Chore Charts for Kids: Age-by-Age Lists and Free Printables

Kids as young as age 10 can help load and unload the dishwasher.

It's spring, everyone is stuck at home, and housecleaning services are on hiatus: If ever there was a time to roll out chore charts for your kids, it's now! Children as young as 2 or 3 are not only capable of many household tasks but benefit psychologically and emotionally from pitching in, according to research. A famous Harvard study that tracked men over their lifetimes showed kids who did jobs, in or out of the home, were more likely to be more successful and happy as adults. (We don't need scientists to tell us extra help boosts parents' mental health, too.)

Of course, little kids and big kids are different in what chores they can handle, and what motivates them to help. We've tapped experts and veteran parents to make these age-by-age chore charts with developmentally appropriate jobs for toddlers to teenagers. Parents can use the boxes on these printable charts to check off chores kids are responsible for each week or fill them with stickers for a job well done. Check out these 20 ways kids and teens can help others during coronavirus to learn how children can pitch in outside the home, too.

Ask an Expert: How Can Parents Help Kids Cope with the COVID-19 Outbreak?

If the COVID-19 outbreak is keeping you up at night, you're probably wondering how your kids are coping. Well, according to pediatric specialists at Connecticut Children's, ranked one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the stress of this pandemic could have a negative impact on a child’s development. The good news: it doesn't have to.

"We all deal with regular stresses on a daily basis," Connecticut Children’s developmental pediatrician Robert D. Keder, MD told us. "A little bit is a good thing; it motivates us to study for a test or run a little faster in a game. Some stresses are stronger, but still bearable when we have positive protective relationships. What’s happening with COVID-19 right now falls into what developmental specialists call 'toxic stress.'"

By itself, toxic stress can negatively impact children's development—leading to challenges in behavioral and physical health—but, fortunately, this kind of stress can also be buffered by building resilience. Read on to find out how pediatricians at the only health system in Connecticut dedicated exclusively to the care of children recommend you help kids build that resilience and cope with the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic.

Food Delivery and Pick-up in Houston: Ordering Groceries Online During Stay-at-Home

Fresh produce and other goods can be found at and delivered from Whole Foods Markets around Houston. Photo courtesy of Whole Foods Market.

The impact of quarantine on simple (but necessary) tasks like buying groceries has caused families to rethink how and when they get their food. Rows upon rows of store shelves have turned up empty of shelf-stable products like rice, pasta, and beans and necessities like milk, eggs, and bottled water are being limited in the quantity you can purchase.

While some stores like H-E-B are experiencing both long wait lines to enter the store and a spinning dial of wait times for the next available delivery or curbside pick-up, Houston is thankfully home to many different grocery delivery and pick-up options, both from regular grocery stores and from local CSAs and Farm Shares. We've rounded up several different grocery options for you to utilize during these uncertain times, including many local farms who could likely use the support! 

Because things are changing at a rapid pace, we recommend checking stores that may currently have no available delivery or pick up times frequently; you just may luck out with the next available spot! 

For ideas on what to do as a family during this time, visit our Coronavirus Pandemic Parenting Guide.

Grocery Delivery Services in NYC to Get You Through the Pandemic

Misfits Market delivers ugly, but otherwise perfectly edible fruits and vegetables right to your door.

Buying groceries might have been a bit of a challenge even before our current situation, what with maneuvering shopping carts through busy streets and subway stairs while balancing young children, meandering tweens, and "helpful" teens. But now, as days of confinement stack up, getting groceries is a challenging obstacle course that takes thoughtful planning. Even if you're fortunate enough to have a great go-to store nearby, you might not want to venture out. Another option: grocery delivery services.

If you decide to go this route, one thing is clear: It's smart to order more than a week's worth of groceries. Fill your cart with choices that don't require refrigeration, saving room for those that must be kept cold or frozen, and be willing to accept substitutes for items in short supply. While markets are continually restocking, items might not be available on your delivery date.

