Making them earn it $

[kaywoody]

Last summer I also paid money to my kids for reading books. My requirement was to fill out a Shelfari book review. www.shelfari.com

I made the oldest one do a full review and the youngest one just fill in the basics after each book read. They each read several books, but the oldest one didn't want to do the reviews until she wanted to buy an iPod touch. After that she couldn't get her reviews finished quickly enough!

 

[diamondpixienc]

I love it! DS(8) is currently getting $5 for every chapter book at least 300+ pages NO PICTURES & $1 for every 5 chapter books at least 100 pages. DD(6) is currently getting $1 for every 2 books i.e. Fancy Nancy, Olivia, Frog and Toad, etc. But this offer will expire when school starts though. Then its back to just $1 per book read outside of their required readings for school.

 

[*Seanaci*]

My 10 year old sells fresh eggs from our chickens for $2 per dozen and he usually sells 15-20 dozen a week. This is his money for Disney/Daytona.

My 17 year old mows lawns and works in tobacco. They have always earned their own money for stuff they want and Disney is no different. He is working out $1000 this summer just so his girlfriend can go with us on our trip next year (I told him he had to cover her way if she was going to go).

I think its great that you are making them earn their dollars. It teaches a valuable lesson for life!

I have 2 boys, 10 and 17. My youngest does things like sweep, mop, load the dishwasher, take out the trash, feed the animals, vacuuming, and clean his bathroom (includes scrubbing the toilet). My oldest does things like mow the yard, work in the garden, take hay to the animals, or wash my car. When they do these things without being asked, they get paid a certain amount per chore and its paid at the end of the week. They are both expected to keep their bedrooms clean with no pay. To me, that is not a chore its just something you do as being part of a household.

And as I mentioned above, they both earn money with things outside of the home like tobacco or selling eggs. That money is theirs to keep and I let them spend it how they like, but I do give guidance when they want to buy something and suggest thrifty ways for them to spend.

For those who don't live on a farm type setting and don't have all these options I would suggest (in addition to the house work I mentioned) - setting the dinner table, cleaning out the garage or shed, organizing a closet, walking the dog, cleaning the litter box.

Another thing to consider is that just because you don't live on enough land to have a garden doesn't mean you can't have fresh vegetables. Get some cheap flower pots and let your young ones plant tomatoes, squash, herbs, potato's, green beans, or carrots. You can also dig a very small place in your back yard for cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, or pumpkins. Let your children tend to the entire "garden" from start to finish. When they reap the "harvest" you can buy the fresh vegetables from them instead of the store. The idea is that its more about teaching them to grow their own food than the money but doing it as a way to earn money is an incentive for them to do it. Your family ends up with fresh vegetables grown by the love of your kids. My best friend lives in the middle of DC and does this. Her kids feel so "big" about being able to contribute to the family's food supply. She lives in a town home with no yard. They do it in flower pots on her patio.

to both your posts!!

I too think kids should earn things rather than just have them handed to them.


ETA: All of us kids were HUGE readers when we were younger. So much so that when we'd get grounded, that (most of the time) meant books as well...or else the grounding/punishment had no effect on us.

 

[Celidh]

I have told my kids I will buy them a t-shirt, hoodie, ears if they want them and one fun thing. anything else they want has to be with their own $.

My oldest is mowing the lawn but he has been told that next year, he won't get paid every time as it is just part of being in a family, helping with the work. I didn't think it was fair to tell them they had to earn $ but not give them any opportunities. My younger son has been given some odd jobs. Today my ex and I were working on putting new wood on my shed. it was my son's job to clean up all the pieces for us and get things. I am planning on having my daughter help me clean the car out. It is a bit of a mess.

As far as reading goes, I don't pay my kids to read but the two older ones like reading and my younger one is coming along. I think this year will be the year she really catches on and can enjoy reading on her own without having to ask what a bunch of the words are.

I agree with a pp, if my parents paid me to read, they would have been broke and I would have been rich.

 

[Beezle2]

Thanks for posting this, I've been thinking of asking a similar question. What sort of other chores do you guys pay your kids for? I don't want to do school work type stuff, and I consider basic stuff like picking up toys and clothes, unloading dishwasher, etc just stuff that they should do as part of the family. I have paid the older two for things like weeding the flower beds and cleaning base boards.

What are some other ideas? The older ones are 10 and 5. Thanks for any ideas... the 10 yo wants the new 3d DS, and I told him he had to earn the money for it!

>>>

I don't pay for regular household chores like keeping their room clean, vaccuming the house, feeding the dog, etc. I usually have a few projects that need doing like the rocks I want moved, or weeding, your baseboard idea is a good one! Yard cleanup like picking up all the sticks is good for a few bucks..we have a big yard so it can take a while.

 

[Swimalie]

>>>

I don't pay for regular household chores like keeping their room clean, vaccuming the house, feeding the dog, etc. I usually have a few projects that need doing like the rocks I want moved, or weeding, your baseboard idea is a good one! Yard cleanup like picking up all the sticks is good for a few bucks..we have a big yard so it can take a while.

The baseboards is a great idea. I have a 6 year old and we're just starting on regular chores with him now. He doesn't get an allowance (gets plenty from my parents!). He loves to read so that is not a problem but he also loves to play on the computer. So he has to earn computer time by doing worksheets this summer. The sheets are math, writing, coin counting, etc.

 

[dizney chick]

I pay my kids for all sorts of things like extra chores, projects, reading and doing math sheets over the summer. I also pay $25 for an A, $10 for a B, $0 for an C, and they forgo any pay if there is a D or F. Paying makes everything so easy at our house. There is never any whining over wanting things.
But once the money is is gone they know not to ask me for money. My answer is always too bad so sad. So far they have saved about $125 a piece for their trip in September.

