Do you give your children an allowance or pay them for chores? If so, how much?

1. 89

   Novel Treasureposted 12 years ago

   Do you give your children an allowance or pay them for chores? If so, how much?
   
   I have two small children under the age of 5 and we have been experimenting with giving them coins for doing chores such as cleaning up their toys, clearing their dishes, feeding the dog, etc... and I'm just wondering if other parents do too.

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2. 73

   Mom Katposted 12 years ago

   I have 6 kids ages: 14,11,9,7,6, & soon to be 3  (plus 2 step-kids but they don't live with us)
   
   I have never given an allowance.  I firmly believe that children need to contribute to the family & help pick up after themselves without expecting to be paid for it.
   No one is going to come over and cut them a check for picking up their dishes once they move out on their own, why do it now?
   
   I give them praise & help them feel proud of themselves for doing a great job, but I don't pay them to be a contributing part of the family.
   
   If they want to earn some money, they can work for it.  My kids grow pumpkins to sell for October, they collect cans & crush them for recycling, and do other jobs for friends and family. 
   
   Of course there is always tooth fairy money & holiday gift money... but really, what do they need money for?  As the parent you are supposed to be providing them with all of their needs, right? 
   Earning money should be a work ethics thing, not a family contribution thing.
   Just my opinion

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   1. 69

      algarveviewposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Totally agree with you...

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   2. 89

      Novel Treasureposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You raise a very valid point and that's where i falter back and forth. By paying them, am I teaching them that they should expect payment for things that should be done as part of being a responsible individual.

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3. 69

   algarveviewposted 12 years ago

   My children are still 4, but I will not be paying them for chores, since I believe them being part of the family must also help out without expecting payment... When time comes, I'll think of giving them an allowance, but just for their everyday spending, having a snack at the school cafeteria and that sort of thing, so they get used to handling money and be aware that when the allowance runs out, that's it for the rest of the month... The other way would be what my mom did to me, which was giving me enough money for each day, for the bus, lunch, etc, but I think that probably a monthly allowance makes them learn how to manage money a bit better so...

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4. 73

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Pay them for chores. They have to learn that not much is free, how to handle money. Etc. They begin to learn that the little things add up.

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5. 96

   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   In my home there are certain things that are required without pay and extras that earn money. My older two are almost 7 and almost 9. Cleaning their rooms, feeding the dogs, and tending some of the plants gets nothing. However if I ask them to help me with something such as sweeping a room or dusting they are paid. In the summer I let them earn a little extra washing the cars. Car wash gets them each $5, sweeping a room .50 cents, swiffer mopping gets $1 just for some examples. I feel this both teaches that some things in life are required no matter what and that if you want extra in life you have to work for it.
   They also do things to earn money that doesn't come from me. In the summer they grow some veggies to add to our stand to sell. The oldest rakes the neighbors lawn in the fall. I like my children to have their own money to spend on extras so that they understand that money doesn't grow on trees. It also has helped my oldest son's math skills.

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6. 60

   Monisajdaposted 12 years ago

   I agree with Mom Kat, no allowance and no paying for chores. They need to help me because I am not able to run the house, take care of them and clean after everybody. Paying for things they need to do wouldn't serve them well. Family is a unit and we all need to contribute, too. Paying them for helping mom seems like a mistake, in my opinion.

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