5 Summer Chores Every Teen Can Be Doing (and Why It Matters)
Quick facts
Five summer chores that build independence in teens: taking over laundry, meal planning and cooking once a week, yard work or gardening, pet care, and buying groceries.
Chores are a teen’s first job and first responsibility, and an easy way to show they’re ready for bigger challenges like driving or a job outside the home.
Laundry tip: make a video of the washer and dryer so your teen can reference it when you’re not around, and set boundaries on what time laundry can run.
Grocery shopping with a list and a budget teaches real-world planning and opens conversations about nutrition.
Expect mistakes. Your teen will not do things exactly how you would, and that is part of building responsibility.
What chores should a teenager do in the summer?
Five that build real independence: taking over laundry, planning and cooking one meal a week, yard work, pet care, and grocery shopping with a list and a budget.
Want your teen to build responsibility, contribute to the household, and stay active this summer? Then look no further! Summer is a great time for teens to contribute and learn valuable life skills, without the pressure of school.
Not to mention,chores are a rite of passage. Chores are your teen’s first job, their first responsibility. Chores are also an easy way for teens to prove that they’re ready for bigger challenges, like driving or getting an actual job outside the home.
And if we’re saying it straight — you deserve a little help around the house too!
Here are 5 meaningful chores your teen can take on this summer to boost their confidence and independence:
1. Take Over Laundry Duties 👚👖
Take the time to teach your teen how to use the washer and dryer (you can make a video so they can reference it when you’re not around!). Stress the importance of separating those darks and lights! And, you might need to set boundaries regarding what time they can do laundry (my step daughter used to start her laundry after midnight…the machines are situated right below our bedroom 😬). Your teen will probably screw something up, we all did, but mistakes are a great time to learn!
🧺 Life skill bonus: Time management, self-care, responsibility
2. Meal Planning & Cooking Once a Week 🥙
After graduating from making frozen pizza and hot ham and cheese, the first meals I can remember making were baked ziti and spaghetti. And from there, I gained the confidence to buy my first cook book and start experimenting with other dishes. Give your teen a night to plan a meal, grocery shop with you, and prepare dinner. Cooking one meal a week is creative, confidence-building, and practical, not to mention it gives teens a sense of how much actually goes into making dinner every night!
🍝 Life skill bonus: Budgeting, nutrition, independence
3. Yard Work or Gardening 👩🏻🌾
The first job I could do independently was mowing the lawn. I would strap on my walkman, push that mower around and sing to my heart’s content (I had no idea anyone could hear me!). Mowing the lawn taught me patience and gave me the opportunity to earn some cash. Whether it’s mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, watering plants, or helping grow veggies — give teens the opportunity to get outside and contribute!
🌱 Life skill bonus: Patience, physical activity, connection to nature
4. Pet Care 🐶
Ever notice how much your teen loves your pet(s), but seems to disappear when it’s time for pet maintenance??? Pets are part of the family and the responsibility of having a pet should be shared by all! Teens can take over walking, feeding, brushing, and cleaning up after pets.
🐾 Life skill bonus: Nurturing, consistency, empathy
5. Buying Groceries 🍎🫐
When your teen finally does get a license (or not! you can always drop them off), grocery shopping is a great way to build independence and awareness. With a list and budget, having teens grocery shop will teach them so much more than money management. Grocery shopping is a great way to introduce real-world planning, not to mention starting conversations around nutrition choices. Sure, they may opt for more Ramen than you’d care for, but that’s a great segue into an important conversation!
🛒 Life skill bonus: Money management, initiative, confidence
💬 Final Thought:
Teens need to learn, and they need to learn from the expert–you! Expect that your teen will make mistakes and they definitely won’t do things exactly how you would. And that’s okay! Giving teens space and grace is all part of building responsibility and independence. Give your teen a few meaningful responsibilities and watch how it shifts their confidence, maturity, and daily motivation.
Need help getting your teen on board? Check out our free Chore Tracker!
