Should a child do chores if...?

Question

Should a child have to do chores if they aren't given an allowence?

Answer 1

yes, find some other reward for helping and doing the chores and let them know you are proud of them for doing their chores but i think chores helps teach kids responsibility.

Answer 2

I started having my son "help" with chores when he was about 3 years old. He would get up on a chair and wash the dishes. I would let him do it his way but let him know that he needed to make sure they were clean, rinsed, and put nicely into the other side of the sink. Now, he is six and a cleaning maniac. He loves it! And he doesn't expect anything, he just likes to help... On the other hand, my mom did the same for us 4 kids and once we got to the stage where we didn't like it anymore then she gave us allowance. I don't think it is necesary to give an allowance for chores, it is teaching your kids to help around the house....

Answer 3

In our house, everyone is expected to help out, because everyone lives in our home together. There are certain things EVERYONE does, just for being a part of this family. These include: putting away clothes in the hamper, putting away toys, putting dirty dishes in the sink, and making the bed. These things are just courtesy things, and they do not get paid for them.

Then there are things that Mommy needs help with, and for this I offer an allowance: feeding the dog, doing the dishes, setting the table. My kids are only 5 and 3, so these things are considered "jobs" for right now. As they get older, these things might be a part of the "expected" chores, and more complex things will be part of their "jobs" (like mopping, vacuuming, dusting, etc.)

And even though I phrase the two kinds of chores differently, there is still no choice in whether the children participate in them. They are required to do chores, because they live in our house. Just like a job, they are expected to fulfill their responsibilities. And just like a job, I pay them an allowance.

Hope this helps!

PS--I just read quiethunder's recommeded article on chores, and I really like the part about giving out allowances to children for "being contributing members of the family" and not for each chore they do. We give out allowances at the end of every week. I think I'm going to start stressing that the allowance is for everyone who helped the family this week, instead of "for doing chores."

Answer 4

yes. my son has a "chore chart" that if he completes all his chores for a given amount of time, he's allowed to pick an activity that he likes. for example, one month of chores gets a night at the zoo, or $5. for one week of good chores, he gets to pick a movie for the family to wacth, etc. for not doing his chores, he loses a priveledge, for example, no tv for the weekend, no swimming, go to bed 1/2 hour early. this way he learns that hard work has rewards, and slacking makes your life worse.
this system has worked really well for us so far. he's only six, so when he gets older, we'll probably have to switch to a money allowence, but for now, this is the best way to go. money doesn't mean much to a six year old.

Answer 5

I did not ever give my sons an allowance. When we went to the store I would tell them whether or not they could get a toy, book etc that day or not. I would tell them before we got there if I had the money. Sometimes they could only spend a 2 dollars. Sometimes more and sometimes nothing. From the time that they were old enough to pick up thier toys that was thier job. I would sometimes help and they had to put up a toy when finished before more could be gotten out. The older they got I would ask them to take out trash, vaccum or fold some towels. Chores never had anything to do with money. It was what was expected of them.

Answer 6

sure, things like tidy their room, pick up their clothes, set the table for dinner and maybe do dishes are things all kids should do regardless of allowance. Extra duties should be given an allowance or bonus as this encourages them to be responsible and care about their own surroundings and belongings. Allowances are a priviledge not a right and children should be taught this. Chores depend on age and so does allowance. My 5 yr old has her simple chores and does extras but only gets $3 if she does them. 2.5 yr old son doesn't yet but is still getting taught to tidy after himself.

Answer 7

Definitely! Chores aren't done because you get money for them (otherwise, us parents would be rich!) They are done to make a family safer and more at ease at home.
A child should do chores because it is part of their obligation as a family member, to help out with the work load. The child then gets a realistic idea of what it takes to maintain a household.

This is a wonderful article about how chores teach children responsibility:
http://childcare.about.com/od/generaladvice/a/kidchores.htm
(there's a pop-up; sorry!)

Peace!

Answer 8

I think it depends on the amount of chores. Children should help out some around the house without expecting payment because they owe it to their parents for all their hard work and support. However, it is the adult's primary job to take care of their kids, not the other way around. If the child is doing more work around the house than the parent with no appreciation or reward, then the act is in fact wrong.

Answer 9

Yes, that's a given! All kids should do chores. If you can't afford an allowance, don't feel bad--it's not necessary. Their allowance is the roof over their heads and the food in their bellies. If you can, then it should be adjusted according to the number of chores they perform.

Answer 10

Depends on the parents. Personally, my children do chores w/o allowance. Everyone in my household has a responsibility or two. It helps maintain order. However, they can earn extra money by doing things out of the ordinary like washing the car, pulling weeds, raking the yard, etc. Also, we have a change jar and everytime we fill it we take it to Coinstar and they get to split the total amount.

Answer 11

im a single parent of 5 no my kids dont get allowance for doing chores.
Why would you pay someone to clean up after themselves that makes no sense now if you ask them to do something extra then I can see giving them something in return also keep in mind theres a lot of parents out there that afford to give allowance. Giveing chores to children also teaches them a sense of responsibility. Another thing to remember is someone like myself with 5 children and single parent going to work four days out of the week, school three days so that I can get a better paying job, home schooling one, relying on public transportation to go where I need to go if my children didnt do chores can you imagine what my apt. would look like thank goodness I enforce them to do chores.