2-4 Year Old's:

1. Toy Cleanup Time: Encourage your tots to pick up their toys and put them back in their designated bins or shelves. You can make it fun by singing a cleanup song together.  I am sure we all know of one song our own parents used to teach us or that we have learned from a popular cartoon!
2. Wipe Down Surfaces: Provide them with a damp cloth (non-toxic and child-safe) and ask them to wipe down low surfaces like tables or those dreaded cabinet doors. This simple task can make them feel helpful and engaged.
3. Sort and Match Socks: Introduce them to the concept of matching by asking them to pair up socks. It's a simple activity that helps with cognitive development and contributes to tidying up the laundry.  This will also help when it is time for them in later years to start washing, drying, and folding their laundry.

5-6 Year Old's:

1. Make the Bed: Teach them how to straighten out their sheets and fluff their pillows at the top of the bed to create that awesome "flop on the bed" feeling. This simple task fosters a sense of responsibility, organization, and fun at the end when they see that they have created a comfort zone in their own room.
2. Set the Table: Guide them in setting the table for meals. Start with placing napkins, utensils, and non-breakable items like plastic cups. This instills good habits at a young age to help with dinner and also a sense of accomplishment that they have helped Mom or Dad.
3. Dust Low Surfaces: Using a duster or a microfiber cloth, ask them to dust low furniture or baseboards. It's a light chore that improves their fine motor skills and also keeps the parents from those back-breaking chores.

7-9 Year Old's:

1. Sweeping Floors: Teach them how to use a child-sized broom and dustpan to sweep up small areas of the floor. It's a step up in responsibility and helps keep the space tidy.
2. Emptying Trash Bins: Show them how to responsibly empty small trash bins in their rooms, bathrooms, or kitchen. Emphasize the importance of recycling when appropriate.
3. Watering Plants: If you have indoor plants, task them with watering the plants. It's a task that requires regular attention and care.

10-12 Year Old's:

1. Vacuuming: Teach them how to use a vacuum cleaner on carpeted areas or hardwood floors, whichever is in your home and might require a vacuum. Make sure they know how to use it properly and dispose of the remains after the job is complete.
2. Folding Laundry: Instruct them on how to fold and put away their clothes. This extends their responsibility to personal belongings and contributes to overall tidiness.  This will also be the build-up from learning the matching skill at a young age and the additional responsibility and care for their wardrobe.
3. Basic Kitchen Skills: Introduce them to simple kitchen tasks like washing dishes, loading and unloading the dishwasher, and starting it with the appropriate cleaning solution. This helps them become more self-sufficient and capable in various household areas.

We will stop before we hit the teenage years because that is a whole other topic for discussion.