What is a good age for children to share in household responsibilities & subsequently earn allowance?

Question

My husband and I disagree on this subject. Our son is 4 years old, and very bright. Hubby was made to help out at home from a young age, I was not. Hubby feels our lil one is too young for chores/allowance, that we should let him "be a kid". I feel we should begin to teach him responsibility early, and teach him about keeping a home, and a small allowance would be good motivation for this. I'm not talking about big duties here...picking up his room, bringing his dishes to the sink, feeding the dog, etc, small jobs that he has demonstrated that he is capable of. I'm curious about other parents' thoughts on this subject. Thanks to all who answer.

Answer 1

My kids get allowance. The youngest one to get weekly money is 4. Her chores are to "make" her bed, help her brother, pick up her toys, and to help me with dishes. She gets $4 a week. She has to put $2 in her piggy bank, and 25 cents in a jar that we will donate to a good cause at the end of the year. She can do what she wants with the other $1.75.

This teaches her the value of earning money, saving money and helping those less fortunate. It has worked well with our oldest, who has gotten allowance since he was 4.

Answer 2

My daughter started having small chores when she was 6, by 9 she was doing pretty much anything chore wise around the house. She's 11 now and if very self sufficient. Children usually rise to the level of our expectations. If you really think your child can do something chances are the can. My dad, who's no longer living, worked in a mill when he was 8. I had a cousin who really worked in his family business when he was just 5. No kidding. I'm not saying kids SHOULD work when they are 4 or 5, I'm just saying they CAN.

Answer 3

As long as you're talking about menial tasks here, I see no problem in asking your son to start helping right now. I may hold off on the allowance for a few more years when the responsibilities increase.
I have 2 nieces, one was taught to "pick up" very early on; as a result, she is responsible and takes care of her belongings. Also respectful of her parent's in that she understands that taking a few minutes to pick up after yourself, will save them a lot of time and frustration.
The second niece....was never made to pick up after herself, or anyone else. She constantly loses her stuff, never keeps track of anything and has a pigpen for a bedroom. Her parent's can't get her to pick up an empty pop can, much less take her dishes to the sink.
In short, you can teach your child to be clean AND have fun at the same time.

Answer 4

I really don't think we should have to pay our kids for doing what is normal household responsiblities. I only pay for extras. Raking leaves, shoveling snow, helping with a renovation.

But if you are totally set on paying your child I would strongly suggest you keep it small. Maybe a nickel jar or something that he can hear the "clink".

I really feel you are heading into a danger zone with paying your child to do what is going to be normally expected of him when he is older. It may be cute now but what how is it going to be when he is older?

When it comes to jobs keep it fun. I always said... Oh you can do this job but you can't do this job until your five. Then they really wanted to do the next job and took pride in turning the new age and taking on the new responsiblity. For example. You can make the bed because your four but you need to wait to strip the bed until your five.

Kids love helping out as long as it is fun and not a punishment. They like to please and be part of a team. Children also like taking pride in their homes and bringing a friend home to a clean house.

Answer 5

I think 4 is a little early to really understand responsibility.... Ask him to help you out when you do chores if you sweep tell him to hold the dustpan and throw it way or if you wash dishes tell him to dry them or put them away... ask him to do chores with you so he gets an ideas of responsibility and cleanliness... If he's capable of picking up his toys and things then why not give him a little allowance here and there there's nothing wrong with that.. Good luck

Answer 6

Having your 4 year old do small chores will NOT make him less of a kid. He may even feel more accomplished. Does your husband have anger towards having to do chores a child? Mine does and to this day still gripes about having to do chores. It's a part of life and teaching them young will form good habits (hopefully)

I wouldn't overdo it with a ton of chores. Maybe start off with one or two and build up.

Answer 7

I agree with you. Kids need responsibility. I think that kids should learn this at an early age so that they can keep it up for the rest of there lives. The chores that you are speaking of normal kids chores and he can still be a kids as your husband stated. Good luck!

Answer 8

I have to agree with you as well as most of the page. Nobody knows their child like a mother. And you know exactly what your child is capable of. Kids like feeling like they're helping out, my son asks me to do things around the house. So I say get them into the swing of things while they want to do it. My 5 year old comes home from school. Does his Homework, have a snack, play around in his room and before he goes to bed at night, straightens up what he messes up. He takes care of his room and puts his clothes in the hamper and feeds the fish and when he asks for something he might possibly get it. He also keeps his room semi-clean because he knows he is the one that has to pick up behind himself.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

I particularly have an 8 year previous and that i'm basically now initiating to tutor him the money for paintings concept with some uncomplicated backyard paintings. i do no longer plan on paying him allowance for protecting his room sparkling or something that we could call a uncomplicated chore. I payed him $2 to help sweep grass and %. up leaves jointly as i replaced into mowing the backyard. it form of sounds like a good initiate for us. As he gets a sprint older we could strengthen chores to comprise washing dishes, tacking out th trash and doing laundry... issues i did for an allowance while i replaced right into a baby at around a similar age. As for a three year previous... i in my opinion think of it is too youthful. it is somewhat helpful to to initiate some thing while they initiate studying approximately money in school... while my son replaced into in kindergarten the had some training on money and that i began regarding my son in rolling replace and accumulating the state quarters to help him understand, yet he replaced into no longer at a element to initiate the allowance concept yet. wish that facilitates! Dan

Answer 10

i would have to agree with you..
i think thats the problem with kids of today.. parents are a bit to easy on their kids..
i agree making him do small chores like the ones you listed are great ideas..

perhaps you can put his allowence into a piggy bank.. so once he has some saved up then he can buy a toy or something :)