My kids don't do near enough to help, and I plan to remedy that real soon.
Right now, they're all expected to clean their rooms on Saturday morning, and clean a bathroom. But they do a really lousy job. I need to do some one-on-one training and have them pass it off each week, but haven't gotten that far yet. They're supposed to take up their laundry and put it away, but the stacks tend to sit there for a day or two before they do it, and then they're dumped on the bed or floor of the room... more training needed. Once in a while I'll do a 5 minute cleanup where we all pitch in and get the main areas looking presentable again. That is helpful and I need to make it a more regular thing. Maybe every morning and every evening? Hmmm... I have 5yo empty the silverware, and the older 2 (whoever's handy) will empty the rest of the dishwasher when I ask. 11yo takes out the garbage and recycling to the curb on trash day. 9yo's pretty helpful with the baby, and will read to the 5yo.
They also alternate being dinner helper, which is working out really well. It's a one-on-one training, where they help me with meal preparation (if I ask), set the table, help put the meal on the table, clear the table afterwards (each person takes their own plate, but dinner helper clears everything else), put away leftovers, wipe the table, help with dishes, take out trash, etc. I just started doing this and am not real consistent with it, but this is a real big help. I work with them on all of it, so can tell them "now do this, now do that". Even DH has a turn at being dinner helper. Because, well, he's just as bad as the kids and needs to be trained.
My goal is that eventually they'll be able to SEE what needs done, and just pitch in. But we're definitely not there yet.
Alison, mom of
Ben (12), Natalie (9), Olivia (5), and Baby Logan (3/13/09)
This is an area I need to work on. (m) 
