Chores for a 6 Year Old

At 6, kids can do a chore alone from start to finish. This is the age to build a morning and evening routine that runs without reminders.

Updated October 9, 2026 · by Riccardo Lapi

Daily chores for a 6-year-old

The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension list for ages 6 and up adds personal care and planning to the simple chores of earlier years (source). Good daily chores at 6:

• Make the bed
• Get dressed and brush teeth without reminders
• Lay out tomorrow's clothes
• Set or clear the table
• Feed the pet
• Put backpack and shoes in their place

Weekly chores for a 6-year-old

• Put away their own clean laundry
• Empty small trash cans
• Dust low furniture
• Wipe the kitchen table and counters
• Help rake leaves or pull weeds
• Make a simple snack, like toast or a sandwich

A morning routine that runs by itself

Mornings are where most families of 6-year-olds lose the battle. A routine works better than reminders:

1. Same order every day: get dressed, make the bed, breakfast, plate to the sink, teeth, shoes.
2. Prepare the night before. Clothes laid out and backpack packed make mornings faster.
3. Put the list where it happens. A small chart on the bedroom door for the bed and clothes, one in the kitchen for the plate.
4. Do not check in between. Check once, at the door. "Is the list done?" replaces ten reminders.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends doing chores at the same time every day for the same reason (AAP).

Reading changes the chart

Many 6-year-olds start to read simple words. Use this. Write the chores in short words they can read alone, like "Bed", "Plate", "Dog". Reading the chart themselves makes it their list, not yours.

Allowance at 6

The average weekly allowance at 6 was $6.44 in 2025 (Greenlight). At this age, three jars (spend, save, give) teach more than the exact amount. See the full allowance by age table.

Previous age: chores for a 5 year old. Next age: chores for a 7 year old.