What was the Rossmann chores study?

A 2002 University of Minnesota analysis by Dr. Marty Rossmann that followed 84 children across four points in their lives, from preschool into their mid-20s, examining the relationship between early chore participation and later life outcomes.

Do chores actually predict career success?

The Rossmann study found a correlation between early chore participation and academic and early career success in the study's sample, though as with any single study, this reflects an association rather than a guaranteed outcome for every child.

The Case for Kids Doing Chores: What It Actually Teaches Them

by Viren Vijayashankar

The Case for Kids Doing Chores: What It Actually Teaches Them

Starting age matters more than most parents expect. A long-running University of Minnesota study that followed 84 children into their mid-20s found that those who began doing household chores at age three or four were more likely to succeed academically, build strong relationships, and become self-sufficient young adults, while those who did not start until their teens saw the effect largely disappear.

This is one of the more consistent findings in child development research, and it comes with a practical takeaway for busy Calgary families: the age you start matters more than how much your child does at any one time.

Key Takeaways

Dr. Marty Rossmann's University of Minnesota study followed 84 children from preschool into their mid-20s and found chores starting at age 3 or 4 predicted stronger academic and career outcomes.
Starting chores as a teenager (age 15 or 16) did not produce the same benefit, according to the same research, suggesting the habit and mindset matter more than the specific task.
Chores are associated with a sense of contribution and self-reliance, not just household upkeep, according to researchers who have studied the effect.
Tying chores directly to allowance is generally discouraged, since it can frame family contribution as a transaction rather than a shared responsibility.
Consistency matters more than the specific chore, so a simple, age-appropriate task done reliably outperforms an ambitious chore list that falls apart after two weeks.

1. What the Research Actually Found

Dr. Marty Rossmann's analysis followed 84 children across four points in their lives, preschool, around age 10, around age 15, and into their mid-20s. The children who began helping with household tasks at age three or four were more likely, as young adults, to have good relationships with family and friends, to be academically and professionally successful, and to be self-sufficient, compared with children who never had chores or who only started as teenagers.

Why Starting Age Seems to Matter

The leading explanation is that early chores build a lasting sense of being a contributing, capable member of the household, a feeling that is harder to instill once a teenager already has an established identity and routine without that expectation built in.

2. Starting Young Without Overcomplicating It

For a three or four year old, a chore does not need to be a meaningful contribution to the household in any practical sense. Putting toys in a bin, carrying a napkin to the table, or helping feed a pet all count. The goal at that age is building the habit and the identity of being someone who helps, not the specific task itself.

A NW Calgary REALTOR's Take

I hear this exact question from families with young kids more than almost any other parenting topic when I am showing homes, usually while we are standing in a kitchen talking about storage and workflow. Parents want practical ideas, not theory, which is part of why I keep this list short and concrete rather than exhaustive.

3. What to Avoid

Tying every chore to a specific payment. Research and parenting experts generally caution against this, since it can teach that helping the family is optional and transactional rather than expected.
Waiting until the teenage years to start. The Rossmann research specifically found that starting at 15 or 16 did not produce the same benefit as starting young.
An overly ambitious chore chart. A short, consistent list a child actually completes teaches more than a long one that gets abandoned within a month.

4. Age-Appropriate Starting Points

Age Range	Reasonable Chores
3-4 years old	Putting toys away, carrying napkins to the table, helping feed a pet
5-7 years old	Making their bed, helping set the table, sorting laundry by colour
8-10 years old	Loading the dishwasher, taking out recycling, simple meal prep help
11 and up	Doing their own laundry, more involved cooking tasks, yard work

A NW Calgary REALTOR's Take

I bring this list up with families touring larger homes too, since mudrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchen layouts genuinely work better or worse depending on whether a household actually expects kids to use them independently. It is a small thing that changes how a floor plan gets used day to day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should kids start doing chores?

Research from the University of Minnesota found the strongest long-term benefits when children began doing simple household tasks at age 3 or 4.

Is it too late to start chores with a teenager?

The specific long-term benefits found in the Rossmann research were weaker for teens who started at 15 or 16, but starting chores at any age still teaches practical skills and contributes to the household.

Should chores be tied to allowance?

Many parenting researchers caution against this, since it can frame contributing to the household as optional and transactional rather than an expected part of family life.

What chores are appropriate for a 3 or 4 year old?

Simple tasks like putting toys away, carrying items to the table, or helping feed a family pet are appropriate starting points at this age.

Why do early chores matter more than later ones?

Researchers suggest early chores build a lasting sense of being a capable, contributing member of the household, which is harder to establish once an older child's routines and identity are already set.

How many chores should a child have?

A short, consistent list that a child actually completes reliably is generally more effective than a long, ambitious list that falls apart after a few weeks.

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Information Sources: Rossmann, M. (2002), Involving children in household tasks: Is it worth the effort?, University of Minnesota.
Published: September 15, 2026.

About Viren Vijayashankar

Viren Vijayashankar is a REALTOR with Bowhaven Real Estate, sharing practical parenting resources alongside home buying and selling guidance for Calgary families.