ChoreDoHow to teach kids to fold laundry
Folding laundry is calm, repetitive and satisfying — ideal for kids. Start with the easiest items (towels and t-shirts), keep the folds simple, and let neatness improve with practice.
Why folding laundry is a great chore
- ✓It builds patience and attention to detail.
- ✓Matching, sorting and folding are gentle thinking skills for younger kids.
- ✓Putting clothes away teaches them where their things belong.
- ✓It's a quiet, screen-free job you can do together and chat through.
Step by step
- 1
Sort into piles
Group items by type — t-shirts, trousers, towels, socks — and by who they belong to.
- 2
Fold t-shirts simply
Lay it face down, fold each side in toward the middle, then fold the bottom up to the collar.
- 3
Fold towels in thirds
Fold lengthways into thirds, then in half or thirds again into a neat rectangle.
- 4
Match the socks
Find pairs and fold or roll them together.
- 5
Stack and put away
Stack each pile and put it in the right drawer or shelf.
What to expect at each age
Tips to make it stick
- 💡Start with towels and t-shirts — flat, forgiving items build confidence.
- 💡A flat table or bed gives them room to make clean folds.
- 💡Folding straight from the dryer means fewer creases and easier folds.
- 💡Put a basket or show where each pile goes so 'folded' also means 'put away'.
FAQ
What laundry can young kids help with?
Matching socks, folding flannels and towels, and carrying clothes to drawers are all great starting points.
How do I get neat folds?
Fold on a flat surface and keep the folds simple — neatness comes with repetition, not complicated techniques.
Sorting too?
Sorting lights and darks before washing is a helpful related job for older kids.
Make "Fold the laundry" a quest in ChoreDo
Turn this chore into a game — kids earn gold, level up and unlock rewards you choose. Free to use.
Get started
