Do you give your children financial incentives to help around the house?

[lisalisa]

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I have tried various things. We now pay money into kid's bank accounts regularly as pocket money however we are now insisting on basic contribution to household such as dishwasher, hoovering, dusting etc. Youngest is 11yrs, oldest is 18yrs.

all my children help out around the house, from picking up toys to tidying a room
i will sometimes give them a couple of extra pounds, on top of their pocket money

My two are 6 and 4 and are at the age that they want to help and money doesn't occur to them! DD loves emptying the dishwasher (after I've removed the knives of course!) and DS puts washing in the machine. They both want to help hoover and dust - it's like a race to compete with who helps mummy most. It won't last so I'm making the most of it!

In one form or another, I think this is very common. For instance, the pasta jar system very popular on MN is basically money for good behavior -- including doing chores in many cases.

I ask my kids to tidy up their last mess before they start a new one...

I have mixed feelings about this one. I think up to a point when a child is old enough to do one or two chores then they should do so - unpaid - as part and parcel of living in a house and as part of their family. I don't feel there should be a price attached to everything you do.

But I also do think that good behaviour should be acknowledged (and on occasion rewarded) too. I always remember to thank my children for helping out and reinforce the idea that their help helps us all as a family and that it's considerate, grown-up etc. We give them treats anyway, not as payment as such, but if there has been especially bad behaviour that can stop and it's pointed out why.

Older dd(7) has just started to have pocket money. Dh gives her a little extra if she has been especially good or done well, but jobs etc don't have a tariff as such. I wouldn't want it to be that cut and dried - it seems a bit mercenary to me.

I suppose we're trying to strike a happy medium on this really because I think it's nice to do things just because you know they need doing and want to help out rather than expecting something in return all the time. If you are rewarded too then that's a nice extra iyswim.

Strongly disagree with paying cash for ordinary chores. I tell my sons (6 and 11) that keeping the house clean and tidy is a team effort - something that's expected of them automatically, especially as dh and I work.

I will reward them for working hard or good behaviour - so doing chores can be part of this. But I make a point of never specifically rewarding for chores.

I don't want my sons to grow up thinking that doing housework is a favour or expectiong special praise for doing it - I know so many men who are like this.

I don't think people should be paying their child for helping around the house. My daughter is too young for that so I may yet eat my words but when I was young everyone had to help out a little to keep the house running smoothly.

My kids are 6 and 3, they take their toys back to their bedroom and also like clearing the table and washing it. They also like to have a go at sweeping (I then have to do it again after!) but I'm pleased they want to help. I don't pay them to help and wouldn't either. I'd much rather buy them a treat for being well behaved or on a special occassion.