From what age can kids help around the house?

Starting from about age 3 with simple tasks like putting away toys. At 6 to 8, setting the table and making the bed are added, at 9 to 12 the dishwasher and trash, from 13 also cooking and shopping.

Are kids legally required to help around the house?

Within reasonable limits, yes: Section 1619 of the German Civil Code (BGB) requires children who live in and are cared for in their parents' household to help according to their abilities and station in life. This means age-appropriate, reasonable tasks, not disproportionate compulsion.

Should kids be rewarded for helping?

Rewards work best as a boost, not as ongoing payment. Everyday things stay normal, the extra effort gets rewarded.

How do I distribute tasks fairly in the family?

Make it visible who does what and when, then the load distributes itself automatically. That's exactly what DOTOG was built for.

A guide for parents

Chores by age:
What kidscan take on, and when.

Q: How much help is reasonable?

As much as the child can handle well for their age and abilities, without school, learning, and free time falling short.

Children can help around the house in age-appropriate ways, from tidying toys at 3 to cooking at 13. How much is reasonable depends on age and ability, and German law names exactly that measure.

Last updated: 13 July 2026

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The legal background

Do children have to help at home?

Yes, within reason. In Germany, helping in the household is even set out in law, scaled to the child's age and ability.

"As long as a child belongs to the parental household and is raised or supported by the parents, it is obliged to perform services in the parents' household and business in a manner appropriate to its abilities and position in life."
§ 1619 BGB ·gesetze-im-internet.de

"Appropriate to abilities and position in life" means age-appropriate and reasonable, never excessive work. DOTOG makes exactly this fair, age-appropriate sharing visible.

Orientation

Which chores fit which age?

Guideline values, not a fixed standard. Every child is different; what matters is what they can manage.

3-5years

Tidy toys, help set the table, put laundry in the basket, sort books.

6-8years

Set and clear the table, make the bed, water plants, take out small trash, pack the school bag.

9-12years

Tidy the room, load and unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, care for a pet, vacuum.

13+years

Cook simple meals, do the shopping, do laundry, clean the bathroom, look after younger siblings.

Shown as practical orientation; the legal frame follows from § 1619 BGB ("appropriate to abilities and position in life").

Why it matters

Housework is still shared unequally

43.4%

more unpaid care work is done by women in Germany than men, about 76 minutes per day. Children who learn to pitch in fairly ease the load for the whole family later. DOTOG shares tasks visibly and by age, so one person no longer carries it all.

Source: German Federal Statistical Office, Time Use Survey 2022 (as of 6 June 2025).destatis.de

Behind housework lies an invisible side: anticipating needs, weighing options, deciding and monitoring, so-called "cognitive labor". It is easily overlooked and usually falls on one person.
according toAllison Daminger, American Sociological Review (2019) ·sagepub.com

Safety

Child-safe because we are parents ourselves

We build DOTOG as parents, for families. That is why we deliberately leave out what makes many popular children's apps unacceptable according to Stiftung Warentest: contact with strangers, advertising, purchase pressure and data tracking.

Deliberately left out

✕No chat with strangers.Closed groups, no open chats, no voice chat, no friend requests from outside.
✕No ads to children.No ads, no promotional push, no hidden advertising.
✕No ad tracking.No advertising IDs, no persistent device identifiers, no sharing with ad networks.
✕No purchase pressure.No loot boxes, no dark patterns, children cannot buy anything.

What we do provide

✓Data minimization.From the child only a nickname, avatar and date of birth, no email, no location, no real name.
✓Data on EU servers.Processed in the European Union, GDPR-compliant.
✓Parents decide.Children's accounts require guardian consent (Art. 8 GDPR).
✓AI with a safety filter.The optional Buddy chat blocks sensitive topics and can be switched off by the admin.

More in ourChild Safety Standardsand theprivacy policy.

Source:Stiftung Warentest, game apps for children put to the test (Landesmedienzentrum BW).

FAQ

Common questions

From what age can children help at home?

From around age 3 with simple tasks like tidying toys. At 6 to 8 add setting the table and making the bed, at 9 to 12 the dishwasher and trash, from 13 also cooking and shopping.

Are children legally required to help?

Within reason, yes: § 1619 of the German Civil Code obliges children who live in and are supported by the parental household to help "appropriate to their abilities and position in life". That means age-appropriate, reasonable tasks, not excessive compulsion.

How much help is reasonable?

As much as the child can comfortably manage by age and ability, without crowding out school, learning and free time. The age orientation above is a good starting point.

Should you reward children for helping?

Rewards work best as a kick-start, not permanent payment. The obvious things stay normal, the extra effort gets rewarded. More in ourrewards system for kids.

How do I share tasks fairly in the family?

Make it visible who does what and when, then the load shares itself. That is exactly what DOTOG is built for, seesharing tasks fairly.

Chores by age:What kidscan take on, and when.