As preschoolers become elementary-aged kids it's time to ante on the chore chart. Following are 20 great chores for children between the ages of 6 and 12:

1. Help wash the car

2. Set the table

3. Pour beverages for all the children at mealtimes

4. Make afterschool snacks for themselves

5. Help with meal preparation, such as tearing the lettuce and stirring soup

6. Help load the dishwasher

7. Help straighten pots and pans

8. Feed and care for pets

9. Use a lint remover to pick up pet hair on furniture

10. Help with yard work

11. Vacuum or sweep the floors

12. Hang up the towel after a bath or shower

13. Sort clothes for washing

14. Strip linens from beds

15. Sort family members clean laundry

16. Dust furniture with socks on hands

17. Straighten books on a bookshelf

18. Put game and puzzle pieces in correct storage containers

19. Straighten their room (make the bed, pick up toys, etc.)

20. Take out the garbage

This is an age where allowance may cause controversy over whether a weekly sum should be tied to the weekly chores that are expected. Many parents will opt to not pay for chores but will pay for additional tasks above and beyond the regular schedule.

Foster independence by expecting kids to take the initiative to get the chores done on their own. However, be realistic and understand that you will need to nudge them at times to ensure the chores are completed in a timely manner.

Following are a few creative ways to get chores done:

Write the necessary jobs on index cards and place them in a basket for everyone in the family to draw from. Post chore cards on a family bulletin board or refrigerator so everyone in the family can see what needs to be done and can select the jobs accordingly. Place cards in a "chore completed" basket once completed.

Determine a goal to work towards, such as a trip out for ice cream or an outing to a movie theater. If everyone doesn't collectively meet their chore goal then there is no reward.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com at http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com

Find parenting tips and resources at http://becomingaparent.myguidesusa.com

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