12 chores a 10-year-old can do
- Do a load of laundry start to finish
- Load, run and unload the dishwasher
- Take out all the trash and recycling
- Vacuum the main rooms
- Clean the bathroom sink, mirror and counter
- Change their own bed sheets
- Cook a simple meal with a grown-up nearby
- Pack their own lunch
- Mop a small floor
- Wash the car with help
- Look after a pet: food, water and walks
- Put groceries away
From helper to owner
Until now most chores were single tasks. At 10, try handing over a whole job: "Trash night is yours" or "You're in charge of the dishwasher." Owning a job means they notice when it needs doing, do every step, and decide when to do it before the deadline. Expect a few missed weeks at first. A calm "the bin is still full, what's your plan?" teaches more than doing it for them.
Extra jobs a 10-year-old can do to earn money
- Wash and vacuum the car
- Rake leaves or shovel a short path
- Clean out the fridge or a messy cupboard
- Help a younger sibling with reading or homework
- Sort the recycling and take it back for the deposit
- Wash the windows they can reach
Give extras a higher price than daily jobs, and let them choose which ones to take on.
Add a savings goal
- Pick one thing they want and write the price at the top of the chart.
- Work out together how many weeks it will take at their usual pay.
- Pay on the same day every week and let them count the total themselves.
- If the goal is far away, agree on a halfway reward so they don't give up.
Questions parents ask
How many chores should a 10 year old have? Six to eight is typical: a few short daily jobs plus two or three bigger weekly ones they own.
How much allowance should a 10 year old get? It depends on your budget and what the money has to cover. One common rule of thumb is $1 per year of age per week, so about $10, and many families pay less. Set an amount per chore and the payday calculator adds up the week.
What chores can a 10 year old do alone? Laundry, the dishwasher, trash, vacuuming, packing lunch and changing sheets are jobs most 10-year-olds can do alone once they've been shown. Stay nearby for cooking and anything with strong cleaners.
More charts: chore chart for 9 year olds, chore chart for teens, allowance by age. Prefer a ready-made set? Printable packs are on our Etsy shop.