 

[AshtonsMom99]

I think Its a great idea, but my son although a fantastic reader...HATES to read but loves to write, so I think I would pay him to read....lol

 

[Trinity524]

Anyone have any ideas for a 3 year old? I know he's too young for reading, but he can understand Disney and toys. He's beginning to understand money, so can anyone think of anything that I can do to help him understand the value of money and things for disney?

 

[Beezle2]

Anyone have any ideas for a 3 year old? I know he's too young for reading, but he can understand Disney and toys. He's beginning to understand money, so can anyone think of anything that I can do to help him understand the value of money and things for disney?

Sorry no ideas here, I'm a push over for the little people. I think I start feeling like they should earn stuff around 5 or so. As long as they aren't asking me for everything they see, I probably spoil them a bit until then.

 

[bamgirl]

my DD13 and DD11, saves their Birthday, and Christmas money for their vacations. I do not pay for reading but that is a really good idea! The DD's are very picky with their money until vacation comes around and this way it is there money and the two can spend it the way they want!

 

[rnorwo1]

I have 2 boys, 10 and 17. My youngest does things like sweep, mop, load the dishwasher, take out the trash, feed the animals, vacuuming, and clean his bathroom (includes scrubbing the toilet). My oldest does things like mow the yard, work in the garden, take hay to the animals, or wash my car. When they do these things without being asked, they get paid a certain amount per chore and its paid at the end of the week. They are both expected to keep their bedrooms clean with no pay. To me, that is not a chore its just something you do as being part of a household.

And as I mentioned above, they both earn money with things outside of the home like tobacco or selling eggs. That money is theirs to keep and I let them spend it how they like, but I do give guidance when they want to buy something and suggest thrifty ways for them to spend.

For those who don't live on a farm type setting and don't have all these options I would suggest (in addition to the house work I mentioned) - setting the dinner table, cleaning out the garage or shed, organizing a closet, walking the dog, cleaning the litter box.

Another thing to consider is that just because you don't live on enough land to have a garden doesn't mean you can't have fresh vegetables. Get some cheap flower pots and let your young ones plant tomatoes, squash, herbs, potato's, green beans, or carrots. You can also dig a very small place in your back yard for cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, or pumpkins. Let your children tend to the entire "garden" from start to finish. When they reap the "harvest" you can buy the fresh vegetables from them instead of the store. The idea is that its more about teaching them to grow their own food than the money but doing it as a way to earn money is an incentive for them to do it. Your family ends up with fresh vegetables grown by the love of your kids. My best friend lives in the middle of DC and does this. Her kids feel so "big" about being able to contribute to the family's food supply. She lives in a town home with no yard. They do it in flower pots on her patio.

We have alot of land, but no animals or anything. I like the idea of buying the vegetables from them... maybe it'll help them to start eating them too, if they're growing them! Thanks for the ideas, they're all great. I had my 10 yo take out the trash this morning for the first time... have no idea why I never thought about that before. He gagged the entire way, but he'll get over that soon, ha ha!

>>>

I don't pay for regular household chores like keeping their room clean, vaccuming the house, feeding the dog, etc. I usually have a few projects that need doing like the rocks I want moved, or weeding, your baseboard idea is a good one! Yard cleanup like picking up all the sticks is good for a few bucks..we have a big yard so it can take a while.

I had forgotten about sticks! We all have to pitch in after hurricanes, but DH and I are always groaning over the sticks that seem to always be everywhere. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Trinity524]

Sorry no ideas here, I'm a push over for the little people. I think I start feeling like they should earn stuff around 5 or so. As long as they aren't asking me for everything they see, I probably spoil them a bit until then.

He's too spoiled as an only child as it is! But I suppose that's okay. We'll figure out something.

 

[YukiPhnx]

To all the parents that pay/paid their kids for chores:

I WISH Y'ALL WERE MINE!! I mean, they never had a problem with me reading and writing (it was MATH and SCIENCE they had to worry about), but getting good grades, washing dishes, doing laundry, weeding the yard, mowing, and raking leaves were just stuff we HAD to do. No ifs, ands, or buts. If we didn't, our TV privileges would be taken away (referring to the 2 hours a day we got....).

I think it's a wonderful idea to encourage your kids to read and write more. Not enough kids are writing REAL English nowadays (as opposed to their texting and IM-ing language)

When we went on vacation, we would all each get one souvenir for ourselves and some souvenirs for our friends, but that was pretty much it. Even on our first trip without our parents (to Disney too!) my sibs and I had a pretty hard time spending our souvenir money. All we could think of was, "Would mom approve of this? What would dad say if he saw we bought this?" I guess they brainwashed us well.

 

[Deealee]

My 8yo dd has been earning her own money since she was 6yo. She does stoop sales and sells her old toys,books & clothes. One of our neighbors is homebound and she likes to have my chatty dd come over and keep her up with the gossips as understood by an 8yo DD usually comes home with a few coins and some cookies.

She already has quite a bot of money saved but we told her that she hd to make & save new money for Disney and that we would match it for both her and her 4yo brother. That way the each get the same amount of money from us, but she has more to spend.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I don't pay my kids for reading. Reading is for relaxing and enjoying. I way hated the stupid pizza hut thing too. What a way to teach kids that it is a chore.

Our kids earned money for going the extra mile. Not regular "household maintenance" chores. I do pay well however for hard work.

 

[livndisney]

Wow! I would never pay for reading. DD does get allowance for doing chores properly. If there is something extra like yard work she can earn extra.