Your Easy Guide to Chores For 4-Year-Olds

Last updated on March 6th, 2024 at 10:34 am

Not sure where to begin when it comes to chores and your preschoolers? Take a look at our list of chores for 4-year-olds to guide you.

Before we dive into a specific chore chart for your four to five-year-olds, we should discuss why it is important to engage your preschoolers in chores around the house. Creating a list of chores for 4-year-olds in your home teaches your children important life skills and responsibility. It also helps them to develop a good work ethic and gives them the opportunity to become an important contributor to the family. Maybe most importantly, it lets them experience the satisfaction of completing a job and allows them to be rewarded for the work they complete. 

Figure Out Payment for Chores for 4-Year-Olds Ahead of Time

Our family uses a commission system instead of an allowance system to reward our children for the work they complete. On the one hand, an allowance system works by having a specified amount of money that children receive at the end of the week for completing their chores. However, this allowance is the same each week regardless of the amount of work completed. In contrast, a commission system works by paying your children for each specific job they complete (and not paying them for the ones they don’t complete).

Let Your Preschoolers Learn About Money From an Early Age

Our children’s earnings are always paid out on a specified “payday”. For example, if a child completes 20 chores during the week and each chore is worth 10 cents, they will be paid $2.00 on “payday”. But the following week they may only complete 15 chores and then would be paid $1.50. Doing a “payday” also gives children the opportunity to see all the work they completed throughout the entire week. What a sense of accomplishment!

We use this opportunity to teach our kids about money – dollar and coin values, counting/adding to total their earnings, and dividing their earnings into “giving”, “saving”, and “spending” money. So, that makes chores a dual learning opportunity in our house!

Define What Tasks Are Not Chores for 4-Year-Olds to Avoid Surprises

When you sit down to develop your chore list, remember to keep the jobs and pay age-appropriate. You may choose to make each chore worth the same amount or raise the pay for more complicated chores.

Also, at this age, there are certain “everyday tasks” that don’t need to be paid chores (i.e. getting dressed and brushing teeth). These tasks are expected to be completed before starting the day. Instead, think of chores more as ongoing “household tasks” that benefit the family (i.e. picking up toys or setting the table). 

Be Realistic When Handing out Chores for 4-Year-Olds

Be patient and give grace as you start this journey with your preschoolers. The chores aren’t going to look perfect and that’s okay. Of course a 4-year-old making a bed is going to look a little an adult making a bed. Don’t expect your child to understand how to complete a chore correctly without being taught.

Keep in mind that most children are visual versus auditory learners. Meaning they will need to be shown how to complete a specific chore not just be told how to do it. Be sure to put your chore chart in a high traffic area (i.e. on the refrigerator) so your children can see their progress/jobs completed. This means “payday” doesn’t come as a surprise, serves as a daily accountability reminder of what chores need to be completed, and allows some competitive motivation between your children.

Lastly, remember that all children mature differently. The chores outlined here are not a comprehensive list nor are they always going to be appropriate chores for 4-year-olds. This list is meant as a guideline, or starting point, to give you ideas of ways your preschoolers can contribute to household duties.  

Appropriate Chores for 4-Year-Olds

• Make their bed (Remember that they will need help at first)
• Bring snacks and toys from the car into the house
• Pick up their toys
  • It is really helpful if you have designated spots for specific toys (i.e. a bin for cars, a bin for legos, a bin for Barbies, etc, etc.)
• Set the table
  • You may want to start with plastic or paper plates
• Clear the table 
• Wipe down doorknobs and light switches
• Dust furniture/tables
  • A handheld duster works best for this!
• Vacuum
  • We have a cordless vacuum which makes this easier. Mom still does the “whole house” vacuum but our kids help vacuum up any unexpected messes or crumbs. 
• Wipe down bathroom counters and toilets
  • We don’t have our kids scrubbing grout or anything, but they are fully capable of using Clorox wipes to clean up toothpaste and soap from bathroom counters and wipe down the toilet seat at least once a week. 
• Fold underwear and socks
• Put folded laundry away in drawers
• Water plants
• Feed pets
• Scoop the poop
• Help with younger siblings
  • Running to get diapers/wipes
  • Finding a binky or sippy cup
  • Sharing a snack 

Chores for 4-Year-Olds That Might Require a Little Help

• Empty the dishwasher
  • We have a rule for any “odd” items or items that belong in high cabinets. These can just be placed on the counter for mom or dad to put away
• Carry in the groceries and help put away the groceries
• Empty the trash
  • We expect our kids to empty all of the smaller trash cans throughout the house (mom or dad still does the bulky kitchen trash) and help get the large cans out to the end of the driveway. They are also expected to return the large cans (on wheels) to the garage after trash collection. 

Have Faith in Your Littles When It Comes to Chores for 4-Year-Olds

Your preschoolers will usually give any household chores a try if you ask them. Just be patient and realistic with them and your expectations while putting together your list of chores for 4 year-olds. You might be pleasantly surprised by what they are truly capable of!

Stacey Haught is a mom to 7 year old Madison, 6 year old twin boys – Mason and Mitchell, and 18 month old twin girls – Sadie and Sophia. She is a pediatric physical therapist but has put her career on hold to stay at home with her rambunctious 5 kids. She resides with her husband and kids just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Her family enjoys everything outdoors regardless of the season – finding new sledding hills, exploring area parks, and hiking and camping at their family cabin.

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