The idea that everyone should do his fair share is a basic value to most people. Participating in family chores can strengthen a child's sense of belonging and contributing.

1. Choose beginning tasks that your child can succeed in easily. Children 2 and 3 usually express interest in helping - select jobs that can be done in view of an admiring adult.

2. Make tasks manageable. Jobs should have a beginning and an end.

3. Give children chores that have obvious value to you and your family. Simple tasks like washing a pet's food dish or folding small pieces of laundry and then letting the child know how useful and important their work is to the family - let the child overhear you tell a friend.

4. Assign chores that produce pleasant effects. Setting a table is more rewarding than cleaning it - the table looks nice and others can admire it.

5. Teach children how to do a job. Demonstrate first and practice with them before turning the task over.

6. Give them incentive to finish. Linking pleasure to responsibility. For example: cleaning up the yard means a place to play volleyball, making a cake means family members will enjoy a tasty dessert.

7. Set reasonable performance standards and be prepared to accept less than perfect standards. If a parent constantly finds fault and redoes the task - the child's effort has no value. Keep your expectations consistent and predictable.

8. Help your child follow through on completing the assigned task. Instead of nagging - point out in a matter-of-fact way that you and other family members are counting on them to complete the task.

9. Another way for children to become more responsible is for them to reach out and help family members and friends. Learning ways to help, share, cheer up and provide companionship to others sets the stage for the development of social responsibility.

10. To encourage the development of community responsibility, encourage the child to accompany you when you vote, or donate clothes or food to an organization; explain why it is important to throw trash in proper containers, or arrange for children to participate in a community project such as planting flowers in a favorite park.

11. Children need guidance to help them learn how to make and keep commitments. When they sign up for something- explain to them they are making a commitment to participate - if they change their mind part way - discuss why and remind them of their commitment.

University of Rhode Island, United States Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating, Cooperative Extension in Rhode Island prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.

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