Here are basic ideas for your kids chore lists as well as a printable chore chart for you to use in your home.

Mothers do ask what types of chore lists are appropriate for the different ages of children.

• First of all, every family is different. These are only chore list suggestions. You'll have to make final decisions based upon your own family and its unique needs.
• Don't forget to incorporate ongoing training for all types of chores. Kids are kids; they don't know what we expect until we teach them.
  
• Don't make a chores list overwhelming! Reasonable and balanced is always key.
  
• Make doing chores a family event and life in general will go easier.

You can use your kids chore list to teach responsibility and other lessons every day.

• Toddlers need a simple chores list, like throwing away trash. Putting napkins on the table. Putting their own toys away.
  
• Preschoolers can have a bit more complicated chore list. If you use nonbreakable dinnerware, a preschooler can add setting the table to his chores list.
• Even young kids can begin to learn to act as a team, doing some chores together. Folding clothes is a great example of this. So is weeding a garden.
  
• A reward system is always a great motivator for any chore list or chart.
• Elementary age kids can do a myriad of chores and learn to do them very efficiently over time. Not only that, these kids usually have very good ideas on organization. If you're willing to try some 'odd' ideas, you'll be rewarded with a budding housekeeper. Plus, they love to check off the chores on their list!
  
• Most 'tweens' (10-12 year olds) can tackle more complicated chore lists. They are also at a great age to be learning to cook (with supervision) and they can handle the cleanup, as well, so make sure that "cleaning up" gets put on their chore list.
  
• Teens desperately NEED to be doing chores in order to know how to run a household (how else are they going to effectively run their own some day?). You'll want to get serious with their chores list, even if you don't use a chart. In fact, lots of teens (mine included) preferred a list written just for that day listing their chores. Keep in mind, most teens can be taught to run lawn mowers and other household equipment as well. Obviously, teaching them strict safety measures and supervision are vital. 
• Don't worry about lessening your chore standards while your kids are adapting to their chore lists. You are teaching responsibility, not just getting a clean house.
  
• Keep a journal for one week with you as you do your regular household chores. Think about each chore and how it could be broken down and assigned to different ages of children. For example, you might list "clean the bathroom" as one chore on a chore list, but in reality cleaning a bathroom is several chores, many of which are suitable for kids.

More ideas to put on chore lists.

• Gathering the soiled towels and putting out clean ones can be done by young elementary aged children.
• Polishing the mirror is a job most kids delight in.
• Swishing out the sink with clean water is a preschooler's dream job.
• Caution: if you need to use cleaners or chemicals to get the chore done, that chore may not be a suitable task for your kids chore lists. When your child is old enough, train him or her to use cleaners carefully and always supervice the job. Better yet, go green with non-toxic cleaners.
• It's a good idea to mix up your child's chore lists from time to time. By this I mean, circulating chores so no one is stuck doing the same chores list over and over.
  
• Get maximum results from these kids chore lists ideas by reading our chore charts article. Is cleaning closets on your chore list? Use my closet organizing for kids ideas to free up space and make it easier for little ones to put things away, too.
  
• Take a look at our free household chores checklist chart, too. It will give you ideas to add to your kids chore list chart.
  



• I find lots of creative household and organizing ideas work best when putting together an effective chore list. Then I can easily adapt my mothering as my kids grow. I have really enjoyed using Maria's organizing ebook. You might like it also.

Colleen Langenfeld is a mother with over 25 years of parenting experience and helps other busy moms at http://www.paintedgold.com.