Do your kids have chores?

[WisconsinChick]

i only have a push mower

 

[PearlD]

My 11 year old has been asking me the same questions and giving me grief all the sudden about an 'allowance' for chores he does. And he's starting to barter with me over stuff. Like, "Mom.......if I dust my room will you give me 5 bucks?" PULEEEZE!!! For $5 bucks I want at least a scrubbed shower stall and a hot dinner.

I didn't get a chance to read everyones response, but I read a couple, and got the general concensus that most parents are paying up. We don't.

I understand the reasoning someone gave about managing money.....it makes sense. But our reasoning for NOT paying our kids to do chores is basically this: In life, we don't usually get rewarded for doing things that are required of us as adults. For example, I don't get paid for doing the dishes, laundry, and general housework. I don't feel they should either. I realize that as a housewife, most of that is required of me, BUT, I expect them to pick up after themselves.......without them expecting $$ for doing it. (For example, I don't pee on the toilet seat, therefore, I shouldn't have to pay them to clean it off!)

NOW, on the other hand, if there is a special JOB I need one of them to do for me......I will pay them an agreed upon amount. Such as mowing the grass, vacuuming out my car, etc. These are things I would occasionally have to PAY someone else to do......so I have no problem paying my son! But as far as general, everyday, take the garbage out, put away your laundry, chores.....Nope.

My kids don't do without, and that, by itself is reward enough. There is no toy they have lived without that they REALLY wanted, and they have nice clothes, bikes, video games, whatever. If anyone's getting a paycheck for chores.......its gonna be Momma.

Plus, I want my boys to appreciate what working as a family unit can do, and hope they pass along those ideals to my grandchildren one day. No one guaranteed me a paycheck when I got married and created a home. Somethings are just expected out of life. But a CHORE is a CHORE........otherwise it would be called a JOB!

 

[silkiechicken]

Don't have kids myself... hope that day is far far far away in the distance.

I've never had chores or gotten allowances... just got money when I wanted it and cleaned up when I felt like it. Spoiled beyond rotten. My mom did most the stuff around the house but culturally that is what she was to do. I generally picked things up myself though because if I didn't, my mom would clean it up, organize it to her likings and I'd never be able to find anything. That in itself made me clean up after myself. Furthermore, happy parents means happy house thus get what you are told done, and done NOW. Period.

I don't believe in allowances for chores. Just get it done because "mommy or daddy said so."

 

[freshegg]

my daughter has chores unload the dishwasher, make a jug of ice tea (7 scoops tea mix 1 gal water)daily, and put trash by the curb once a week. she just turned 12 she only gets 5 bucks a week as she has no need for money since everything is given to her. she usually doesnt even do the chores I do so hubby said last night shes getting grounded for a day and no money. my grown children used to help clean the whole house, cook, wood, yard work everything and they did it without lip. I used to work tons of overtime so they knew I needed there help. This little one would live in a pig sty if she had to.

 

[Queen Scoot]

my kids have chores. no they dont get paid...they have a roof over their heads,food in the bellies and warm clothes.....if they ask for something "special" and it isnt to much $$$$ they we will get it for them. oh and both my are teen daughters...yes others get paid for their chores or they have some friends that dont even do chores....kids these days arent very thankful of what they have.

 

[fosterchick]

My children don't get an allowance. They all have chores to do. We also have family clean day once a week to clean the living areas together. I feel that they are the reason for some of the cleaning, so they need to help. But if they need money I will offer some of my chores to them and pay them a set amount. This system has worked smoothly for us.

 

[palabeco]

When my kids ask to be paid for the chores, I tell them well, I rent movies for you,I put money on the prepaid cell phone, I pay for the internet service, I run you to your games and scout meetings, pay for all the scout campouts, and the list goes on....I could pay you, but then you would have to pay your own way and buy your own treats, and rent your own movies, pay for your own cell phone.... My role as a parent isto give you love, to teach you responsibility, and to provide basic needs , such as shelter, food and clothing. Anything extra is a privelage, and needs to be earned.

 

[Ericasl]

Well we did not have allowence till a week ago. My sons are 6 and 7, we are going to Disneyland in Sept and they want extra money to take along on the trip.

I never got paid as a kid we just kind of got what we wanted. I do not pay the kids to clean there own rooms, or to put there laundry away or mate socks. What they get paid for is picking up dog brownies, cleaning up the backyard(they have a puppy who chews up everything and digs), they set the table, sweep the kitchen, wash the patio window (puppy likes to lick window). They also make sure all the pets have food and water, help clear the dinner table, they also help empty trash.

What I did was print the chore list on the computer, put chores under each day. Gave them a copies with clipboard. When they do the chore and I check it they mark it off. We pay them $20.00 a week. We will see how it goes. I did tell them if they do not do the chores they will not get paid. So far so good.

 

[nccountrygirl]

When I was coming up we did not get paid for doing what was expected of us. There were 7 kids in my house with my mom at work and my dad in the military. We took care of the house,yard and had to have dinner on the table by 6:00. All of us kids would have to go to my grandparents farm in the spring and summer to work in tobacco, my grandaddy had 1000 acres. In the winter we went there to help with the hog killings they did every yr. We did not get paid to help them out, it was expected of us. Kids nowa days really don't know what hard work is and they expect the parents to pay them for doing a few chores, start charging them to live in your house and see what happens to wanting to get paid for things they should be doing anyway.

Edited to add : We got what we needed growing up but if we WANTED any thing we got jobs and bought it ourselves. It was hard on my parents trying to raise 7 kids, most of us are all hard workers and appreciate all the things we have worked so hard to have.

 

[Mycookoonest]

I never was paid for chores, and my children won't either. My parents expected me to help out. I vaccumed, pulled in the laundry off the line and folded it, dusted, unloaded the dishwasher, and cleaned a shared bathroom with my brother. Plus various other things they wanted me to do. I was always the drink getter no matter what time of day!

I guess I see doing chores that are relative to them are a given such as carrying your plate out to the sink, carrying dirty laundry to the washer, make their bed, etc is all something they should be expected to do. But the other chores to really help out is what we used to get rewarded for when we went out to the store.

Kids now a days are changing big time! My kids will be expected to help out. I will not pay them, but when they are good they will get treats when we do go out. Not getting paid for what i did showed me that it's something essencial that you need to do for your family. When you're older/married no one is going to pay you to clean your room, do the dishes, or clean the house in general. It's expected.