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Preteens

What does your 12yr old do to earn money?

6 replies

Bizkit · 17/05/2015 13:46

I've been trying to get my DS to earn pocket money for a few years now, all I've asked him to do is simple stuff like making his bed, putting dirty washing in wash bin, clear dinner stuff etc but he's never really done it, I've tried chore sheets and lists to remind him (he struggles with too many verbal instructions) but still no joy. When I ask him to do these things he huffs and puffs, his behavior is getting worse and he has started having real anger outbursts.
He is at an age now where he needs regular pocket money for phone credit, and to have in case he needs money as he is going to start going out and about more often alone now, but I just don't want to hand him money whenever he asks for it, but I can't get him to do the simplest of tasks around the house without a big battle.

what works for you?

OP posts:
RiskManagement · 17/05/2015 14:01

I try and use things that don't matter too much, so I don't just create another job for me if it's not done well (or at all) If they don't get done, they don't get paid and they don't get phone credit (or whatever).

I also refuse to pay for jobs they should just do, so anything that relates to their own room or possessions, or routine jobs that are just part of being a decent living companion. i.e I wouldn't pay them to clean their own shoes, but I might pay them to clean mine, I don't pay to load the dishwasher, dust or hoover, but would to wash the car.

Paid jobs here are:

Sweeping the drive
Weeding
Cleaning windows
Washing the car
polishing doorhandles

That said, if I ask them to do something, just because, like hoover the stairs, I absolutely wouldn't stand for refusal and that would be dealt with by removing screen privileges until it was done. They also have a number of jobs they do regularly without payment like stripping their beds and putting away laundry but I do remind/tell them as and when they need doing.

Mine are 12 & 14

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/05/2015 14:02

Ds has been having pocket money since he was 6. He has always been expected to help out with jobs around the house which include setting and clearing the table,putting washing in the wash basket, making bed and stripping it when it needs washing, emptying the dishwasher and basically helping with anything that needs doing. Light cooking now he's older.

Now he's 14 he does all of the above as standard but will do extra jobs such a painting the fence, washing the car, gardening work for extra money.

He has £10 per month from us, £1 a week from his gran, £3 a week from his other grandparents, so roughly £26 per month. He has it paid into is Debit card account so it's not burning a hole in his pocketWink

He seems to be on the lower end of what his mates have, most seem to have double that but I don't think at this age ds needs more. For days out, lunch out with mates etc I will usually top up a bit.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/05/2015 14:03

We also pay for his SIM card which is £7 a month and that has unlimited texts which we soon found out was MUCH cheaper than PAYGGrin

Bizkit · 17/05/2015 22:27

I've told him he needs to do his everyday chores or he won't get screen time on his phone or xbox, see how it goes, but when I've done similar he goes into tantrum/melt down mode and plays up cause he is bored.
Ive said if he wants money he can do things like garden, car, hoovering etc.
Maybe when he starts going out with friends which he doesn't do yet he'll be more keen to earn money, well I hope so anyway

OP posts:
MinimumPayment · 18/05/2015 08:09

It's hard but IMO those tantrums are exactly that and you need to ignore them just the same as you would have when he was 2. If you give in and they "work" he'll never stop. It doesn't take long for them to realise it won't work if you never give in.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 18/05/2015 08:58

I agree, just ignore the tantrums. He's not bored, he's just playing up. There's loads to do without screens. Good luck!

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