Should you pay a child if she did chores ?

When I was growing up I got paid for certain chores but not for others. Keeping my room tidy, making the bed and anything that was lying about about had to be tidied up. Any other chores such as washing or drying the dishes taking out trash etc. actually anything that did not apply to my own personal space I got paid for. I followed these rules for my own child and think it taught not only the value of earning your own money but also responsibility.

I believe there are other ways to pay children for doing chores besides just giving them money all of the time. #1 You praise them for doing the chores like you asked. #2 Let them choose what to have for supper that night. #3 Let them stay up for a half hour later than you normally would to watch their favorite tv program. #4 Let them pick out one toy the next time that your at a store that has toys. Kids just want to know that you appreciate them for doing their chores they don't want money all of the time.

I used to pay my children for doing chores but it has gotten to the point where they are always asking for money for one thing or another. So I stopped paying them to do the chores because I don't want to be handing out money for chores and then giving them money for other things as well. So now I just give them money as they need it.

I would not pay a child if he does chores because it willbe like a bribe. It's different having them do chores as part of them learning to do housework and giving them prizes such as money may give a different meaning.

My parents always gave me a weekly allowance, but in return I was expected to help out. There were no set chores, but my father would say, "come on! I want your help" and off I would go with him. Sometimes, if it was a long job, he would give me a little extra and tell me to go off to the shops.. I think it taught me that money was not a gift, but something that we all had to earn. All in all, I think there needs to be a balance. :-)Derek

I dont think it does any harm to reward a child for doing their chores but then a reward can be something simple like praise for a job well done! While as parents we should expect our children to do as they are asked in regards to chores I do think a simple reward can help in making them feel good about what they did again plenty of praise is often reward enough.

When I was growing up, chores were chores...everyone had to pitch in at home...no question of pay arose...and I never even knew I had such an option (even when classmates had mentioned about getting payed for chores!) We weren't short of cash in any way and I got almost everything I needed..so didn't see any point of getting paid for chores. Now, I have kids of my own....and do expect chores to be done...and don't pay for chores done. But my older son does get some amount of pocket money every month that he keeps. Having said that, I have sometimes offered money as incentive to get some chores done (not that it has been done even with the lure of money!) I believe chores should be done so that the child understands the importance of everyone playing their role in the home....more than the money aspect.

Thinking way back to the time when my kids were growing up, ronnyb, I did not pay them to do chores per se, but I did give them an allowance. I believe that they were motivated to do their chores without too much complaining because of this. Like your mother, I don't have a problem with rewarding a child for a job well done.

My reward as a child for doing chores was to prevent from getting spankings. This is sometimes my own children's rewards. I don't necessarily pay my kids to do chores, but I do have incentives available for them should they want to not do them. That incentive could mean ordering pizza or something similar, or being able to go the park.

I agree with both your mother and your father. I think kids should do what they are told, but I also believe kids should realize that if they do hard work they should be paid for it (gets them ready for when they are adults and have to work) I have kids and when I set them chores they never did them unless I harped on them. Now I pay them for their chores and there isn't a day that goes by that they don't do it. I don't even have to tell them too. They love it when pay day comes too! They get so excited to put money into their wallets. Things such as, cleaning their rooms or picking up the house a little they don't get paid for. That is where the "do what your told" comes in. I set a specific thing for their chore that if they do that one thing everyday they will get paid for it. things they do get paid for is, taking the trash out everyday, unloading the dishwasher everyday.

I definitely think paying a kid to do chores shows that hard work is rewarded. A lot of kids that I grew up around did nary a chore, yet still got their $10/weekly. Me, on the other hand, I had to do chores and never got a penny. I think the actual chores are important. Adding some incentive is a good thing, especially if you're a parent who provides well for your children in the first place. I personally believe that we need more kids in the world who grow up willing to work for a living, and less of those spoilt rotten brats from MTV's Sweet 16 and thousand other reality programs showcasing the ultra-lazy lives of kids and teens with no ambition. I can see it also being a way for children to work for what they want. Instead of dropping $400 on 'em for a PS3 for a Christmas present - have them work for half of the money through the year. If they can work and save and show some real responsibility, they're learning how to get on in the world.

