At what age should children start receiving an allowance?

Question

How much per week and should it be linked to household chores or as an "entitlement"?

Answer 1

As soon as they start wanting things they don't really need (toys when it;s not their bday, etc.) they can start earning an allowance. Have them do daily chores...put toys, books away, dishes,sippy cup in the kitchen when done, crayons picked upand put away...etc. Get a piggy bank, give them small amounts , increasing slowly by age. Have them put their money in and keep track of the amount. They will learn a lot of valuable things this way.. Good Luck mom~~dad!!

Answer 2

I think any age is a good age to do allowance. It's never too early to teach children the value of a dollar. The way it is done depends on the age. The younger they are the more often it should be given (if you're basing it on chores or behavior). For instance, if they child is 4 years old and is given an allowance based on good behavior and small chores I would do it daily. A child that age isn't able to wait that long for a reward. It wouldn't be effective if they had to wait the whole week. It's also important to teach them to manage the money and set goals for what they would like to do with the money so they learn that it has value and shouldn't be taken for granted.

Answer 3

As soon as they can work to earn it. They learn a good work ethic this way and it comes in handy as they grow up. How much is contingent on the work/chores. I also feel that they are not entitled so much as parents should see to the needs of their children. Needs and wants are different. They are entitled to have their needs met but they should earn their wants. If my son were to wash both cars I would pay him around 5$ an hour. If he mowed the lawn I would give him $15.

Answer 4

Start somewhere between age 3-5 ($.25-$1 per year of age). It should be an allowance then they can earn extra by doing chores. Kinda like base salary and commission.

Answer 5

I started giving my child an allowance as soon as she was born. I put $20 in her savings every month. As she gets older, I will take from that $20 and give it to her. Then the rest will go into her savings. (Ex. at age 6, I will give her $5 and we will put the $15 left over in savings). Hopefully, as she gets older she will see how much she has in savings and want to save more of her money. Right now, she is 7 and hates to spend her money. She would rather save it than waste it on a toy she doesn't really want.
This is not given for chores. It is just something she receives.

Answer 6

I never got an allowance so I say never. What I got I had to earn, I did yard work and such for the folks around the neighborhood to earn extra money. Kids should not be paid to do chores around the house. In my house chores were done to teach you responsibility.

Answer 7

My son gets an allowance. He's 5. He gets $5/week. It's not linked to chores or anything, no way he's getting paid to do the things around the house he has to do anyway. He's given the allowance to teach him to save, spend, work out taxes, pay people back etc. WAY to many kids these days who havent a clue how to manage money. With proper guidence hopefully my son wont be one of them.

Answer 8

21

Answer 9

When they are old enough to EARN it. Don't teach them something for nothing.

Even 3-4 year old children can do small chores.

Answer 10

I believe 5 years old. If you want to pay them weekly-make it $1 more than their age. So, at 5 years old, $6 a week. At 8 yrs old $9 a week. Until the age of 13 when I believe you should decide how much they deserve.