Children have been receiving allowances as long as parents have been around. If there are chores to be done, yard work to do or responsibilities to be given then allowances will be around for a long while. When giving an allowance children can learn the value of a dollar.

Chores should be seperated into age appropriate groups. Young children may not be able to do certain chores as well as older children. Some good chores for children aged 4-6 are:

Making the bed

Cleaning up toys

Putting away books

Cleaning up sticks outside

Sweeping the floor

Dusting and raking

For ages 6 and up some good chores are:

Cleaning their room

Dishes with supervision

Washing tables

Folding laundry

Yard work such as raking, weeding the garden or moving rocks before you mow the lawn.

Each chore should be decided on by the parent. Give children the option of what chore they want during which day of the week weather permitting. This is a great way to get kids to feel responsible and to feel as if they have a say in what they are doing.

Young children may not understand the value of a dollar so their rewards for chores should also be age appropriate. Young children may like cheap toys, lollipops or stickers. Older children although they can be as young as 4 years old, may like the idea of money. This young age is a great time to teach them the value of a dollar.

The going rate for allowances seems to range from $1 to $5 for weekly chores given. Speak to your child to see how they feel and compromise. Perhaps your child wants $3 but you think $2 is more suitable. Find an arrangement that works for you. Consider also letting them put half of the money they receive from allowances into a savings jar. Let them us the other half as they see fit. That may be letting them buy a special toy they had their eye on. Keep in mind to that letting your children use their own money is teaching them the value of a dollar. They will learn that once the money is spent it is gone.

Try using a chore chart to keep chores organized. Make it a weekly event where the children get to choose what chores they want for the week. At the end of the week see how well they did and give rewards accordingly.

You may be surprised at the choices your child makes with his or her allowance money. When kids get their eye on something they will save to get it!