Each child age six and above has their own weekly chore list that is taped to the pantry door.  Every Sunday night my wife sits down at the computer and updates the chore lists, prints new ones, and puts them up.   Early morning chores must be done before breakfast, morning chores must be done before lunch, and so on.  Having meal-time deadlines is a natural incentive, because children don't like to miss meals <grin>.

 

The basic "morning rule" at our house is that no-body eats breakfast until their rooms are clean and their beds are made.  We usually eat breakfast at 7AM.  Everyone must be in their seats at the table when Daddy starts reading the worship book.  If they don't have their rooms clean, they scurry off after worship reading and get them done quick, so they don't miss breakfast and have to eat a cold bowl of oatmeal by themselves at the deck (and get an extra chore).

 

"Floor patrol" means nothing on the floor that shouldn't be there, and everything put back in its place.  Children's floor patrol areas in the house are rotated occasionally, as are major chores like garbage and bathrooms.  Other rotating chores include setting the table, clearing the table, putting away leftovers, and loading the dishwasher.  Chore lists also include home school assignments.