NYC is fortunate to have several grocery delivery options, but the sheer population density has created a challenge for even the best services. The situation, as they say, is fluid, and so we're also including options that are experiencing growing pains in hopes they'll find the help they need to expand their delivery services. Our picks include local stores, bodegas, and enterprising small businesses, plus we've also included some useful resources for tracking available takeout options from local restaurants, too.

So, start your shopping list and read on for 22 grocery delivery services, handy ordering apps, and restaurants ready to deliver food right to your stoop. Looking for more help during this trying time? We've got plenty of tips, tricks, and boredom busters in our Stay-at-Home Guide plus a roundup of city services and resources to make life a bit easier.

Grocery Delivery Services in Atlanta: When There Are No Amazon Fresh Time Slots

Bag'd Atlanta offers delivery of local fruits and vegetables with optional add-ons of other food staples.

Grocery shopping used to be as simple as creating a list, running to the store, and filling your cart. But, in the age of coronavirus, we're forced to wait to enter the store and stand in extended lines to check out. Then, there's the added stress of shortages or limits on necessary supplies like ground turkey, chicken, paper towels, toilet paper, and even dishwashing detergent. Yet, with families sheltering in place, it's inevitable your supplies need replenishing. To limit your exposure, and save time, it might be worth considering a grocery delivery service.

The Atlanta area had several options for grocery delivery before shelter-in-place orders were announced, and now, even more stores, local farms, and restaurants have begun offering these services.

A few tips for using a delivery service: Plan ahead and shop a few days out. You'll have a better chance of getting your preferred date by selecting less popular early morning or late evening windows. If you choose to use these services, remember to tip your delivery person generously.

Read on for 21 Atlanta-area services offering grocery delivery or pick up. Because of the changing landscape, we're including as many services as possible. A surge in demand means some may be limiting new signups or offering waiting lists.

Find more helpful coronavirus tips in our Stuck at Home Guide, where we've got everything from boredom busters, to homeschooling resources and ideas to help cooped up kids get their wiggles out.

Food and Grocery Delivery around Boston That Aren't Peapod or Amazon

Customize boxes of organic produce and snacks. Boston Organics

Grocery delivery is a booming business around Boston right now, with families avoiding supermarket trips due to coronavirus. Problem is, delivery slots for Whole Foods, Amazon, and Peapod are hard to come by. Enter local grocers and farmers, who are stepping up to deliver milk, eggs, meat, produce, pantry staples, and prepared meals to more area households than ever. It's a win-win: You get super-fresh food on your doorstep, and local businesses get a boost.

Our Coronavirus Guide for Parents includes more ideas for keeping the household running smoothly, including emergency childcare options, free at-home learning resources, and more.

Connecticut Dairy Farms that Deliver Milk, Eggs, and More

Oakridge Dairy milk is bottled and delivered within 24 hours. Photo courtesy of The Modern Milkman

Got milk? Sure, you can pick up a plastic jug at the supermarket, but for health and convenience reasons, farm-fresh local milk delivery is popular once again. Connecticut is known for its dairy farms, and many now deliver milk as well as other groceries (eggs, yogurt, and more) right to your doorstep. 

When ice cream stands open again, you can sample more local dairy treats at these Connecticut farms with homemade ice cream and other activities for kids.

Local Delivery Services in New Jersey When There Are No Peapod Slots

Alstede Farms

If you're tired of fighting for time slots from big name grocery chains and grocery delivery services, then look no further than a New Jersey local food market and farm stand, which can offer a great alternative for stocking up on grocery staples without the hassle of supermarket delivery. These local businesses carry items like fresh produce, dairy, meats and baked goods and offer delivery or curbside pickup. Some of the farm stands offer CSAs (community supported agriculture) for a monthly fee. So stock up and enjoy grocery delivery, hassle-free!

Get more ideas on how to thrive during quarantine with the Coronavirus Guide for Parents.

Pages