5 REASONS TO PAY YOUR KIDS FOR DOING CHORES ​(& 5 REASONS NOT TO)

Full article: https://www.moms.com/reasons-paying-kids-chores/

Every kid does or at least should do chores around the house. Chores will vary depending on their age, ranging from making their own beds and cleaning their rooms, to taking out the garbage, drying dishes, dusting furniture, vacuuming, and walking the dog.

PAY: IT TEACHES THEM ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF WORK
The reality is that the world works in such a way whereas you do jobs and you get paid for them. Paying kids a few dollars for completing their chores can teach them about the concept of work, and how things in the house aren’t just paid for by magic. Someone has to work to earn the money to pay for them. So giving kids a few bucks every week or month for consistently doing their chores is great preparation for adulthood, and will get them in the habit of doing the chores consistently.

DON’T PAY: THEY MIGHT BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PAID FOR EVERYTHING
If you start paying kids for chores, they might start believing that they should earn money for everything they do. If you ask them to help you garden one day, for example, will they ask how much they get paid to do it? Or if you task them with watching their younger sibling, will they demand an hourly rate?
Of course, this situation can be nipped in the bud instantly by setting up what the regular chores are and the fee for completing them. Anything else you ask them to do should be done with a “no problem” attitude, and that’s that.

PAY: IT PROVIDES INCENTIVE
As children acquire money on a regular basis for contributing to the household workload, they begin to see it add up and it gives them a sense of accomplishment. It can drive them to make sure they finish all of their chores in enough time to go out and spend that $10 at the movies with friends or save up enough money for a new pair of shoes they’ve had their eye on. Adding a little monetary incentive can teach kids that if they work hard, they can achieve goals.

DON’T PAY: THEY MIGHT TRY TO GET OUT OF CHORES BY FORGOING MONEY
If kids equate their chores with something they do for money, then one day, if they simply don’t feel like cleaning the toilet or emptying the dishwasher, they may just tell you “oh, that’s fine. I won’t get any money this week.” And that isn’t going to fly. Having your kids do chores requires consistency, and you don’t want them to think they can opt-out whenever they feel like it because they don’t need the money right now.

PAY: THEY CAN LEARN TO SAVE UP FOR SOMETHING THEY WANT
A great reason to pay for kids for chores is to help them learn about saving up, and responsibility. Rather than buy them the new toy or video game or piece of clothing they really want, have them earn the money through chores to get it themselves.

DON’T PAY: IT COULD PLACE TOO MUCH VALUE ON MONEY
While it’s important for children to understand the value of a dollar, you don’t want them to think that money is the be-all, end-all, and that everything they do should have a monetary value. You can combat this potential thought process by also having your child do volunteer work, donate old books and clothing, or help out others for purely selfless reasons, and not because they think they’ll get a buck from doing it. This will teach them balance and how doing things for others with no agenda is just as rewarding, if not more, than earning actual money.

PAY: IT WILL BE EASIER TO GET THEM TO DO CHORES
Let’s not sugar-coat things: if you have a brooding teenager or elementary-aged child who never seems to listen, adding money to the equation might help make it easier to get them to actually do the chores.

DON’T PAY: IT SUGGESTS THAT CHORES ARE A ‘JOB’
We don’t want our kids to think that we’re putting them to work when they are busy enough as it is with school. Chores are jobs. But on the same token, you can explain to them that you, as parents, do lots of household chores as well, none of which you get paid for either.

PAY: THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO EARN
Paying kids for doing their chores lets them understand what it means to earn something. Just like they have to get a good report card if they want to go get ice cream, or finish their homework if they want to visit the grandparents this weekend, they must do their chores in order to earn their allowance.

​DON’T PAY: THEY MIGHT BOAST TO FRIENDS
Your kids might boast to their friends that they get paid to do their chores, which could lead to their friends approaching their own parents with the idea, and potentially having those other parents resent you.