Chores by age — Ladim
Kids need chores — not to lighten the parents' load, but because chores make them feel part of the family. A child with a job of their own is proud of it. A child who is "asked to help" usually looks for a way out.
Here's what to hand over at each age, and how to keep it from turning into a daily battle.
Ages 3–5: "I can do it myself"
Little kids want to do what grown-ups do. The main thing is not to get in the way — and not to redo it after them.
put toys back in the box before bed;
carry their plate to the sink;
feed the cat or the fish (you handle the portion);
match socks after the laundry;
water a plant with a small watering can.
Tip: one or two jobs, always at the same time of day. A ritual works better than reminders.
Ages 6–9: a job with a visible result
Kids can now see a short job through from start to finish — as long as they can see the result.
make their bed;
set the table and clear it after dinner;
unload the dishwasher (no knives);
take out a small bag of trash;
pack their school bag the night before;
water the garden bed.
Tip: hand over the whole job. Not "help me set the table", but "the table for dinner is yours".
Ages 10–13: regular responsibilities and a bit of planning
At this age kids can start remembering on their own — with a little help from a list.
vacuum their room once a week;
walk the dog in the morning;
buy bread and milk from the list;
keep an eye on pet food and say when it's running low;
make a simple breakfast for everyone on the weekend.
Tip: let them see their tasks in the same family list as the adults'. These aren't "kids' assignments" — they're part of running the home.
Ages 14+: real responsibility
Teenagers can own whole areas — and decide how to do them.
cook dinner once a week: choose the dish, buy the groceries, cook it;
do their own laundry;
pick up a younger sibling from practice;
help plan a trip: pack, check the list;
pay for their own phone plan from their allowance.
Tip: agree on the result, not the method. "Dinner at seven on Saturday" — what and how is up to them.
How to assign chores without nagging
**One job, one person.** "Someone take out the trash" never works.
**A deadline, not "later".** "Before dinner" is clearer than "today".
**A visible result.** Kids need to see that it's done — and that someone noticed.
**Don't redo it.** An imperfectly made bed is still a made bed.
**Praise the work, not the obedience.** "The plants look great" beats "good job listening".
When kids forget
Everyone forgets, kids especially. Instead of "I've told you a hundred times", try:
a list they can see — on their phone or on the fridge;
a reminder that goes to them, not to you;
visible progress instead of paying for every little thing.
How Ladim helps
In Ladim, kids are family members just like the adults.
Assign a task with a note and a due date — the reminder goes to the child.
Everyone can see what they did today — no more "so, did you do it?".
Completed tasks stay visible in the shared list, so family members can see the result.
Regular chores repeat on their own: watering, pet food, trash.
Kids without a phone can still have a profile in the family, and you can assign tasks to them.
Ladim is free and works in the browser; the iPhone app is in beta.
An example of sharing household tasks: an explanatory diagram, not an app screenshot.
The Ladim calendar in an iPhone test build. The interface is shown in Russian.
In short
3–5: rituals — toys, plate, the cat.
6–9: a job of their own with a visible result.
10–13: regular responsibilities from a list.
14+: whole areas and the right to decide how.
One job, one person, a deadline and a visible result. Don't redo it, and praise the work.
Ladim editorial team. Examples are fictional. Prepared with the help of AI tools.