Do your kids do chores? If so, do you pay them an allowance for doing chores? If so, why? My kids do chores and do not get any monetary payment. They are overworked and underpaid, just ask them! I believe that kids should help around the house. Afterall, they live here too! They do simple things like dusting, unloading the dishwasher, folding towels, caring for the animals, etc. They also have to keep their bedrooms neat and tidy and clean the bathroom counters for our biweekly housekeeper. I don’t really think that is much to ask of them, but I am really getting heat lately about this allowance thing. I don’t want them to expect payment for something they should be doing anyway as a part of the family, but I also don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to teach the value of working hard and earning a paycheck. I guess I’m torn. I think payment for cleaning your room is having your own room in the first place. Likewise, helping with the dishes means you get to eat off of them again tomorrow. Am I being too strict? Should children be expected to work at home and not be paid?
Overworked and Underpaid
January 30th, 2008 · 3 Comments
Tags: Parenting
3 responses so far ↓
1 tricia // Jan 30, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I think it depends on how the money works in your house. We went back and forth with this a lot when I was a kid.
If you are handing the kids money on the weekends to pay for things that they want (like going to the movies with friends, “cool” clothes above and beyond the basics, video games at the pizza parlor, etc.), then THAT is what they get for their chores. You just aren’t regulating it in a dollar=chore type way.
I’d let them have the choice. If they want to move to an allowance system, give them the allowance only when they do what they are asked. BUT! When they are going out with friends or wanting to buy extras, tell them that they need to use their allowance money. If you stick to your guns, they will probably find that they like it better when mom and dad pay for all of the extras and they don’t get an allowance. LOL!
2 nicholmom3 // Feb 27, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I’m more on your side than not. I require my kids to do basic chores to help out around the house. Once or twice they have tried to bargain with me, until I offer to give them MY chores and pay them….
I do pay a small allowance each week for chores they do above what is listed. For instance, if my son does laundry other than his own 9like his younger siblings’) than I will pay him at the end of the week. It’s only usually around $5, but he has already learned valuable money lessons from that little.
3 tricia // Mar 5, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I like the idea of paying them to do MY chores!!
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