Why chores matter: what the research actually says

"Can you just empty the dishwasher?" might be the most-repeated sentence in family life. It's tempting to do it yourself: faster, easier, no arguing. But there are good reasons to hand it over.

What the experts recommend

Major child-health organizations agree that chores belong in childhood:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics says most preschoolers can start pitching in with simple household tasks, and that kids can take on more responsibility as they move through school and into adolescence.
• The CDC suggests giving 6- to 8-year-olds household tasks, like setting the table, specifically to help them develop a sense of responsibility.
• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry publishes guidance on matching chores to age and ability for the same reason.

What the research shows

Chores and thinking skills

The most interesting recent study comes from La Trobe University in Australia. In 2022, researchers asked parents of 207 children aged 5 to 13 about the chores their kids did, and about their executive function: thinking skills like working memory (holding information in mind) and inhibition (controlling impulses).

Children who did more self-care chores (like making their own meal) and family-care chores (like making a meal for others) had better working memory and inhibition, even after accounting for age, gender and disability. Pet-care chores didn't show the same link.

The authors' explanation: most chores ask kids to plan, stay focused, remember steps and switch between tasks, which is exactly what executive function is.

What it doesn't prove

This is where we need to be honest. As the British Psychological Society's Research Digest points out, the study is correlational: it found a link at one point in time, not proof that chores cause better thinking skills. It's possible that kids with stronger executive function are simply given more chores. Parent questionnaires also aren't the same as lab tests.

So the fair summary is: chores and thinking skills go together, the explanation is plausible, and more research is needed to show cause and effect.

You'll also see claims online that kids who did chores at age 3 or 4 were more successful in their twenties. That idea traces back to a small analysis of 84 people that was mostly reported in the press. It's an interesting idea, but not one we'd hang much on.

Why chores still make sense

Even without perfect proof, the case for chores is strong, because of what they teach directly:

• Capability. A child who can make their own lunch can make their own lunch. That's a real skill, and kids know it.
• Belonging. Contributing to the family tells kids they're needed, not just looked after.
• Practice with frustration. Folding a fitted sheet badly, and trying again, is low-stakes resilience training.
• Habits. Routines practiced now are much easier than habits started at 16.

How to make chores work

1. Match the job to the child. The AAP and AACAP both emphasize age and ability. A 6-year-old sets the table; an 11-year-old plans the meal.
2. Teach it properly once. Show, do it together, then step back.
3. Make "done" clear. "The counter is clean, dry and has no crumbs" ends arguments before they start.
4. Favor real contribution. Family-care jobs, like making a meal for others, were among those linked with better executive function in the La Trobe study.
5. Go easy on paying for everything. Rewards can backfire when they replace a child's own reasons for doing something. We cover this in rewards without bribes.

The bottom line

Chores won't turn your child into a genius, and the research doesn't claim they will. But they build real skills, real habits and a real sense of being part of the family. That's worth a few streaky windows.

Looking for ideas by age? See our guide to life skills from 6 to 12.