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
I'm with Heather.. I think kids expect something for everything now-a-days. Parents feed, clothe, house, and buy all the extras for their children so isn't that called 'earning their keep'?! Just saying, my son's aunt cleaned her parent's entire house and her reward was them paying for her cheerleading, I think that's fair. If my kids want rewards for their hard work then it'll be something like that. When the kids want an ipod or a new bike, etc that's when all that hard work will pay off.
People, rewards do not have to be monetary. There are many rewards, monetary rewards are only one type. Do you not tell your kid "Good job" when they do it right? If your child comes running to show you their newly cleaned room, don't you take time to admire their efforts? These are also rewards. Increased trust and privileges are also rewards. Quit narrowly defining the word "reward" and think outside the box.
In our household, if the kids do not do their chores, they don't get their extra privileges, such as computer time, movie time, ability to go to events that they want to go to, etc. Sometimes, if they are wanting to go to an event that they will need some extra spending money for, such as going to the skating rink (before it closed) or going to a dance (for the older two), they will get an extra chore that isn't their usual responsibility, such as reorganizing the shed, or reorganizing and rotating the pantry. The belief in our family (which is a rather large one) is that the household doesn't flow smoothly if everyone isn't doing their fair share. It is not unreasonable for children to have chores. 100 years ago, children had chores that there were expected to do, and if the children didn't do those chores, they were punished, or they didn't get to eat. Our society has changed so much that now parents don't think they need to give their children any responsibility and it is hampering their growth and development.
I agree with many others that kids should pick up after themselves and take care of their pets without being paid, but what I don't understand is when parents expect their children to pick up after them like little maids.....not cool. In the real world, people get paid to pick up after others, and if you want your children to do that as well, you should paid them an allowance. They are not your slaves and if one person dares tell me that there children should pick up after them because of all they do for them, my response to you is that your children did not choose to be brought into this world, you chose that and it is your RESPONSIBILITY to take care of them, that is not something they owe you for.
I completely agree with Theresa and Todd. I was mistakenly thinking only of money as a payment for chores but he is exactly right.
They each have 4-5 specific chores that they're expected to do as part of the family. Then I made a chart with 15-20 different chores they could earn money for that range from .50-$5. If they want to buy something they can choose from the list and earn the money to pay for it.
They can choose to work hard and earn a pretty decent amount OR they can choose to half ass it and earn next to nothing. My oldest is all about it. If he sees a $20 Lego set he wants he comes home and asks to clean my bathroom ($5) Magic Eraser the walls ($5) and sweep the hallway, living room and kitchen ($1.50). Then he calls his grandparents and asks to do yard work for the other $10 since the $1.50 covers his tax.
Yep. He even knows to factor in for sales tax.
I waver on this. I've been working on a chart of sorts, for chores that my son is expected to do, and "extra" ones he can get paid to do. The expectations are simple - keep his room clean, put his clothes away, etc. He has to have some way to earn money - let's face it - how many people would work at jobs they didn't get paid at? and to kids - cleaning IS a job ;-)