Chores for an 8 Year Old
At 8, kids move from helper chores to real household work. The dishwasher, the trash and part of dinner can now be theirs.
Chores for an 8-year-old
The American Academy of Pediatrics list for ages 8 to 10 adds these chores to the ones for younger kids (AAP):
- Vacuum
- Help make dinner
- Make their own snacks
- Walk a pet
- Put away their own laundry
- Put away groceries
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension list for ages 8 and up also includes (source):
- Load and unload the dishwasher
- Take out the trash
- Fold towels
- Mop
- Clean the tub and toilet, with training
- Prepare their school lunch
- Help with meal prep, like mixing and chopping soft foods
The kitchen is the best place to start
At 8, kitchen chores give the most help to parents and the most skills to kids. A simple kitchen rotation for two kids is above: one unloads, one loads, then they swap the next day. It removes the most common evening fight in homes with two kids.
Chores and self-control
A study from La Trobe University asked about 200 parents of children aged 5 to 13 about chores and about their child's thinking skills. Children who did more self-care chores (like making their own meal) and family-care chores had better working memory and self-control (Tepper and colleagues, 2022).
The study shows a link, not cause and effect. But chores at 8 do exercise the same skills: remember the steps, start without being told, and finish before playing.
Make the chore complete
Eight-year-olds can finish a job, so define "finished":
- Dishwasher unloaded means everything in its place, not on the counter.
- Trash out means a new bag in the bin.
- Room vacuumed means under the bed too.
Write the finish line on the chart once. It ends most "But I did it!" discussions.
Allowance at 8
The average weekly allowance at 8 was $7.22 in 2025 (Greenlight). At this age many kids can earn extra money with bigger jobs. See the allowance by age guide.
Previous age: chores for a 7 year old. All ages: age-appropriate chores list.
Frequently asked questions
What chores can an 8-year-old do?
Load and unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, vacuum a room, fold towels, put away groceries, walk the dog, make their own snack and help prepare dinner by chopping soft foods or mixing.
How much allowance for an 8-year-old?
The average weekly allowance at age 8 was $7.22 in 2025, based on Greenlight data. The '$1 per year of age' rule gives $8 a week.
Can an 8-year-old clean a bathroom?
Partly. The University of Arkansas extension list includes cleaning the tub and toilet from age 8, with training and supervision. Start with the sink and mirror, and add the rest when they are ready.