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Parenting

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Original poster

Do you pay DC to do jobs around the house?

19 replies

chicaguapa · 13/05/2010 20:07

DH is away working at the moment so I have been getting DD(8) & DS(5) to help me out a bit more around the house; emptying the dishwasher, sorting out washing etc. I remember having to do the dusting etc when I was younger and feel that it's a good idea to teach DC how to do housework. The first time either of them loaded the dishwasher, they both put the cups in the right way up instead of upside down!

I was just wondering what jobs your DC do around the house and what the going rate is for 'payment'? They don't get any pocket money and I would like to reward them in some way for helping me. Or is that not neccessary?

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Mutt · 13/05/2010 20:13

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HSMM · 13/05/2010 20:14

I expect my DD to help out because she loves me , but she also has some set 'chores' which she can earn pocket money for.

Batteryhuman · 13/05/2010 20:14

DC is now the PM and has resigned from his cleaning jobs......

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There · 13/05/2010 20:52

I would do unconditional pocket money at the end of the week. They should help you out because you're their mum and you need their help, which sounds like it's what they're doing at the moment, so keep it that way! Otherwise they'll get in the frame of mind that they won't do anything unless they get paid for it.

We had that as kids in the house, we had to help out because the jobs needed doing, and I don't remember ever having my pocket money held back for not doing a job (which would amount to paying for doing a job).

Mutt · 13/05/2010 20:57

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MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 13/05/2010 20:58

I tried to but he said he was too busy in his new job in London!

Spatchadoodledo · 13/05/2010 20:59

You contribute to the mess, you contribute to the clean!

Keep money and chores separate!

cory · 14/05/2010 08:20

No. But am thinking of charging for the jobs I do.

Dancergirl · 14/05/2010 11:49

There's no way I would pay my own children to do jobs round the house. There are some things they just HAVE to do, clearing their plates, putting their dirty washing in the washing basket, strip their beds on bed change day, tidy their toys, a bit of hoovering sometimes etc. We're a family and we all muck in whatever needs doing.

inthesticks · 14/05/2010 14:25

Agree with everyone who says chores should not be paid for. It leads to an expectation of payment for doing the things they should all help out with anyway.
I would make an exception for older children doing a genuine one off job such as clearing the garage or painting the fence.

GetOrfMoiLand · 14/05/2010 14:37

My dd's allowance is dependent on chores undertaken.

She gets £80 a month and she has to do teh following:
Wash dishes every day
Clean bathroom 3 x times week
Clean 2 cars at the weekend
Keep her room tidy, change her sheets, do her ironing.

If she does not do the job (or does it craply) she will not get her allowance.

The chores in this house (and who does them) are rigidly defined. This is her share and I think it is fair.

A lot of her friends have jobs, I do not want her to have one for a couple of years, so this is how she earns her allowance, which pays for all her treats, cinema, make up etc and clothing outside basics.

The above work takes about 4 hours so is roughly minimum wage.

I think it is a good idea that kids get an idea of working = money, and if she cannot experience that outside teh home by getting a job I think it is a good idea for her to 'earn' at home.

Works for us, anyway.

MaisietheMorningsideCat · 14/05/2010 14:41

Mine are a bit older, and they do get paid for big things that we can't be bothered to do eg DS1 got paid £5 to clean out our guttering. Slave labour is alive and well here! They are expected to pitch in and help, and will get money if they've helped out, none if they don't.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to let them understand that work = money. No work - no money. Welcome to the real world, kids.

Mutt · 14/05/2010 18:09

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inthesticks · 14/05/2010 18:37

I'm with Mutt. Helping with those things that are necessary to run a home is not work. We all have to do it whether we like it or not.
Otherwise I should be charging an hourly rate for all the stuff I do.
And double for cleaning the bathroom

mjinhiding · 14/05/2010 18:46

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MaisietheMorningsideCat · 15/05/2010 11:47

Because it teaches younger children that they must work for their money, that's why. There is no other form of work for children under the age of 14, so I think it's absolutely appropriate that they have set jobs around the house that they have to do for pocket money. A general keeping-the-house-tidy, clearing plates after mealtimes, that kind of thing is a family pitching in, but set jobs that they are required to do in order to earn their pocket money - perfectly reasonable.

I was earning pocket money from the age of 7 - had to sweep down (as in, on hands and knees with a brush and shovel!) our the wooden bits at the sides of the stairs to earn a grand total of 15p a week (c. 1975). That was in addition to pitching in and keeping the place clean, but served me well in later life, and showed me that you work for money. My first proper job outside the house was at 13 when I had a morning paper round 6 days a week - work ethic very strong in my family.

Morloth · 15/05/2010 12:08

Hell yes, he has some chores that are his and he doesn't get paid for those. But I will pay him for stuff that isn't his that I want him to do, he has just figured out he can offer to do jobs and get paid for them - it is excellent.

cory · 15/05/2010 13:43

As a SAHM my spending money did not depend on whether I had hoovered the house that day or not: it is not true that adults always work for money. Sometimes they work simply because things need to get done and that too is a kind of work ethic I want instilled in my children. I want the kind of children who will pitch in and help a friend or an elderly neighbour without constantly asking "what's in it for me?". And I certainly don't want to see a society where only things that are paid are valued.

MaisietheMorningsideCat · 15/05/2010 15:13

No, they don't always work for money, but the fact is that in order for the bills to be paid, and for there to be money for the things we want, someone has to work to bring home that money. I think it teaches them a very valuable lesson that a lifestyle (to whatever extent) has got to be worked for, and that it's also important to budget. I love working for money - a fabulous sense of achievement, but I'm also very active in our community as a Community Councillor which is obviously voluntary. The kids know that the 2 aren't mutually exclusive and do things to help others, and do things to earn money.

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