should children help with housework if so from what age?should they get paid?

Hello housechaos. In my opinion and experience the younger you start kids doing chores the better. I started my grandkids off at 2 years old just dusting the dinning room chairs after every meal. They also helped put their toys away every night before bed time. Chores appropriately were added as they got older. I don't believe in paying them to help keep their home clean. They did have extra chores to earn some extra money. They also had an allowance. I wouldn't be giving a 16 year old spending money because they are old enough to get a job. Even the 13 year old is old enough to get baby sitting yard work even helping a neighbor with house work. I do think that it a kid's job to complain about any chores that they have to do. It is our mother's way of getting even for the way we acted and behaved at the same age. I now live with my daughter and her three teenagers and I often hear "Why do I always have to................or why can't........... "and last but not least is "I did it last" This is just part of being a parent. My own kids who are in their 40s now complained the same way.

Hi Housechaos, My kids always helped with the housework from a very very young age. Our home was OUR home and therefore up to ALL OF US to keep things clean and nice. I didn't have a lot of trouble getting them to do things except for maybe the dishes and for some reason...taking out the trash. Of course this meant putting up with some pretty crazy decorating schemes sometimes but at least they took interest and pride in our home. Their own bedrooms were their own responsibility and they were doing their own laundry by 11 and 12.

I have four children ages 20 months to 8 years. They all have their own chores. My littlest one doesnt really have chores but she knows that before she goes upstairs for the night I tell her to pick up her toys and put them away. She usually puts away about 3-5 toys before going upstairs. As for my 3 school aged children they do dishes, laundry, vaccum and clean their rooms. I do not pay them for it though. They have their own piggy banks that my husband or myself put in $1-3/week. Doesnt seem like much but their young yet and dont buy things all that often. As they get older around 10-12 years older my husband said he would like to increase that amount to about $5-10/week. My 3 older children have been doing their chores now for almost 2 years now. So at the time they were 3, 4 and 5 1/2. They dont really complain. They know that it's part of there responsiblity for the household. So the earlier the better is always the best to start kids on the right track in my opinion. I believe that all people that live in a household should do their fair share of helping around the house.

I always felt that is was necessary for children to help with housework. For several reasons and one most important it that it would allow them to later be self sufficient especially since I am not going to be around for ever. I do not feel children should be paid for helping with the housework because then they expect housework to be sort of a job and how will that work later in the event they were alone without a wife/mother. They should be assigned chores at a young age so that they get use to it as they are older. Of course lesser while very young but increased as they get older.

I think it's good to teach them from a young age - as soon as they can understand! It's not an issue of treating them like slaves and no, I don't think they should be paid either (bear in mind that I am the daughter and not the parent) - it's a matter of teaching them good habits from an early age, preparing them for a life where they will need to tidy up after themselves, keeping things in order and tidy if necessary so that it makes everything so much easier. People work better when the environment is clutter free - it helps saves time and money in the long-run, and why, its a good way to be - 'organised and tidy'! So in the long term, they are the ones who benefit. By the NOT paying them, is important - for the above reasons and more, it teaches them that you just don't do something just because of money. Plus, I hope that by helping around the house they will get a sense of contributing something towards the family, that you all work as a team to maintain this family. Like the husband and wife who work hard to maintain food on the table for the whole family and not just themselves, so it would be good for the children to do something to 'contribute' especially when they're not working. I hope you get what I mean even if it is a bit long-winded!

Hey "housechaos" I hear what you are saying I to have kids my son 10 & daughter 6 & NO they don't get paid for doing what they will be doing as they get grown. It is how job as parents to show them these things they can handle at their age, and let them know pay comes when you get a job. Housework is a job but something we ALL suppose to do so they can at least take care of their self especially before they have families of their own.

my son is nearly 9 and he helps do a few things round the house, just simple stuff like putting his clothes out for the wash, dishes away after we eat and sometimes vacuming. it depends on what i will put in for his school banking each week, on what there is in my purse. not that he really knows what is going on, it's good to have the kids help do things. as it will teach them for later in life.

It's nice that we could train our children to help in household chores. But it's not nice that we have to pay them in order that they will do it. I think, a general incentive like for example a pizza or a burger for everyone every payday (15th & 30th as our usual payday is) , should be given to them, in appreciation for their being diligent in helping.

I think children should do housework at 11, they shouldn't get paid cuz they do it not for money, but for themselves. When they truly realize the importance of cleaning, they would do it by themselves actively. When they have a habit of doing that, they will get the habit.

Oh,I don't think about this question before,because when I was a child my parents never paid me for doing homework,but I think this is a good method to train child's self-care ability,so I will pay my child for doing homework,further more I will also lead my child saving,it's so important to live in a economic society.In my opinion,At first,using some smacks lead child loving labouring,and when child could spend money about 9 years old I will pay money.Frome few ,such as 1 RMB ,to more that such as 10s RMB.

I think the kids have to learn to do housework when they are as old as 5 years old.But you don't have to give them too much pay,you should have educated them to look upon doing housework as their duties,they have to cultivate themselves the good habits to help with housework. If you always offer them pay for the housework,I don't think that's a good idea.

In my opinion children should help with house work. Since there is no age for help therefore they could start helping when ever the want. It is completely there choice.

Okay, I believe I have quite a bit to say about this question you have. This just so happens to be something I feel very strongly about. I am a 25 y/o married female with a beautiful 2 1/2 year old daughter. My husband and I came from two different sides of the financial world, he has been given everything his whole life without one bit of responsibility and he is now 28 and STILL spoiled rotten. I on the other hand came from a working class family and yes was given some things but the majority of the time had to work for my money. I am now a successful business owner and am attending school for my bachelors degree, my husband on the other hand works at a place with low income and has no room to accelerate; he has been given all and has no urge to want to improve b/c he knows he has someone to financially fall back on. Like I said, my daughter is two and often hears us saying "we are getting ready for work, you have to get ready for school" She has picked up on this and says I have to get ready for work so I can make money to go by icecream, a drink, a doll, etc. With her "interest" in making money to buy things I have began asking her to do little things to "earn" a dollar hear and there such as cleaning her room, putting garbage away, handing me clean dishes from the dishwasher, etc. Now if she wants a dollar, she asks for "work". I think it is a great value to instill at whatever age they are old enough to understand. I also think it teaches children the responsibility to earn the things they want in life and they will eventually want bigger and better and that will eventually lead to an urge for college and a good career. With children, things are all a chain of events and you will only be helping them for the future if you give them responsibility.

Yes, because its part of their gain wisdom that they can later on be use. however i still believe that parents must learn to teach their chores, with their housework but never forget that they should learn to do it with enjoyment or else that will be a burden for them & later on they will just hate doing house chores already

It is a good thing to allow your kids to help with chores because this enables them to learn responsibility and how to be independent especially if they will go out to college.But you dont have to pay them.I remember growing up i was responsible to do my own laundry,do the dishes etc at a very early age and didnt get paid although i never learnt how to cook till i was old enough.

I think it is a good habit to let the children to help with the housework. I don't think it is necessary to pay them money though, maybe a little treat like a chocolate. My mom used to have me to help qwith her house chore when I was little.