GreatDaneMom,
I have 2 kids and what I do, is make a list and split up the chores between them. They will switch off what they do each time so there's no fighting over it. The things I have them do are sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, loading or unloading the dishwasher, and I help them clean their bathroom. Nothing that they can mess up to bad, but enough to where they understand that it's hard work, and that it makes it a LOT easier if everyone chips in!! Hope that helps!

Thanks Nicki4 - that helps a lot.

I absolutely think that kids at this age should have chores. I think you can start them as early as 4 or 5. Chores help build self-esteem (they are proud when they can do something adult-like) and of course, it teaches responsibility. I like Nicki's idea about switching off (if you have more than one child). Also, I believe that some chores have to be done, because everyone in the family has to pull their weight. But also, there are a lot of chores that can be rewarded with allowance. Allowance helps the child to understand more about money and the concept of saving (and of course, spending) and it should show your child that money is earned... not grown on trees.

I think children should be responsible for making their bed and keeping their rooms cleaned up. They can also help set the table, help with dishes, bring in groceries and put them away... they can also help with yard work, special projects, etc.
I'm not saying that your child needs to work her fingers to the bone.... afterall, kids these days have a lot of homework and extracurricular activities.. but a few chores a week, is a must in my house.

Good Luck!

We have a daily list...my 11 year old does great with it, but my 8 year old takes foooorrrreeeeever to do it. It actually is a short enough list that my son can finish it before school if he wants (and has on good days, e.g., when he wants to have friends over and doing that depends on 'the list' being done)--but he usually does not. He just complains for hours instead of doing it! We've made TV and video games contingent on doing 'the list' first too...

Ours is kept pretty simple due to the homework and extra activities...

"the list" includes things like putting their stuff away, making their own lunch, picking up any of their stuff that is lying around, practicing their music/spanish (one child does music, the other spanish), and doing their homework. In other words, there really arent that many chores on there.

However, then we do stress that everyone needs to pitch in on group activities. If daddy is cooking and mommy is doing dishes, the know we are likely to ask someone to set the table and the other to empty the dishwasher. If we are cleaning, then they expect that someone is likely to ask them to vacuum or dust.

In addition to these systems--in response to disobediance and fighting/arguing, we often give chores that they can do alone. Otherwise it is pretty much a team effort.

My two , 12 and 15 alternate their chores each week. It seems to work with a little push, and just about every time some whining to go with it. But if I keep on them they finally realize it is easier to just do it!!!

They are responsible for:

one week - the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner, and emptying the dishwasher.

The next week - the kitty litter box and the bathroom.

It isnt much, but it is a big help to me.

In my home my girls both have chore charts and everyday we go thourgh and make sure they are done at the end of the week we pay them in poker chips each chip is worth a diddernt amount of money 1,5,10... they save these up for the name brand clothes, purses shoe, and also going to do things with there friends. donig this has showed them that money dose not grow on trees and they really think about what they buy with there money I try to keep this a positve thing for the girls but in extreme cases of them not doing something the punishment is they pay me for doing it.

I absolutely have my kids do chores. I have a 10, 8, and 6. The oldest does things like empty dishwasher and load it, sweep floors, pick up own stuff, clean room, and sometimes vacuum. I agree with "greatdanemom", they need to understand it is hard work and they need to help out too.

My son is 9 almost 10, he washes my truck ever weekend and does a good job. He helps me garden, dumps the garbage, does his own laudary, folds it too. For some reason he loves the Windex so I let him shine up the shelves (I help, I dont want things to break). He gets a nice allowance every week and chores have alsway been viewed as a daily part of life. He has always had them!

Wow you guys are on the ball - maybe I need to add some! (hooray!)

My son is 9 and he takes the dog in and out (by a leash - she is blind), feeds and waters the dog and cats, and takes the garbage to the can and rolls it to the street on pick-up day, and rolls it back after. My daughter is 3 and wants to clean with real cleaners, so I give her a bottle of water and let her help me. She helps me sort laundry by color and she helps put wet laundry in the dryer, and sometimes helps me unload the dishwasher and set the table.

I have three tweens. They rotate their chores. We have chore #1 which is dishes which consists of loading and unloading the dishwasher and wiping down the table and counters, #2 garbage which consists of dumping bathroom trashes and taking out garbage to the road twice a week, also twice a week they have to clean their bathroom, #3 dog poop(MWF) and patio sweeper (Thus/Thurs). They do each chore for a week and then on Saturday it goes to the next one. Our oldest two have also learned how to help with the laundry, washing and drying. Also if there needs to be a major house cleaning they will help vacuum, swiffer, dust, etc.

I know what you are going through.. I have a 11 year old.. My son is subpost to do chores dailey.. LMAROTF... Its a really hard thing to get him to do..Good luck

You need to tell your daughter that she has to do some chores around the house like keeping her room clean if she don't then she can't go outside to play or have a friend come over to play. My daughter has a hard time doing chores she does them because she knows she won't get her allowance if she don't do them. Does she get an allowance if she does things around the house like chores.

My 9yo daughter had a strange idea that all kids are supposed to do is havefun and none of them in the world ever had to do chores and therefore I was being mean to her making her do jobs around the house, so it was really important for her to learn responsibility and how to contribute to the family. Her main responsibilities are to fold the laundry after someone else has washed and hung it out to dry, keep her room tidy, do her homework and get ready for school on time, Feed the dog and her guinea pigs and clean their hutch, feed her goldfish and clean thier tank once a week (after all, she was the one who wanted them, so it's only fair I think), and on occasions We'll ask her tohelp with the dishes or take the rubbish out. And even with all the conflict I've had with her lately believe it or not she's accually started drying the dishes with out being asked a few times!!! I just about passed out!

I have a 20 yo girl,13 yo boy and 2 11 year olds, one boy, one girl. I have a chore chart. They are responsible for dishes, washing their clothes, floors (either vacuum, sweep or mop), the bathroom and trash duty. My girls don't get trash duty because they help out with the boys hair (they wear it braided). If they have dishes on Monday, they have floors on Wed. and bathroom on Friday. If they have floors on Monday, they get... you get the idea. Tuesay and Thursday they do personal care stuff and grownup tidy the house. I do not give allowance for this. It's their home, they mess it up, the will help clean it up. We do pay for bigger stuff, like mowing the lawn, washing the cars, etc. And no they don't like it, but they are definitely more responsible and have adopted a more mature attitude about things since I made them start. I am also going to find a way to use the poker chip idea. I like that one.

once a week we do a family clean up day. I sort the chores due to age. My 11 year old girl helps with the laundry and the dishes. I change the chores regularily so she doesnt get upset about doing the same thing over and over. She is slow but I can say that when she mopps the floor she does an excellent job!! I tell you when we all work together it goes fast and they are all rewarded for their job well done!!