Paying kids for chores?

Question

I want my 2 kids (12 and 14) to do work around the house, eg sweep/mop floor, clean toilets, clean cobwebs etc. how do I determine how much to pay for each job?????

Answer 1

I worked in children's services, and I'm a big believer in helping children learn early the value of working for reward. Good for you! I would let the amount be driven by two factors, 1) value to you of the work done and 2) motivational value for the effort, i.e. it has to be worth their time and effort, or why bother? For yourself, I suggest setting an upper and lower limit for what the work is worth to you, but don't tell them the upper and lower limits yet. Then consult with them. Find out what they want to do with the money earned, and ask them directly, how much it would take to motivate them. of course, listen only to their "reasonable" answers, and listen also for other motivational clues, i.e. perhaps there are other non-material benefits that you haven't yet considered. There are no hard and fast rules, work it out as individuals, being fair to all. Good luck.

Answer 2

Most of the answers here seem to follow the same theme and it's pretty much what I do with my son (although he's quite a bit younger). If you want kids to know how to handle money and be responsible with it then somehow they do have to get some. Now, there's the question on paying for chores vs allowance. Most people see this as the same thing some poeple say they pitch in and do not get payed but still give them a weekly allowance. Therefore it is sort of the same thing. Let's see if I can get this out right.
We do have a list of "responsabilities" (I hate the word "chore"). Some are dialy, weekly, etc... on a write and wipe board. The responsabilites do not change from week to week and are marked off as they are done. Next to the chart there is a list of things he can choose from if all of them are copleteed at the end of the week. Now, a list with extra game time, picking a video, etc...probably won't work for older kids.
Rather than doing amounts for individual things, make a set weekely amount and a set list of responsabilites. They receive the amount only if all responsabilites are met. There is no half for half, it's all or nothing. Trading of a responsability though between the kids should be ok as long as it gets done and done right. Of course you as a parent have the right to give them a pass on something if they have game, family committment, etc but you make the judgement, not them.
It may seem to some like paying for things they should be doing anyways, but that is why it is up to you to ensure there is a balance. Yes, keeping their room clean should be on there but so should bigger things like garbage duty, dusting, dishes (I did Mon, Wed and sis did Teus, Thr...mom was nice and took Fri, Sat and Sun) vaccuming, lawn care/shoveling. Anything out of the ordinary care be determined by job and is great when done as a family. I am 34 and my sis and I still help my mom every spring do all her weeding and planting on a nice Saturday. What would take my mom 2 days takes us 4 hours, we have a ball (my lil one gets involved now) and then we all go to dinner later.

Just do what fits your life and family. Bt yes, there are advantages to teaching home responsabilites and financial ones. Just keep it all realistic and reasonable and it'll be great!

Answer 3

Chores are how kids contribute to the household - I assume your kids don't pay the mortgage or buy groceries. Everyone in the home has a responsibility to help maintain it; chores are not paying jobs, they are part of being a family. They aren't optional.

Paying your child for chores does not teach them the value of money; it sets up a barter system for what should be basic responsibilities ("if I don't want the money, I don't have to do the chore"). Be the parent. Don't bargain.

If you have extra work, like car washing or cleaning the garage, you might consider offering a set sum for the entire job.

Answer 4

At their ages I would not pay by the job. I would however set a weekly allowance that they earn by doing chores.

If they don't get a certain chore done take a dollar or two away. At the end of the week or Friday they get paid.

I think that this helps with teaching them not only responsibility, but real life lessons. As an adult in the workforce if I don't work I don't get paid.

Best of luck to you

Answer 5

In my family, today as a parent and when I was a kid, nobody got paid for chores. It was an expectation of being a family member that you contribute to the family's well being by doing chores.

We did get allowances though, but they were not tied to chores. I would say that a 12 and 14 yr olds' discretionary spending should be about $10/week depending on what things you expect them to buy with their allowance.

Answer 6

I bought a chart for my kids and each time they do something they get a + sign and when they don't get something done they get a - sign. They earn money for the +s and they lose money for the -s. The first week they didn't get very much money because they only did about 1/2 the stuff on the chart but every since then they are getting most everything done and I don't have to keep telling them they need to do something because they know what I want done. p.s. I don't know about letting them clean the toliets, if they did make sure they wash their hands afterwards.

Answer 7

Personally I don't think they should be paid. All you do for your children as a parent and they want to be paid for helping keep the roof over their heads?
However, if paying is what you feel is right then perhaps base it on the task. A job that you estimate to be a 10 minute one goes for $1 let's say. 20 minues = $2... This is effective as long as they are aware that you have set the time limit on the task. If they "milk" the job however, for every minute over the set limit should deduct a fraction of the payment.

Answer 8

If you are like most parents, you probably give your kids whatever they want anyway. Paying them for chores is negated. It really isn't that much of an incentive to do the job right.

What about rewarding them with later nights up, or more "grown up" rights if they do their chores on time and right for a set amount of time (like 2 weeks or a month)

Answer 9

well when i was growing up i got an allowance every week and we had a chore list and we divided them up between the 3 of us we got 20 dollars a week but we did all the chores, and if we made good grades we got money for that as well so i think you should set a weekly allowance for the kids and tell them its if they do all the chores. but for mowing the yard i got 30 to 40 dollars cuz thats hard work

Answer 10

you don't. Instead use the reward system. They do their chores, they get to play video games, use the computer, get a ride to the mall (whatever the kids enjoy now a days). If you decide to pay them that plan may backfire like if they don't want or need money on friday then they decide that they don't need to make the bed or clean the bathroom.