school’s out, does that mean routine goes out the window for the summer? (Well, maybe a little bit, if we’re being honest.) But if we want to teach our kids that it’s important for everyone in the family to do their part in keeping our homes running smoothly, some summer chores for kids should be on the agenda.

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to teach our kids some of the basics of household chores. During the school year, even when they aren’t at school, their time tends to fill up with extracurricular activities and homework.

Teaching our kids the basics of keeping a house is something that will serve them well for their rest of their lives. And, isn’t doing our part (with age-appropriate chores) part of how we all should work together in a family?

Chores are also an excellent way to avoid the boredom whine. You’ll be able to keep them plenty busy with these summer chores! [Also read: How to Create a Bored Jar For Your Kids (+ Activity Ideas & Printables)]

Summer Chores for Kids 

Yard work

Buy your kids some garden gloves, and send them out to pull weeds. They could also plant some vegetables in your garden and be in charge of watering and harvesting. If they’re older, teach them how to safely use the lawn mower. Give them the entrepreneurial bug, and encourage them to offer to mow a neighbor’s lawn for a small fee.

Cooking

We should probably send our kids off into the world knowing how to make more than a bowl of cereal. Sit down together, and write up a meal plan and a grocery list. Let your child pick which meal he or she would like to learn to cook for the family each week. [Also read: Easy Dinners the Kids Can Make + a Printable]

Dishes

When you think about chores for kids, you probably think about doing the dishes. And, there are always dishes to be done. The youngest of your clan could be in charge of bringing all the dishes to the sink. The older kids can fill the dishwasher before bed and empty it in the morning. Teach them to tackle the whole kitchen by giving them each a task — from clearing the table to sweeping the floor.

Laundry

There are so many different ways to tackle the laundry monster. It’s really a matter of what works best for your family. No matter how you do it, get your kids involved! Kids as young as four or five can learn how to sort clothes, load them, and switch them from the washer to the dryer. They can match socks and put pajamas away too. Older kids can do the entire cycle from gathering dirty clothes to putting the clean clothes away.

Bathrooms

This is one of those chores I struggle to hand off because I want to know that my bathroom is really clean. But how will my kids learn to clean one of the dirtiest rooms in the house (I always read the kitchen is really the dirtiest) if I don’t teach them? You could ease them into it by helping them master wiping down the sink and the mirror, then moving on to the more arduous tasks of scrubbing the toilet, the tub, and the floor.

Babysitting

Allowing your older kids to babysit for others to earn their own money is an excellent idea. But you could also give them some practice at home. Put your older child in charge of a younger child for a little while. Depending on the ages, you could take a quick run to the store alone, or simply enjoy an uninterrupted shower.

Organizing/Decluttering

My kids actually enjoy going through their clothes and making piles of things they no longer wear or that don’t fit. You could also have them go through toys to weed out what they don’t play with anymore or look for broken items. This may turn into a garage sale that they can organize and manage all on their own! [Also read: 7 Benefits of Decluttering Your Home]

Everyday basics

Give your kids a daily routine that involves the very basics. Help them to develop habits that will hopefully last a lifetime. Things like washing their hands and brushing their teeth as soon as they wake up. Making their beds and tidying up their rooms should make the list, too. Practicing their musical instrument or chosen sport is also a great habit to form. Keep their minds engaged by implementing reading and/or study time.

Teach them to master these chores over the summer so they’ll be equipped to continue helping out around the house even when school starts back up. You’ll not only be saving your sanity in the long run, but you’ll be raising up a new generation of well-rounded, independent adults.

We’ve listed eigh summer chores for kids, but maybe you have more ideas? What chores do your kids do? Leave us a comment below.

Also read —
Chore Charts for Kids (Free Printables) + Why Kids Need Chores
Saving Summertime: How to Connect with Your Kids this Summer

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