Do the Chores, Earn the Cash
Maybe I was inspired by the article we linked to on Friday about age-appropriate chores for kids. Or maybe I finally got fed up with the constant mess and decided that it was the day when the free ride was over. Regardless of the reason, over the weekend, I decided that my kids were going to start pulling their own weight. Why should the adults be the ones to always empty the dishwasher when the kids are capable of putting silverware in the drawer? Why should I be the one to empty the bathroom trash every single time? Or wipe down the bubble-gum pink toothpaste from the counter when I’m not the one smearing it there?
No one is full of more false hope than a parent with a new chore chart.
— Simon Holland (@simoncholland) April 13, 2016
The above tweet and subsequent meme made me laugh when I saw it recently, and I decided to skip the chore chart altogether. After all, the Good Behavior Chart I started using when my son was giving me a tough time was ineffective and hard to stick with, so I figured I’d just wing it when it came to chores. Seeing as how we also want to teach them about earning, spending and saving money, I figured it’d be a good time to adopt an allowance system tied to their chores.
We’re starting slow: My 5-year-old’s job is to help me empty the dishwasher to the best of her ability. Mostly, I just want the silverware and cooking utensils to get put in the correct drawers. My 4-year-old is in charge of emptying the main floor bathroom trash and taking a Clorox wipe to the countertop. Both of them have to throw their dirty clothes in their hamper as well as put away their pajamas when they take them off. If they do all of their assigned tasks, they earn $3. If they don’t, they’ll get docked money.
It’s much too early to say if it’s been effective, but just having an enthusiastic helper unloading the dishwasher makes me feel less like a personal maid to my kids and more like we’re in this as a team, which is a really welcome feeling. And they’re already feeling the consequences when I docked my daughter $1 when I asked her to hang up a jacket and she threw it on the closet floor instead. I have a feeling once they see the cold hard cash —if there is any! — on Friday, they’ll be much more likely to step up to the plate when they’re capable of more chores.
Now I’ve just got to remember to get some dollar bills from the bank. And think of a task the youngest can help with…
Do your kids earn allowances? How does your system work? I never earned an official allowance when I was younger, but my mom always rewarded me amply when she knew I was the kiddo trying to keep the house clean in the summers! —Erin
Comments
You go girl! I have a 4 year old and a 7 month old, so I understand completely the need for the 4 year old to start pulling some weight. I like your idea of having the 4 year old wipe the counters and take the trash. We may try to do that. My hubby and I haven’t figured out a good allowance process yet. So thank you for sharing wha you’re doing!
Great contribution. Do your little one’s feel proud of what they are able to do, without the money?
Graham — They do, but they’re not enthusiastic about repeat performances. Now they’re jumping up to do these chores. Time will tell if it’ll work for the long run!
Brooke — It’s tough to figure out a system. You don’t want them to feel like everything they do around the house should be for money, but I do think it’ll be a good way for them to learn about money a little more. We’ll see!
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You go girl! I have a 4 year old and a 7 month old, so I understand completely the need for the 4 year old to start pulling some weight. I like your idea of having the 4 year old wipe the counters and take the trash. We may try to do that. My hubby and I haven’t figured out a good allowance process yet. So thank you for sharing wha you’re doing!
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