Should You Or Shouldn't You?
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Ann answers
Opinions differ on this, but I don't believe in paying children for
regular chores. My philosophy is that it takes the entire family to
make a household run smoothly, and each person has to do their part for
the good of the whole. While it's important to teach children the value
of money, it's more important to teach them the value of a family
working together to accomplish a goal that benefits all.
For example, Daddy goes to work to bring home money, so mom can shop and
cook dinner. One kid sets the table so the family can all eat the
dinner together and then one cleans up afterwards so the house looks
nice when they are done. It's all part of family cohesiveness, and I
believe that doing their part teaches children that they are integral
and necessary to making sure the family runs smoothly. It gives them a
sense of being important, even though they may complain. When you add
money into the mix, it takes away from that feeling.
By all means though, pay your children for things above and beyond what
it takes to make the house run. It is important that children learn to
manage money, and that can be accomplished independent of regular
chores. Children should have the opportunity to earn extra for the
things they want, and their first opportunity to work for money is
within your home.
You may want to give extra money for washing and
vacuuming the car, or washing the dog, or organizing the bookshelves by
author. Make sure, though, when you choose an extra chore for pay,
that it is not something that will eventually be one of their regular
chores as they grow.
