Should You Pay Kids for Chores?

Most parents wonder this at least once – should I be paying my kids to do chores? Would it give them motivation to do them? How much should I pay then?

The truth is that there’s no right or wrong answer about paying kids for chores. There ARE a lot of opinions though. Today, I’ll share mine in the hopes of giving advice and tips on what has worked in my house.

You see, I do pay kids for chores but not really in the way you think.

First, here’s why I pay them:

I want my kids to begin working with and understanding the concept of money. If they earn money and save up to buy something that is important to them, I feel like we’ve learned a valuable life lesson.

However, I don’t pay for specific chores:

And yet, I don’t like the idea of paying them for every little chore they do. For one, they are part of our family and therefore expected to contribute in picking up, cleaning, and even cooking. We have a simple rule: if you live here, you pitch in.

So, how do we do it then?

We use a chore chart and a routine checklist. It sounds fancy, but really it’s just a way of putting our expectations down on paper. We want them to do things like:

• Brush their teeth in the morning
• Pick up their room
• Pack their backpack
• Charge their ipads
• Do a daily chore (see below for ideas)

From the charts, they know exactly what chores and habits need to be done each day and week. And they do them.

What specific chores do they do?

*For more chores by age, check out this household chores list and a great kids list.>>

Their chores depend on age and ability. However, the big kids can easily pick up, vacuum, sweep, unload part of the dishwasher, and help with dinner clean up. We sometimes substitute other chores if they need to be done as well.

Remember: when in doubt, kids can do more than you think!

The Rewards

Not only do they get paid an allowance of.25 or.50 cents a day for this (depending on age), but they don’t have screens or friend time until their routine charts are done. We’ve discussed that this is just like when you are a grown up. Mom and dad need to finish work and important tasks before they play.

The Results of Our System

Because of these clear expectations, rewards, and natural consequences my kids do their chores without nagging, coercing, yelling, or begging. They just do them. And our job as parents has become 10X easier. It’s a little bit of work upfront, but it saves tons of time and frustration down the road.

And this method may not work for everyone, but I do believe that it’s worth the thought if you’re wondering what to do about kids chores. (And how to get a little help around the house!)

Jenn writes at her blog healthyhappyimpactful.com. She’s a mom of three looking to learn and grow. Check it out if you love helpful tips on health, family, and personal growth.