82% of Us Did Chores as Kids. Only 28% Ask Our Kids To. What the Research Actually Says
Short answer: the research links early chores to better outcomes, but it's thinner than most headlines suggest. A University of Minnesota study of 84 kids found those who started chores at 3 or 4 did better as young adults. It's a small study showing a link, not proof that chores cause success.
The chore gap: 82% vs. 28%
A Braun Research survey of U.S. adults, reported by The Wall Street Journal in 2015, found that 82% said they had regular chores growing up. Only 28% said they ask their own kids to do chores (ClickOrlando summary).
That's a big drop in one generation. It's also a decade-old number, so treat it as a direction rather than a precise count of today's families.
The study behind the headlines
Marty Rossmann, a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, analyzed data on 84 children followed over time: in preschool, around ages 10 and 15, and in their mid-20s (The Billfold summary).
Young adults who had started chores at ages 3 or 4 were more likely than those who started as teens, or never, to:
- have good relationships with family and friends,
- achieve academic and early-career success, and
- be self-sufficient.
Before you share that stat: three honest caveats
- It's small. 84 kids is a modest sample.
- It's a link, not a cause. Families who give young kids chores may differ in other ways that also matter.
- There's no "Harvard chores study." Many articles credit Harvard. Writers who traced the claim found the chores finding usually traces back to Rossmann's work, not a Harvard study on chores (Piccalio).
None of that means chores don't matter. It means the honest case for chores is the one most of us learned at our own kitchen table: you help because you live here, and you learn how to run a life by practicing it.
So why did 82% become 28%?
This part is my opinion, not research. I don't think parents stopped believing in chores. I think enforcing them got harder.
When I was a kid, "no TV until the dishwasher is empty" was easy to enforce. There was one TV, in the living room, where Mom could see it. My kids carry their TV in their pocket. Every chore became a negotiation with a device designed to be more interesting than the dishwasher, and most of us eventually just did the chore ourselves because it was faster.
Age-by-age chore ideas
A starting point, not a rule. Every kid is different.
| Age | Chores to try |
|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | Put toys in a bin, feed a pet with help, put clothes in the hamper, wipe up spills |
| 6 to 8 | Make their bed, set and clear the table, water and feed pets, sort laundry |
| 9 to 12 | Load and unload the dishwasher, take out trash and recycling, clean their room, fold laundry |
| 13 and up | Do their own laundry, cook a simple meal, mow, clean a bathroom |
Making it stick
- Same chores, every day. Consistency beats intensity.
- Define "done" up front. "Bed made, clothes in the hamper, floor clear."
- Tie it to something they want. For kids with phones, screen time after chores is a simple, fair trade.
- Get out of the referee job. A photo of the finished chore or a fridge checklist means fewer standoffs.
Questions parents ask
Do chores make kids more successful?
Research links early chores to better outcomes. A University of Minnesota study of 84 children found those who started chores at 3 or 4 were more likely to have good relationships, academic and early-career success, and self-sufficiency as young adults. It's a small study and shows correlation, not causation.
Is there a Harvard study on chores?
Not specifically. The often-repeated "Harvard study says chores make kids successful" claim is overstated; the chores finding most articles describe traces back to Marty Rossmann's University of Minnesota analysis.
What percentage of kids do chores today?
In a Braun Research survey reported by The Wall Street Journal in 2015, 82% of U.S. adults said they did chores growing up, but only 28% said they ask their own children to do chores.
At what age should kids start doing chores?
The University of Minnesota study found the strongest link for kids who started at ages 3 or 4. Simple tasks like putting toys away or putting clothes in the hamper are a good start.
How do I get my kids to do chores without nagging?
Keep the list short and the same every day, define what "done" looks like, and tie chores to something kids want, like screen time, so the rule does the reminding instead of you.
Let the rule do the nagging
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