Paying your child to do chores?

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Paying your child to do chores? Should they be expected to do chores anyway or is it acceptable to pay a small amount for them to do a selection of chores so they can learn the value of money/save for items they want etc? Looking for opinions!

Mine have a split. They each have a job or two that are theirs as "everybody chips into a household" jobs. They then earn pocket money for other jobs which they choose from a list (4 weekly change on them).

davegrohlsgirl I love your idea and have just ordered lolly sticks, thanks!

We tend to do weekly pocket money dependent upon good behaviour, and have started paying small amounts for extra chores around the place. DSs (aged 7 and 6) already have to mangle up the duvets make their own beds each morning, put their plates/cutlery into dishwasher after meals, tidy toys away etc but the extra chores are things like hoovering, wiping down kitchen cupboard doors or door handles around the house etc. None of the above are done properly of course but it's important that they learn what's involved in keeping a house tidy and set a good example for their younger brothers who will follow suit when a little older.

As far as I am concerned jobs around the house are just something you do as part of a family
Same here. When they leave home and maybe cohabit, they'll be expected to do domestic chores without getting paid for them. It's just part of pulling your weight when sharing a living space.

Depending on the child’s age, some things they should do as part of family life. Like making their bed, picking up their toys. This teaches responsibility and obviously cause and effect ( you make a mess of Lego bricks , you pick them up)
Other jobs, the child shouldn’t be expected to do, like mow the lawn, wash the car etc, then they deserve a reward. This teaches them the value of hard work and rewards.
Of course every family will vary with what jobs should be expected and what jobs are extra. But rewarding them will show that working hard (or working smart) brings rewards.

Rewards don’t have to be I. The form of cash. Empty the dishwasher for 30 minutes of PlayStation time, or walking the dog for an hour of screen time spent on YouTube can work.

It’s never bad for children to learn responsibility, after all they will have responsibility when they grow. Maybe that’s why we have so many people happy to sit on their ass all day, they never learned cause and effect and the power of responsibility.
Pay them for extras, have basics in place to assist with family life according to the child’s age.

DD used to have her pocket money linked to chores.

There was a set amount that she got anyway. She could earn more every week by doing certain jobs - hoovering (because it is a job I hate so I would gladly pay her to do that!) and taking care of at least one load of laundry (because I thought it a good thing she knew how to deal with that)

However, she was expected to help out with certain other jobs just as a matter of course e.g. washing up, setting the table.

I think they should do some chores as a matter of course (unpaid). DS,16, who is in the 6th form, decided he wanted a very part time job at the same time as my cleaner retired. I pay him to do 2 or 3 hours' cleaning a week. He has to be reliable and do a good job, just as I would expect from a professional.

Mine are expected to help out round the house. We all muck in. They get pocket money based on behaviour. If they do extras or go above and beyond what DH and I expect then I would give them extra or buy them something they want. They get £5 a week each.

My DC are expected to do basic chores:

Feed the dog (on a rota)
Clean and tidy up after themselves at mealtimes
Put their clothes away when they’re washed
Keep their bedrooms tidy
Bring the post in from the post box
Load/unload the dishwasher

They can then earn extra cash (between 20p and £5 for a job) for various tasks - doing a load of washing, cleaning or vaccing the car, scooping poop from the garden, setting the table for dinner, vacuuming the stairs, cleaning the windows, sofas, etc.

Chores are part of the business of living in a family. They aren't paid work

I agree. My kids (teens) all get pocket money. And they all do chores on a fairly regular basis, such as emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming, cleaning sinks, dusting, Sometimes we all have a blitz on housework together, it’s amazing how much we can get done in an hour when we all do it together. But they are not linked to pocket money. We all live in this house, we all look after it.

We do occasionally pay the younger DC to wash the car, if they need/want any money over their usual pocket money. My eldest DC works a few hours a week, so makes a bit extra that way .

Nope. Never will pay them to do chores. They are quite happy to pitch in. They love hovering, dusting and washing the dishes. They clean and tidy their own bedrooms every Saturday morning. I started them on this routine when they were really little(4yrs old). They never complain.

Why would I pay them to do chores? It's their house too and they are part of the family.

If and when they want money they can get a a Saturday Job. Otherwise they get what they want on their birthdays and Xmas. I give them some pocket money which they save mostly to buy anything else.