What are some reasonable chores for the kids?

Question

I am a single dad with custody of my 2 kids. I have a girl(10) and a boy(6). Normally I do all the things around the house after I put them to bed. They are wanting me to give them an allowance. I only give them money when they do out of the ordinary, like clean the yard with out me telling them to do so, or if my girl does the laundry with out me asking.

So, What are some reasonable chores for them to do everyday?

What do you think the allowance should be? For my girl, I thought $1.25 a day and the boy $1 a day. Should they get the same or what? Thanks for any help.

I am getting tired of doing everything myself but I will do what ever it takes. I do ask them for help every now and then. They make their beds every morning and they do keep up with their own rooms. I will not clean them, but I will help them.

Answer 1

good for you dad - all kids should learn responsibility for it helps them better appreciate those who have done for them

$1 for each year of age - equal pay regardless of gender for either of them can do the same task:

this is without having to be told or assign specific duties for each week so many items for week one so many items for week two then rotate so job will vary

week one / week two
load/unload dishwasher- wash/put away dishes
vacuum- feed/walk the pet
empty all garbage cans/carry out- dust the furniture
do your own laundry - do your own laundry
sweep the floors - clean the bathroom
prepare lunch- prepare breakfast
help siblings with homework - help sibling learn game
wash windows - clean front/back door
wash the car/truck - clean out the car/truck
clean your own room - clean YOUR room
clean the bathroom- clean the kitchen
cut the grass- sweep the porch

make a list of all the items you have normally been doing alone

divide the list - if at least five(or all) of the items you list for them are not done by a certain time - no allowance

will fuss some but will come to realize that work makes for pride and sometimes prize

thanks for caring enough to make them more helpful better people in your life and in the life of others ...... skills learned now will carry them thru out life

Answer 2

Hey, Whatever, You're off to a great start with the children. Now, just build on it. Your daughter is old enough to vacuum her room, and dust in the living, dining and bedrooms every Saturday. Your son should be able to empty all wastebaskets into the trash on trash days. He should also be responsible for taking the sheets off his bed and delivering them to the laundry room on wash day, as should your daughter. Loading the dishwasher can be a shared task for them after supper each night. Let your daughter handle all breakables and your son handle the silverware & pots and pans. Sharing some tasks helps them learn to work well with others. Also, it would be good to let them start savings accounts so that they learn that money is not to be frittered away. Allow them to keep a portion for play, but the rest is saved. Early life is a learning time, and if you get the hard lessons early (like financial responsibility), you have a much easier time. Good luck, you sound like a great Dad!!

Answer 3

Your daughter is old enough to take pride and learn at the same time by helping in meal perperation. Your son could set the table and both could clean off and even clean up after dinner. Of course if they have not done this for a while you would need to help them by showing them how it is done. Perhaps doing as a team effort and slowly they could take on the chore. Also they can dust, sweep and vacuum, take out trash etc. Just don't be critical and expect in the beginning it to be a perfect job. Children have to be shown several times often. They will be proud of their effort and eran theri allowance and take some of th burden off you.

Answer 4

Im Mr mom on my days off and I have my kids help out they are 8 and 5 , my 8 yr old empties the dishwasher, both of them know how to vacuum, I have them pick up their toys and make their beds and pick up their rooms, also I showed my daughter how to pick up the bathroom clutter and wipe down the counter and mirror with windex, of course I dont make them do all that everyday but I do make them do 2 chores each everyday. I pay them $10 every two weeks

Answer 5

The kids should clean their rooms, help with the dishes, the table clearing, the vacuuming, all of it. :)

Answer 6

do the dishes/sweep-mop kitchen/take out trash/fold-hang laundry/clean sink-shower-tub-toilet/clean windows-mirrors/dusting/feed animals?

Answer 7

their suggested pay sounds reasonable, and what i think are reasonable chores for their age are to do laundry and dishes. good luck!