Jobs around the house

[GlueSticksEverywhere]

I was wondering what jobs around the house people think are suitable for a 3 and 5 year old? I don't want to be mean, but I also don't want them to grow up lazy (like my brothers did!) so thought I had better start early!

Putting stuff in laundry basket.
Putting away their toys in appropriate storage.
Dusting or polishing.
Helping you do jobs, even though it will take twice as long.

Oh, and best of all, if you have a partner, making sure that they see your partner doing jobs as well.

My 6yo DS does simple jobs, like helping me set the table before mealtimes and helping to clear away afterwards. I also think it's important to encourage independence and therefore discourage laziness by letting them do things for themselves, for example, when DS asks for a drink of water I say, yes, help yourself. I also encourage him to do things like picking up clothes off the floor and folding them in a pile, giving him a duster when I'm doing the cleaning so he can help, etc. I think any helping jobs like this at 3 and 5 are suitable. It's not how well they do them, or even succeeding, it's getting them used to the idea that they can be independent and not expect everything to be done for them. Lots of praise (even when they make a big mess of it) really helps them want to please too.

My nearly 3 yr old makes his own bed (with help obviously) and opens his own curtains. Puts washing in the laundry basket, puts away his own toys, dusts and polishes, helps load the washing machine and most recently he's started putting his own dirty dishes/cups/cutlery in the dishwasher.

He has his own "house keeping" box with a spray bottle, cloths etc that he likes to use when "helping" with the housework.