We are on a "Happy Face" System here.  Our daughter  is 6 years old now and has several responsibilities. She has a list of about 10 things she has to do BEFORE school [ex. Have lunchbox and backpack at front door, Make sure she's wearing a belt if she's wearing pants (her school uniform requires it), Make her bed, Clean her room, Have her water bottle inside her backpack, Brush teeth, etc]. She also has a "checklist" of 5 things she must have BEFORE she leaves school grounds (ex. Agenda, homework, Lunchbox, school memos/notes, jacket/sweater). Then she has a list of 3 things she has to do once she's home (ex. Homework, give all school notes to me, change into dance attire by a certain time). Lastly, she has a "checklist" of 4 things she has to do by 7pm BEFORE bed (ex. Put on PJ's, clean her room, put her lunchbox in the kitchen), and then EARN A HAPPY FACE! See...what I'm trying to do here is create a habit in her. A sense of order, reasoning, and schedule for her to follow so that her days aren't so crazy. We started this in the 2nd half of Kindergarten and it totally WORKS! She feels a sense of accomplishment when she sees all her CHECK marks on her list, and such GREAT pride in earning her Happy Face too!  When she forgets something, or doesn't do it completely (which is rare, but it does happen) she simply does not earn a Happy Face. But that is enough for her, she gets disappointed in herself, but knows that tomorrow she'll get another shot at earning a Happy Face. She really digs earning those faces! (By the way, the faces are placed on her calendar in her room). There is further incentive for the Happy Face...you see...After collecting 20 Happy Faces there is a prize for her, could be a trip to PartiPalooza, or The Jungle, or anywhere she wants to go. Furthermore, if she gets 5 Happy Faces in a row...she gets a dollar. That makes her VERY happy!  As for Chores, she isn't really responsible yet for any one or more chores on a daily basis yet. I want her to have mastered responsibility for her own person, and her schoolwork first (without the aid of the "checklist"). However, that is not to say that she doesn't help out around the house. She helps set the table, and clear it. She helps bring in groceries and put them away. For this she doesn't get any "allowance" though because these are things that she is a part of. We are a family and a team; we need to work together to get certain things done, and she understands this concept. It makes her feel like she's a part of it all when she's given a task to do. But when she is in the mood to "earn some money" she asks me if she can help me make my bed for some "allowance" or if she can vacuum to earn some "coins" (she loves to vacuum). When she does things for me personally, she earns an allowance. She doesn't ask for this often, as she doesn't really "spend" money yet...so money isn't a big incentive at this point. But she does enjoy getting it from time to time. That is how we do it here. I'd love to hear how other homes handle this area as well. Can't wait to read the replies!
 

I get my daughter, 2 ½, to help me out by letting her have her own swiffer mop. I put on a baby wipe (cheaper but works) and she mops with her mop and then I mop with mommy's mop, the real thing. As for the vacuuming I let her use the shark (lightweight charged vacuum) and she can clean away and it works. She really enjoys helping. I also give her a dry sponge and a can of air freshener (that she can’t really squirt). She makes the sounds of the squirting can and wipes it clean along while I am cleaning the bathroom. I don't know that she is helping me a bunch but we both smile and things do get done. When I want to clean stuff up on the surface she gets a baby wipe while I use the Clorox wipe. She gets the low stuff and I get the tops. ;-0 We have a great time and she really enjoys cleaning.
 

As far as getting kids involved in housework I can only add a little. My daughter is 2. At this point I have her clean up her toys at night (put them back in the toybox) and she can also get her own dishes/cups for meals. She will help to fold clothes (which usually means she stands on top of them) but she does help bring her clothes upstairs. At this point she does not do much, but she is 2 and all she is supposed to do is run and have fun. She will have her whole life to do chores so I don't really stress that much!
 

I find that having child-sized and/or specific cleaning tools that are just for her really helps make it fun and interesting for my daughter. She really likes to help me mop with her mop, clean with her sponge, etc. I started when she was a toddler and she helps quite a bit now!