Should I be paying my kids to help?

[sorrento56]

Because they will come up with all sorts of reasons shy they won't. Their arm/leg/ear/tooth hurts. They didn't make the mess so why should they clear u. They will only do it if I do X or they can do X. I keep telling them if they helped more I would have more time to do things with them. They keep asking for pocket money but tbh we have no idea how much to give them and can't afford much at all.

Firstly remember who is the adult! YOU....after that it really depends upon their ages.

You could make a job sharing chart so that they take turns - washing up, wiping up, laying the table and such things, which benefit ALL the family. Even little ones can help.

Cleaning their own room @ 7+ is down to them - no reward. Get them to choose which day they will do it and keep a chart. If they do the choosing then they will stick with it. If they refuse ....... take away something they enjoy. YOU are in charge.

Doing a little extra - which makes your life easier - reward with a set rate of pocket money.

It's a myth that children, even young ones, can't understand if your finances are tight. Explain to them what your money has to pay for - they WILL understand.
All the best.

Thank you - good ideas there. How much would you give?

No idea. I used to get 8 shillings a week at 14 (about 40p)!

Base it on what YOU can afford.

What do you want them to be doing? How old are your children?

Mine are 7 and 5 and they both clear up after themselves, put their own clothes in the wash basket, clear away thier own toys etc..... no ifs no buts and I dont particularly care if their tooth hurts or there arms are suddenly too small to be tidying away toys which were taken out and thrown about no problem....

I refuse to pay them to tidy after themselves.

Perhaps when they're older and chores get more difficult.

Anything would be good. They just do not want to do anything at all to help. You would think I was asking them to do heavy housework. Ds1 has been known to put clean clothes to wash rather than put it in the drawer .