Chores and pocket money

[becpee]

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[Ohiodislover]

We started early w/ our girls. Probably at age 4.

Simple stuff like helping to clear the table, collecting the little trashcans and bringing them to the big bag, picking up their rooms and their stuff out of the other rooms.

Once they are a little older, emptying the dishwasher, and helping with laundry was added. My youngest (now 10), has gotten paid 50 cents per load of laundry. She does more than me. She has always been good at sorting, and not drying what is to be hungup etc.

 

[golfgal]

We have never paid for regular chores like keeping their rooms clean, helping with dishes, etc. but would offer extra jobs where they could earn money. Scrubbing the kitchen floor (hands and knees not with a mop)was a big money maker in our house (not at age 3 but when they were older) because I hated doing it so much . You could have him do something that isn't regular maintenance like cleaning leaves out of landscape rocks or pulling weeds in the garden.

 

[RachelEllen]

Personally (JMO!), I think 3 is a little young for pocket money. I don't think most kids "get" the concept of money just yet. They may know that you can spend it on stuff, but they don't quite grasp the concept of it having "value"

I do think it's a perfect age to start with light chores (putting toys away, clearing something from the table), but I think positive feedback is a better reward.

Once they can appreciate saving it, I think its a good time to incorporate earning money. It's also nice to be able to have a good basis of doing chores because you are a family member, and add earning money for extra chores on top of that.

With my step-son, we didn't add money to the mix until about age 8. But I'm sure his dad could have done it sooner. (That was around when I entered the picture.) However, inflation has kept up with us. For about 6 months, he couldn't get enough of chores that paid $1. Now, it takes about $5 to pique his interest. He has to work for at least an hour, complete a task, and do it in a way that it is less work for us (key point!) to earn that amount. Things like washing the cars or washing all the windows.
Again, JMO!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I started with simple chores (making the bed, feeding the cats) as early as three. I started getting an allowance at 5. My parents never associated my allowance with doing chores. I was expected to do chores as a member of the family and I got the allowance regardless of what I did during the week.