Hey moms, have you heard about the new app that promises to make your kids "beg" to do chores? That's right, it's called -- um, look, you're really gonna need to stop laughing if you want me to tell you more. Can you stop that, please?
Okay, where was I? Oh yeah, so this app is called "Choremonster," and it's basically the smartphone generation's take on Ye Olde Sticker Chart (you know, those things you put stickers on every time your kid washes the dishes or whatever and then when the chart's all filled up and/or you run out of stickers they get a prize?).
Now, some parents have a problem with this idea because they think rewarding kids for doing stuff around the house they should be doing anyway sends the wrong message. That they'll grow up spoiled and entitled and lazy. That they won't lift a finger unless some sort of compensation is involved.
And you know what? Why should they?
Look, I'm not gonna buy this particular app because I know damn well NOTHING would ever make my kids "beg" to clean their rooms, and I don't do sticker charts because, quite frankly, they sound like a pain in the ass. But if my son picks up his Star Wars guys off the floor and puts them away every day this week like he promised, I'll give him a few bucks. Why not?
The fact is, rewarding kids to do chores doesn't send the wrong message, it sends the EXACTLY RIGHT message: Money makes the world go 'round, so you might as well master this whole payment received for services rendered concept now.
You think I'm being cynical? Practical is more like it. Hell, I wish I'd been raised to look at everything as a business opportunity. Paying kids to do chores is like killing two "prepare them for the future" birds with one stone: They learn how to do laundry/make beds/polish furniture AND how to handle their finances!
Plus, kids are just plain better about doing their chores when they know they're getting paid. I mean, obviously. So until Mary Poppins shows up at my house and those Star Wars guys start magically marching their action figure asses into closets, I'll pay my kids.
Do you reward your kids for doing chores?
Image via Mary-Frances Main/Flickr
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Comments 85
Yes, I do think you're cynical. You actually think you have to pay your child to participate in family life- part of which is doing your share around the house. I don't pay my kids to do their chores. I teach them to have enough self-respect to not want live in a dirty house, or sleep on filthy sheets. I teach them about being responsible, considerate of others, doing their share. My kids know that their contributions to the family are important. And they feel valued, respected and competent. I would never reduce this to a mere monetary transaction. And as for "setting them up for failure"? In real life, I would pit my responsible, internally motivated teenager up against your "won't move until someone dangles a dollar" child anytime.
I'm soooo glad to see that most of the comments show that parents still care to teach their kids decency and responsibility.
I was never paid to do the chores that I was expected to do and I would never pay my children to do their own chores. No one pays me to clean my house... the only reward I get is the satisfaction that my house IS clean. No one pays my husband to keep up the yardwork... it just has to get done because that is what responsible people do.
I would hope that parents would teach kids those lessons... take some pride and ownership, learn responsibility, don't just stand there with a handout - expecting to get *something* just for doing what you should already be doing.
Funny, I don't reward my 9 year old son for doing his chores. He is expected to do them. I don't get rewarded. But - my husband took him on his construction jobsites this summer and did pay him, a small amount. But I know - he appreciated it. He can spend how he'd like, he earned it. Savings is different, that's money he gets from recycling. I'm hoping he'll want a job early because yes, he gets paid.
I give monetary compensation if she goes over and above normal every day chores, or just cleaning up after herself. if she helps me with my chores, or does extra things without having to be asked.. then that deserves reward. I'll give her extra jobs, but she needs to learn to clean up after herself, which isn't something that you get compensated for as an adult, is just something that needs to be done, regardless if you get paid for it.
we have a box with sticks that have extra jobs written on them that the girls can pull to do to earn extra money..(clean garage-rain gutters) other than that they dont get paid to be part of the family... they also dont have "chores" they just do what needs to be done when they see it needs to be done... when the dishwasher needs unstacked somebdy catches it.. when you throw something away and see the trash needs emptied you take it out.. it works well in our house
So, when they move out what are they going to do? Keeping my room clean was an expectation. Something I got paid to do was organizing the garage or something. I guess times really have changed. That's probably why a lot of Americans are lazy...
If they want money for extras, they can ask nicely, and do extra chores, without bitching, then I'll give them a couple bucks.
They need to know to respect what they already have, before they start thinking they deserve any extra.
I see what you are saying yes. I want to teach my kids that they should help others when they can but i myself am barely living paycheck to paycheck and we are running so low on food at this point that i am having to go hungry to make sure my son has enough to be full at every meal. So i want him to understand that money is EXTREMELY important.