The Post: 9 Household Chores Kids Did in the 1970s That Many Kids Today Are Less Likely to Do first appeared on Crafting Your Home
Childhood in the 1970s was not the same for every family. Some kids grew up in homes where chores were simple and occasional, while others were expected to help keep the entire household running. But in many families, children regularly handled practical jobs that are less common today, not because kids were automatically more responsible, but because homes had fewer conveniences and different routines.
Before dishwashers filled every kitchen, dryers finished every load, and busy schedules changed family life, helping at home often meant doing hands-on work. A child might wash dinner plates, hang laundry outside, mow the lawn, or help prepare food for the week.
The 1970 Census shows why some chores were more common. In 1970, only 19% of U.S. homes had a dishwasher, so most families still relied on handwashing. Laundry also took more effort: 29% of homes lacked a washing machine, and many households lacked modern drying conveniences.
These chores were not universal, and today’s children still help at home in many ways. But these nine tasks were once a familiar part of growing up for many families.
1. Washing the dinner dishes by hand
For many kids, finishing dinner did not mean leaving the kitchen. It meant scraping plates, filling the sink, washing dishes, drying them, and putting everything away.
With only 19% of homes having dishwashers in 1970, handwashing dishes was simply part of daily life in many households. A child’s job might have been standing at the sink while another family member dried and stacked everything.
Today, some families still wash dishes by hand, but a machine often handles the job that once required a nightly routine.
2. Hanging laundry on a clothesline
3. Ironing clothes and linens
A neatly pressed shirt, dress, or tablecloth often required an iron and someone willing to use it.
Many children helped with clothing care by pressing school clothes, work shirts, pillowcases, or other household fabrics.
Older household routines often included regular ironing because many fabrics required more attention than today’s casual clothing.
Not every child ironed, but in some homes, learning to care for clothing meant knowing how to remove wrinkles and keep things ready for the week ahead.
Related: 8 Old-School Chores That Wouldn’t Fly With Gen Z
4. Helping cook a family dinner
Many children in the 1970s learned kitchen skills by helping with everyday meal preparation. Helping might mean washing vegetables, measuring ingredients, setting the table, or assisting with cleanup.
The 1970 Census considered kitchen facilities an important household feature, including a sink with piped water, a stove, and a refrigerator.
Home cooking was central to many families, and children often learned by participating.
Today, kids may still cook with family members, but busy schedules and different routines can make these opportunities less regular.
5. Watching younger brothers and sisters
In many larger families, older children were expected to help care for younger siblings. This could mean keeping younger children entertained, helping with snacks, or watching them while parents handled other responsibilities.
Research on family life shows that sibling caregiving has long been part of many households, especially among working-class families.
However, experiences varied greatly, and not every child had the same responsibilities.
For some kids, helping with younger siblings was a normal family contribution. For others, it could become a much heavier responsibility.
6. Mowing lawns, raking leaves, and shoveling snow
Outdoor chores were another common way children contributed. A Saturday morning might involve pushing a mower, pulling weeds, gathering leaves, or clearing a driveway after a snowstorm.
As suburban housing expanded during the 1970s, maintaining yards became part of everyday home upkeep for many families. Children often learned that keeping a home meant caring for the space around it, too.
Today, some kids still handle yard work, but professional services, neighborhood rules, and busier family schedules have changed how often these tasks fall on children.
7. Washing and cleaning the family car
8. Helping preserve garden harvests
For families with gardens, harvest season brought extra work. Children might pick vegetables, wash produce, prepare jars, or help freeze and preserve food.
This was especially common in rural areas, small towns, and households that grew their own food. The 1970 Census tracked whether homes had separate freezers, showing that storing food at home was an important part of many household routines.
About 34% of homes had a separate freezer at that time.
Garden work taught children that food often required planning, effort, and teamwork before it reached the table.
9. Taking on bigger household responsibilities
Some children were trusted with tasks that might seem more adult today. They might help with grocery lists, put away groceries, assist with household schedules, or help when a family member needed extra support.
Historical research on parenting advice shows that earlier generations often expected children to contribute through tasks such as shopping, meal preparation, and household responsibilities.
These expectations differed widely depending on family circumstances, culture, and whether children lived in rural or urban settings.
The biggest difference between then and now may not be whether children do chores; it is the type of work they are asked to do.
Kids today are still learning responsibility, but modern households often rely on different routines, appliances, and schedules. The chores may have changed, but the idea of contributing to the home remains just as important.
Sometimes, the smallest household tasks teach the biggest lessons.
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