What life skills should my school-age child be learning at home?

By ages 6–10, children can make simple snacks, pack their own lunch, do basic laundry sorting, sweep floors, load a dishwasher, organize their room, and manage a simple morning routine independently. By ages 10–12, add cooking basic meals with supervision, doing full laundry loads, mowing the lawn (with training), and managing homework time. These skills build confidence, executive function, and readiness for adolescence. If your child consistently struggles with age-appropriate tasks, discuss it with your pediatrician.