The habit of daily chores

How do you get your kids to do chores daily?

The way I get my kids to automatically do chores is to reinforce that helping around the house is a "Daily" activity, whether it be summer or school.  I figure I have to do chores everyday to keep the family running smoothly and so they are viable members of this group and should contribute even at a very young age. They are required to do one thing of my choosing daily before they can do anything else (including homework, computer, checking emails, watching tv, etc). Typical chores during the school year:

• fold and put away their laundry on their day (each kid has a day to bring me their laundry. I wash during the day when they are at school).
• put away dishes in dishwasher
• clean room and/or bathroom
• clean up entry way (putting away shoes, coats, etc)
• sweep or vaccum floor

Anything that will only take a few minutes, but the key is CONSISTENT! You have to start out consistent before you can reward them with "days off". So, what ends up happening is that they come home from school and are anxious to sit, snack and relax, so they say, "what is my one thing today?"

Also, on the same token, if they come home and you catch them playing the computer or watching TV, they have to be disciplined.  I usually just double a chore. The great thing about this technique is that I have found that it can be useful for rewarding and punishing. If they were kind, generous or obedient, I will tell them they can have no chore that day. This is also great for YOU! You don't have to waste your time folding or taking out dishes when you know that they can do it after school, and then YOU can fit in some gardening or other deep cleaning.