Should kids be paid to do chores?
In the real world, adults get jobs, are docked when they don’t perform according to standard and must work to afford needs and wants. Paying kids an allowance based on labor seems like a great way to teach the life skills they will eventually need for gainful employment.
But in a family, you should also be willing to help the people you love free of charge because that’s what it means to be part of a healthy relationship. Maybe kids should do unpaid chores as their contribution to their family.
I’ll let the parenting “experts” duke it out on this one. For me, it comes down to selfishness. What do I want?
Right now I want help around the house, so I don’t feel like my children’s servant. Twenty years from now I want them to be financially independent, so I don’t feel like their sugar mama. I want to accomplish both of those goals with as little drama as possible. That’s why we use a chore chart.
Every job in our house has a value. Here are some examples:
Set the table = 25¢
Take out compost = 25¢
Tidy up entryway = 25¢
Bring in trashcan = 25¢
Put away a basket of clean laundry = 25¢
Neatly fold afghans = 25¢
Unload dishwasher = 50¢
Load dishwasher = 50¢
Throw out old food in fridge = 50¢
Clean a bathroom = 75¢
Help cook dinner = 75¢
Vacuum wood floor = 75¢
Pack a lunchbox = 75¢
Clean your room = $2
To keep things organized, our chore chart is magnetic. All the options are on the main board marked “CHORES” and my son and daughter each have their own smaller boards to accumulate magnets. When they have earned $5, I pay them. Every day, both kids must choose at least 75 cents worth of chores to complete before they earn screen time. Since choice is involved, there is usually minimal grumbling.
I bought our chart from an Etsy company called MoreThanAMemoryAK, but a similar chart would be a fun DIY project to create at home.
After using our chore chart for serval years, I have witnessed capitalism in action. Nobody would vacuum the wood floor until I raised the wage from 25 to 75 cents. Whenever there is a new toy or tech product my kids want, the house suddenly becomes cleaner. Then, when Christmas or birthdays roll around, they squeak by with the minimum amount of work.
Conversations about budgeting and money management are ongoing and meaningful since my kids have their own money to consider.
Each family is different, and a chore chart might not work for everyone, but I’m happy to have found a system that works for us. The best part is, I can have my whole house cleaned for around $10.25.
Jennifer Bardsley is author of the books “Genesis Girl” and “Damaged Goods.” Find her online on Instagram @the_ya_gal, on Twitter @jennbardsley or on Facebook as The YA Gal.
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