36 Chores For 10-12 Year Olds That Will Free Up Your Time

Hey girl, today let's chat about the best chores for 10–12 year olds.

I don’t know how it keeps happening but our kids keep getting older which means they can do more things around the house to help you out. So let them tackle these chores for 10-12 year olds.

Being a mom of 4 kids (6, 8, 10, and 12), with a husband who has a time-demanding job (can you relate?), I need all the help I can get with chores around here or our house would be a hot mess.

As you read on, you are going to find out the best chores for 10-12-year-olds, why they need them, whether they should get paid for them (the great chore debate, I KNOW!), and so much more.

You are going to be thankful for the free time you will gain when you have your kiddo start these chores for 10-12-year-olds.

Let’s get into the best chores for 10-12-year-olds that will help you out the most!

You, my dear, are not your kids’ maid (even though it feels like it among other things like chef, chauffeur, tutor, and personal cheerleader to name a few).

If you don’t challenge your 10-12-year-old with simple household chores, the future is going to be rough when he moves out on his own.

I have seen this firsthand.  It took my cousin a long time to figure out how to cook for himself when he moved out of his parent’s house.

I know that it will be slow going at first (especially if your kiddo isn’t used to doing these or it is a new task) but don’t give up!  They will get the hang of it.

Just look how well your kiddo can walk, talk, run, get dressed on their own, and feed themselves.  It all takes time.

And let’s be real, do you really want to do everything for them forever?  I sure don’t!  Talk about exhausting.

It was hard for me when I first started having my kids do chores (I started them with chores when they were little, like not even 1 yet).  I am so particular about doing things my way that it was hard to not correct them. 

Instead, I gave praise all around and now they can all do so many chores on their own.

Everyone! 

Yes, every single kid - young and old - should have chores. 

It teaches responsibility, taking pride in your belongings, teamwork, and knowing how to take care of oneself.

So don’t make excuses for your kids.  I know they can do these chores for you.

When my daughter was 2, she had no problem taking her shoes off and putting them away in the closet without me asking her to.

And just this last winter, my kids came in from playing in the snow.  My husband and I were sitting on the couch chatting while all of them put their snow gear away without us asking them to.

There is no time like the present people!

Chores for kids should start when children are old enough to walk.  Yep, you heard me, when they are about 1.  Kids that age are more than capable of listening to simple instructions of pick up their toys.

I know this to be true because I have done it many times over.  Previously I was a home daycare provider and all the kiddos in my care no matter the age could help with chores.

As your kids grow so should the difficulty and number of chores.

They can do it!

But if you have yet to start chores with your kids, don’t worry about it.  You can start chores now with them.

Should you pay your kids to do their chores? 

Oooo, friends, I know this is a hot debate.  And I would love to know your feelings about it. 

Let me know in the comments below.

My husband and I do NOT give our kids an allowance. 

We feel it is more important to teach our children what it means to work together to make our day-in and day-out family life successful.

I also feel like you are setting your children up to be looking for a handout with any task that they do, even the ones they should be doing out of kindness.  And sure could use more kindness in the world these days.

With all that said, I am not opposed to working out some deal of paying my kids to do chores if they are working toward something they really want.

A friend once asked me if my kids help carry in groceries. I said yes and that they were more than willing to help carry them in and put them away.

She also asked if they did it for free. 

I guess I stood there with a confused look on my face because she continued – I asked my son to help me carry in the groceries and he said he would if I gave him $10. 

Naturally, I asked if she paid him and she said he did.  “How else was I going to get him to help me?” she said.

And I guess I was just standing there with a confused look on my face and I didn’t respond.  I sure wanted to but I didn’t!  Of course, I did the Midwest thing, you know, avoid any tense topic that could cause a disagreement and change the subject.

But what I really wanted to do was add my 2 cents and be like, you fool!  Where do you think your son is learning this from?  You, because you keep paying him!

These are chores for kids around your basic home.  I am not diving into any kind of farm chores because I know that is a whole different ball game!

Let me know in the comments below what chores I have missed and I will be sure to add them to this list.

I have linked some of my favorite products below.  Be sure to check them out!

Inside Chores

Set the table

Clear the table

Wash Dishes

Clean out the dishwasher

Stack the dishwasher

Make own breakfast

Make your school lunch

Get backpack ready for school

Help make lunch and supper

Sweep the floor

Dust

Vacuum

Clean the bathroom

Make their bed

Change the sheets on their bed

Clean bedroom

Fold Laundry and put away

Pick up toys/activities

Help with groceries

Take out trash

Take Care of Pet

Hang up Coat

Put shoes away

Outside Chores

Sweep off the front step

Blow off driveway

Sweep out the garage

Rake leaves

Pick up sticks

Cut the grass

Water the flower garden

Take care of the vegetable garden

Place garbage cans out for garbage day

Put toys/activities away

Shovel snow

Fill bird feeders

Clean off patio furniture