Recently I read an article on children’s chores that was written with two different points of views. One view was written by a parent who pays her children to do household chores and the other was written by a parent who chose not to pay her children.
My children hate doing chores and I have tried many methods to get them to do them. At one point I did pay them but once that whole mentality of being paid was instilled it totally back fired. Back fired with a big bang. KABOOM!
It became a game of sorts to my children and a form of blackmail if you will. As soon as I asked them to do anything such as put their dishes in the dishwasher, get their laundry to the laundry room, tidy their rooms or anything that wasn’t an assigned chore I was quickly asked “Sure how much money do I get?”
That was the end to being paid for chores! I sat down and had a talk with them all about how it is just me the one sole parent here and so we have to work together as a team. Everyone has to help out. At first it was a struggle because they felt cheated, but they did soon realize that the quicker they get them done the less work I have which means more mommy time.
We have a chart on the wall where everyone can see that lists their chore for the week. Each week their chores are changed so they don’t get bored or resent always having to do the “hardest chore.”
Do they still get money on a weekly or monthly basis? No. They get money for things when they need it. If they want to go to lunch with first they get money, if they want to see a movie with friends they get money. The two oldest who have cell phones which are pay as you go, do extra things to earn money to pay for their phone on a monthly basis such as babysitting and helping younger ones with homework.
Do your children have chores and if so do you pay them?
Until next time,
Chantel,momof8crazymonkeys
i tried to give them a dollar a week or something but i just kept forgetting. i don’t like tying $ to chores anyway. sure, one works for money in a “regular” job but, child…you are living rent free in my house, eating my food, using my utilities and treating your landlady like a manservant. you can bloody well set the table when asked. 🙂