Should kids do housework in return for pocket money??

Question

My kids get a lot of spending money but their beds are not made by them and I pick up after them all day.

What should I do to get them to understand that spending money is like wages and if you don't work you don't get it. Or am I being too harsh? They are only 9 and 11.

Answer 1

allowance=chores (parents view)

chores=allowance (kids view)

as you can see....a win win situation!!

Answer 2

why are you giving them an allowance if they arent working for their money....thats the entire point of an allowance...they work they earn..no work no money...

Answer 3

Yes and if they dont give them a spanking! lol

Answer 4

make them work for their money. if they don't do their end of the deal, they don't get allowance. simple as that. you don't want them to come back to you when their adults asking for money because they didn't learn the value of it. also, look around at different banks in your area so they can get a savings account. even if they don't put money in it on a regular basis, you can have them put a certain amount in whenever they get money for birthdays/christmas, etc.

Answer 5

im a kid and i dont get money worth squat. but i dont have a problem with doing work around the house. its second nature for me to make my bed.

Answer 6

Children need structure and guidance.  You are their teacher and guide.

Give them chores and make a list of chores on certain days.  If you work they can also take meat out of the freezer to defrost so you can cook when you get home.  I was starting dinner when I was in 5th grade.  If you make a list for each child on certain days then they will KNOW what is expected of them.  When the work is done then the weekends can be for fun and family.  Since you are not so tired you can afford to take them to the movie or whatever both physically and monetarily.

Answer 7

My kids know that house work is must. Such as putting dishes in sink, putting clothes away in drawers after i have folded them and put them on the bed, making beds, cleaning up toys and generally picking up after themselves. They do not get paid for this- as it is expected. It's part of being in our family.

They get spending money when they need it, provided their school work is up to par and their bedrooms are cleaned and they have behaved well all week.

It really boils down to what works for your family. Every family has different styles. If paying them for chores works for you , then I don't see the harm. But be prepared: If they don't need any spending money, they may just not do their chores.

Answer 8

they need chores

Answer 9

At nine and eleven, they are old enough to contribute to some of the household chores, and they are certainly capable of making their own beds and picking up after themselves.  They shouldn't be paid for that, as those tasks should be part of their everyday responsibilities.

However, if you want to make up a chart of other chores, such as caring for the pets, helping to clear or wash dishes, taking out the garbage, and so forth, and pay them an allowance that is contingent upon them completing those chores, that would be a way to teach them about earning their money instead of just having it handed to them.

Answer 10

no...now is the perfect time to start implementing chores=pocket money thing...when i was 9 i had a paper route and my parents showed me how to spend money..i did work.... i saved my money and at the end of it i was able to buy myself something really nice with the money i had saved (i forgot what it was as i am 24 now)...and im sorry but children need to learn to pick up after themselves...my son is 3 and i already have him do simple things such as (pick up your toys and put them in the toy bucket) we call it the 10 second tidy from "the big comfy couch" show and he loves it!

Answer 11

Hard call because you don't want them to learn that those things should only be done in return for wages. I'd say take away other things first when they don't do house chores. Taking away things in the house or priviledges relates more. When I stopped getting allowance as a young kid, I stopped doing chores because I wasn't getting paid to do it. I helped with household projects though because those weren't "chores" that I was getting paid for.

Answer 12

We're planning on doing allowances based on chores, grades, and homework.

You don't something for nothing in real life...why teach them otherwise.

Answer 13

Yes, AND not only the homework, but make them clean their rooms as well.

NO thats not too harsh, my daughters and sons were folding laundry when they were 4. They started doing dishes when they were 6.

They know how to work and they are not lazy.

So, now I know that they have a good chance at being hardworking adults.

Answer 14

No i think its a good idea ur teaching them nessecery skills for there future i think thats wonderful...

Answer 15

If my kids want spending money..they are expected to help around the house.  Kids that age should have chores.  When my daughter was 11, she was doing her own laundry.

Answer 16

yes i think they should do chores for pocket money if they didnt do anything for it then that would teach them bad ways u want them to grow up and get jobs to make money not otherwise good luck though because kids that age dont want to do anything my nephew is 11 and he messes everything up on purpose just so my brother wont want him to do it again

Answer 17

they should have chores set for them for a set allowance.IT will not only teach them about money but also responsibility.If they don't do it and do it right then don't get them anything.I started making my son do things like picking up toys and putting dishes in the sink at age 4.he's 14 now and cuts the grass,carries out trash, etc. etc.

Answer 18

I wouldn't give them money for doing chores at all. That's teaching them that they should expect payment for doing what you tell them. They should be doing chores around the house because of their place in the family. It's part of being a team that everyone pitches in. If you pay them for making their beds, they'll expect payment for any little thing they do and will refuse to do anything without payment. How is that building character? How is that teaching them about family values,  which is far more important than giving them money, don't you think??