Kids Allowance

Should parents pay a kids allowance (or youth allowance) for those daily household chores?

Let's stop and think about this a minute...

As a parent, do you get paid to wash dishes or make your bed? No! So, why pay your children to do those chores?

There are certain things in life that simply have to be done, whether you like it or not!

Children need to understand that daily chores are done out of necessity in a loving environment where everyone "pulls their own weight".

When children are paid for those routine age appropriate chores that must be done in every home, the wrong message is conveyed: "I can get paid for most anything I do!"

They'll be in for a rude awakening down the road. Why get them used to that whole idea in the first place?

Rather, give a reward when extra effort is done on their own. That could be for something they did well without you having had suggested they do it, like cleaning the garage or acing the ACT!



Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for a kids allowance. But not for doing daily or weekly tasks.

Check out the benefits of chores for kids and see what age your child can start helping around the home.

We gave our homeschool children money for things like washing the car. It is extra effort that should be compensated.

Reward those tasks that are not done routinely or that require more time and elbow grease as my mom used to say!

Click here for a free Household Chores Checklist.

Annette's job is mopping the floors. That includes removing Liberty's dog hair that's stuck to the bottom of the chair legs!

Grandparents…are a different story! Mark’s mom lives just a few blocks from us, alone in her big old house. As you might imagine, she occasionally needs help with yard work or moving heavy things, etc. She always pays the children well for any help they give her. Plus she enjoys the company. It’s a win-win!

Teen Allowance

With age, comes responsibility. By now, your teen should be able to do daily/weekly tasks well without having to be told. We do not pay our teens a kids allowance to do these chores.

This is a time for our teens to be thinking about a home business. Your daughter may consider babysitting or baking while your son may mow lawns or do odd jobs for people in your neighborhood.

My children are writing pages for my website and I pay them for it. You can, too!

This not only makes them better writers, but teaches them computer skills that are so necessary today.

While on the subject of teens, let's touch on the topic of checkbooks and credit cards.

This is a good time for your teen to start and maintain a checkbook. You could even reward them at the end of the year for balancing out each month! Makes for a great math lesson, too! See if you can balance work and study evenly.

As for credit cards…not necessary until 18 and then the card must be paid in full at the end of each month. No ifs, ands, or buts!

Only you know what’s best for your family. Talk it over with your children before adopting the best kids allowance plan.

Looking for that perfect free printable chore chart? Look no more!

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