• Sweeping is a lightweight task that most kids can do.Little girl is cleaning the floor image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
  
  Summer is school-free and kids may think it's all about having fun. This isn’t reality, though. Everyone has responsibilities to tend to throughout the year. Summer chores for kids help instill responsibility throughout the year. There’s no excuse for kids to not be helping out around the house when they have nothing else to worry about. You could offer allowance for extra incentive.
  
  

Kids 3 to 5

• Don't expect kids at the age of 3 to do tasks that you consider laborious. However, 3- and 4-year-olds are capable of picking up after themselves and lightweight tasks. Kids this age should be responsible for cleaning up their toys and belongings that are scattered around the house. They can also do simple things like feed a pet, help set a table and gather laundry. At this age, kids can’t do a lot, but they can learn a lot. Have your 5-year-old tag along to observe you doing more difficult tasks.
  
  

Kids 6 to 8

• Ages 6 to 8 is a major adjustment phase. Children begin to develop more social independence at this age, and their responsibilities should reflect it. Chores like laundry, cleaning messes, dusting, sweeping, drying dishes and small amounts of yard work can be implemented now. Teach kids to do their own laundry, not everyone’s, to start off. Have your kids help clean up spills and cluttered rooms. Other summer chores, like gardening, will be more fun for them to help with. Cleaning up other people’s messes will encourage them to keep their own mess minimal.
  
  

Kids 9 to 12

• Kids 9 to 12 are capable of performing other rudimentary chores that have to be done on a daily basis. This is the perfect age for passing the dish duty off to the young ones. If you have more than one child, have them help one another with washing and drying. Let them wash the car, too. Other summer chores for this age group are vacuuming, setting the table and helping to cook dinner.
  
  

Kids 13-plus

• Kids 13 and older can do nearly any chore that you can do. This is the age when it is safe to let them clean hardcore. Children this age are capable of carefully and correctly reading warning labels and instructions. Let them clean the toilet, scrub the sinks and mop the floor. Kids can also mow the lawn now, a frequent summer chore, but do not send them out at the hottest part of the day. If you have a riding mower, it will be a dash of driving practice.