Does it seem easier do it yourself than hover over a child to complete a household chore? Whether it is taking out the trash, feeding the dog, watering the plants, or even making a bed, learning to do chores correctly seems painful. But it doesn't have to be. When children are old enough to walk, they are old enough to start taking responsibility. Assigning age-appropriate chores while making them fun is key. Here is a sample list of what chores children are capable of doing by age:

2-3 year olds - pick-up toys and put on shelf or in toy box, dump small trash can contents into larger trash can

4-6 year olds - All above plus make bed, wipe up spills, feed pets, water low level plants, weed garden

7-10 year olds - all above plus put dishes in dishwasher, unload (most of) the dishwasher, fold clothes, take trash to the curb, help wash the car

Now the question is how to get children to actually do these chores to be helpful at home. One thing to remember with young children is that they want to help. Young children (2-5) are interested in doing "big people" activities. Allowing them to do some chores is special to them. Also, developmentally, they are concrete thinkers. This means they can't retain a list of "to do's" in their head, but making them a chore chart makes it fun. Cut our magazine or catalog images related to the chore. Write the word on the chart beside the picture. List the days of the week across the top and the 2-3 chores down the side. Hang a pencil with the chart on their bedroom door and before you know it, they are picking up toys, brushing their teeth, and putting their toys on the shelf, then using the pencil to add a check mark to the chart. Your positive praise helps them do it again and again. You working with them, singing, playing a children's musical CD, and modeling good household chore completion reinforces the task and makes it fun for the child.