With children, one has to tread carefully.
With children, one has to tread carefully.  Oftentimes, the best way to get things done is to show them that you think it is fun, which is great if you like housework.  I am so unmotivated, I think I would have more motivation to have a perfectly good limb amputated.
 
Bearing in mind the developmental stage of the child, one has the key to reinforcing discipline.  Usually, before 1-2 years, they will do pretty much anything they are told if one is firm enough, and a little application of pain goes a long way.  I figure God invented bottoms on adults to sat and on children to smack.
 
Between 2-5 years, one can occasionally get away with the making it a game idea, or the "I can do this faster than you."
 
After this, try getting them to get things done by threatening to have friends or family over, with the "Oh, I can't move with all of this stuff in the way, how will your guests cope."  Or variations thereof.
 
Alice, at eight, needs to have things explained to her - the "greater good" clause.  Why she has to do things, with the same explanation over and over.  She also likes to use role playing games, as in, "Mummy is the teacher and I am the student".  Mind you, I can never figure out why they don't get enough of this at the real school...
 
If she is tired, true to form, she is a grump.  Everything then becomes an insurmountable problem.  Again, a bit of reversion to physical punishment will help, but I think she is very close to the age where I hope reason will take over.  I know I am more successful getting her to get things done if I use the big gun of Daddy "having a few words", but I do not use that too often.
 
When she gets to this age, it will be Bribery and Corruption.  If anyone tells you that you should not even consider this, remember that we do it to ourselves each and every day.  There are very few truly selfless acts in this world and none of them revolve around housework, gardening or paying jobs.  Can you imagine how useless advertising would be if there was no success in phrases like "Reward yourself, you deserve it."?  Be a bit like pressing on the brake when the light has turned green.
 
The Bribery and Corruption will consist of giving her some pocket money with deductions for work not done, after a suitable honeymoon period so that she gets used to the idea of spendable income.  If you believe this is a little cynical and manipulative, you obviously have not seen a teenager (and these days, pre-teens) at work on a parent, trying to separate said parent from hard-earned.
 
There will be other priveleges.  There will also be availability of more money to be earned, or special treats.
 
One of the major methods of ensuring co-operation is The Contract.  Usually at the Dining Table, parents and child come together for a talk on expectations and discipline.  The child will not be backward in coming forward ("Ask a teenager while they still know everything"), and whilst you may have more dollars than sense as far as they are concerned, you need to be told how out-of-date and space-wasting you are. 
 
I remember well my teenage years, and how I used to yell at my Mother and keep yelling.  There was a small part of me that kept wanting to know why I was doing this, as it couldn't understand the reasoning behind the anarchy, but I kept yelling anyway, hurting my Mother's feelings dreadfully.  I am so looking forward to this aspect of life with my daughter.  And I thought giving birth was painful.  Yes, I still remember that, too.  No wonder I stopped at one.
 
The Contract puts forward what each expects of the other, curfew, behaviour, common courtesy, privacy, discipline matters, crowd and room control.  It has a date where it can be re-negotiated.  It does not have to be signed by a Public Notary, unless your child is a Hollywood star, in which case, if you need lawyers, you need to spend more time with your child.
 
At least once a month, take time off with your child.  A day away, a night watching videos together, doing craft, acting stupid somewhere, whatever it takes.  This is called "bonding" and is one of the most successful discipling programmes you can imagine.  It helps build respect for each other.  You get the latest gossip as to what is happening at the school you selected for your pride and joy, and you might actually get a chance to spread some of your incredible experience and wisdom to a little you, who loves you forever and will all but die trying to prove it for the rest of his life.  Even if he totally outwardly rejects you, he will always try to live up to his conception of what would please you.  It's just the day-to-day stuff that is a hassle.
 
Hope this helps.

Leonie