I pay my kids only if they offer to do it first. If I have to ask them to do it then no I don't pay. I came up with a list of chores that I post on my refirgerator and they mark them off as they do them. Then they have to have either myself or my wife inspect to make sure they did it properly. I pay them a relatively small amount once a month and they still have to do basic chores like cleaning their rooms and washing their own dishes. If they don't do the mandatory chores they don't get paid no matter what else they have done. It's a good way to get them to help. I have four kids so you can imagine the mess they make. Sometimes I am so happy that they volunteer. Last night my 11 year old volunteered to do dishes. It was so nice to sit back and relax, even for the 1/2 hour ity took him to do it. I say go for it.

well...I dont think I beleive in paying children for doing chores either. I think they should contribute somewhat to family chores and learn how to do them in order to be self sufficient later in life. They need to know that its a responsibility in life and not of the paying type...are housewives paid? Is dad paid for cleaning the garage or taking out the trash?... I think children today are given way too much money, unearned, and come to expect it. What if mommy or daddy were laid off? Where would the money come from? A child should be given money based on need...a school trip...to join a sporting event etc. I would encourage children finding their own ways to make money as I did when I was younger, babysitting, collecting bottles, shovelling snow...perhaps taking on extra responsibilities on a paid basis. To hand out money freely, is to develop no respect or work ethic. Once a child is of age to work, they can get a part time job even if its only a day a week for spending money, at least they earned it on their own!!

I don't think children should be payed to do chores. Half the problem with children today is they are selfish and think everybody owes them something. Well, they need to learn that doing their chores is part of life, and their parents are taking care of them, giving them a place to stay, feeding them...and that's not payment enough? Children are much better of when they learn to do a their chores and a good job of it without getting paid. Now, all that being said, I don't have a problem with rewarding children for a job well done, and cheerfully done. If you want to give them an ice cream cone for a job well done, then cool! There's nothing wrong with that!

I don't think you should pay your child to do chores. You have to teach them about responsibility. It's not bad to give them reward from time to time but paying them in doing what they should is just not right.

It depends. My kids have to take care of their room and clothes and so on and that will not pay them. Helping out in the house with some cleaning and cooking will not pay them either. My oldest(11) takes care of our 3 year old one afternoon every week for a qouple of hours while I go with the middle one to the stables and for thet she earns some money (not much but at least a small amount) since it's not a thing that she would do if her sister didn't go to the stables. That's the only thing at the moment that pays in this house - they all think it's fair to do like this. If we had more money I guess the situation could be a bit different.

Generally speaking, there's nothing wrong about it if you do it once in a while--never all the time. It would a form of positive reinforcement which is very necessary to boost self-esteem and encourage the child. I did this before when I assigned a difficult task to my kids and they were so busy to have done it. It's just fulfilling to see the smiles on their faces.

Personally, I'll do what my parents did. I did my chores and they always made sure that they were able to pay for things I needed and wanted. They did give me an allowence, but they would make sure I had money for the movies on the weekend, or a clothing at the beginning of the school year. Birthday gifts for my friends, things like that. I don't believe in allowences, just making sure your children are provided for.

I do not beleive in giving kids money for the chores. I think that children fell into bad habbits when they are given away money. I strictly think that we do not have to reward them by money only rather we can give them some gifts which they can cherish more and more.

i m totally against it, y should we pay a child for doing chores no doubt its your duty to tell a child to do it but paying for it doesnt makes any sence. coz if for any day the time comes n our financial conditions is not good n tht time if u have a habit of paying your child thn he will do his job n that time u will need to pay it thn it can led to family financail problem..... so right from 1st dont make a habit of paying a child for his chores.