Thirteen-year-olds can do almost any household job an adult can. The challenge is rarely ability. It's motivation, busy schedules, and a growing sense that chores are unfair. What works is treating them like a junior member of the household: clear responsibilities, real trust, and a say in how it works.
Quick answer: Good chores for a 13 year old include doing their own laundry start to finish, cooking a family meal once a week, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, mowing the lawn after training, handling the bins and recycling, watching younger siblings for short periods, and keeping their room clean without reminders.
What a 13 Year Old Can (and Can't) Do Yet
- Can: manage a weekly chore list with a checklist, cook full meals, use most household appliances, and mow with a walk-behind mower after training. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests age 12 for walk-behind mowers and 16 for ride-on mowers.
- Watch out for: overloaded schedules. Between school, sports and friends, free time is limited. A few chores done reliably beat a long list that gets ignored.
- What motivates them: autonomy, privileges, money, and being treated fairly compared with siblings and friends.
Chore List for 13 Year Olds
| Chore | How often | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Do their own laundry start to finish | Weekly | Pick a set day |
| Cook dinner for the family | Weekly | Let them choose the menu |
| Clean a bathroom fully | Weekly | Rotate with siblings |
| Clean the kitchen after dinner | 2–3 times a week | Dishes, counters and floor |
| Mow the lawn | Weekly in season | Train first; closed shoes and ear protection |
| Vacuum and mop shared rooms | Weekly | Put it on a set day |
| Take out all bins and recycling | Weekly | They own bin day |
| Watch younger siblings for short periods | As needed | Start with an hour while you're nearby |
| Keep their room clean | Daily | Agree on what "clean" means |
| Help with the weekly grocery shop | Weekly | Give them part of the list and a budget |
| Wash the car | Monthly | Inside and out |
| Clear out old food from the fridge | Weekly | The night before grocery day |
Ways for a 13 Year Old to Earn Money
- Babysitting after a babysitting course (the American Red Cross course covers ages 11 to 15)
- Lawn mowing and yard work for neighbors
- Pet sitting and dog walking
- Car washing for family and neighbors
- Tutoring younger kids in a subject they're good at
In the US, federal rules set 14 as the minimum age for most regular jobs, so neighborhood work is the usual route at 13.
How to Get a 13 Year Old to Do Chores
- Hold a family meeting. Let them pick some of their chores and suggest the rewards.
- Give deadlines, not orders. "Bathroom done by Saturday noon" respects their schedule.
- Tie privileges to responsibilities. Chores come before plans, rides or extra screen time.
- Pay for extra work. Keep everyday jobs unpaid and offer paid jobs for real money.
- Don't redo their work. Give feedback once. Redoing it tells them it doesn't matter.
Rewards That Work at 13
Privileges and money beat stickers. A later curfew, phone or gaming time, money toward something they're saving for, or choosing a family outing all work. The $1-per-year-of-age allowance rule of thumb puts a 13 year old at about $13 a week.
KidKarma lets teens manage their own task list and points on their phone, so you can step back from reminding and they get the independence they want.
