10 Household Tasks Kids Ages 4–7 Can Do
There’s something sacred in letting a child help. Not perfectly. Not efficiently. Just help. There’s pride in wiping a table. There’s confidence in sorting socks. For kids, contributing to the home isn’t about chores—it’s about belonging.
Here are ten gentle, age-appropriate tasks for children ages 4 to 7 that invite them into shared responsibility, teach life skills, and nurture a deep sense of connection to their environment.
1. Watering Plants
This is a beautiful way to teach care and attention. Show them how to feel the soil and notice when it’s dry. Let them carry the small watering can like it’s a gift.
Keep it simple: Start with one or two houseplants or a windowsill herb.
2. Folding Washcloths or Hand Towels
Kids this age can’t fold everything, but they can fold something. Hand towels, napkins, and washcloths are a perfect entry point. The repetition is calming, and they’ll feel proud to see their tidy stack.
Keep it cozy: Show them once, and then let go of the idea of perfection.
3. Feeding Pets
With supervision, young kids can scoop kibble, pour water, or help set the food dish down. This task builds empathy and reliability in a beautifully organic way.
Keep it visual: A scoop that measures just the right amount makes this foolproof.
4. Sorting Laundry by Color
They may not be ready to run a load, but they can absolutely sort whites from darks. Or socks from shirts. It turns laundry into a color-matching game.
Keep it playful: Use baskets or bins labeled by color to make sorting fun.
5. Wiping Down Surfaces
Give them a damp cloth and a small spray bottle with gentle, kid-safe cleaner. Let them wipe tables, chairs, doorknobs—whatever's needed. You’re not just cleaning; you’re teaching awareness of shared space.
Keep it safe: Use vinegar and water or a non-toxic natural spray.
6. Putting Away Shoes
Kids love order when it’s made accessible. A designated shoe basket or cubby helps them learn that there’s a place for everything—and that they can help keep it that way.
Keep it reachable: Choose low bins or floor-level shelves.
7. Matching Socks
This one feels like a puzzle and a task all at once. Matching socks helps with visual discrimination and fine motor skills—and gives them a real job to complete from start to finish.
Keep it visual: Lay all the socks out on the bed and make it a race or a quiet game.
8. Setting the Table
Even small hands can place napkins, forks, and cups. You’re not aiming for Martha Stewart here—just building a rhythm of care and participation.
Keep it consistent: Set up a simple diagram or photo to show them where things go.
9. Clearing Their Own Plate
After meals, let them bring their plate to the sink or dishwasher. It’s a small moment that teaches accountability, gratitude, and closure.
Keep it grounded: A step stool helps if your sink is too high.
10. Making Their Bed (Imperfectly)
This one’s not about hospital corners—it’s about teaching care. Let them pull the blanket up and arrange their stuffed animals. It gives them a moment of accomplishment at the start of the day.
Keep it light: A simple quilt or comforter makes it easy to “get it right.”
When we let children contribute to the home, we’re not just helping them build skills—we’re giving them a sense of place. A quiet confidence. A role in the story of their family. And that, more than perfectly folded laundry or polished floors, is what really lasts.
