Chores, simple tasks for kids to earn allowance?
Now she is eager to help somehow. And we decided to give her a little bit of money to put into her piggy bank...right now she has no idea what the value of a dime-$1 is...so we can take advantage of that. I am already doing a behaviour/school work reward chart to encourage Parker to do better at school. She gets a star everyday, and 2 if she gets 100% on her spelling test. She wants a Mario Kart Dash game...but she has to earn it. Any ideas....our dishes are too high for her put away, leaving the cutlery and pots and pans. I have her give the dogs treats, but I usually feed them...I guess I could give her that job. She is responsible for her room/playroom/picking up her own laundry...which Parker is also expected to help. She just turned 7. She wants to help, but I want to be careful not to redo her work because she missed something. I want to be able to let it go...which I am getting better at. Like making her bed for example. |
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| Could she help you cook sometimes?
Maybe she could set the table if you put a stack of dishes/cutlery, etc. on the table for her first? Are there any cleaning chores she could do that don't involve dishes, like sweeping or dusting? I'm sure you wouldn't want her scrubbing toilets or anything involving harsh cleaners. Maybe she could help you or your husband with some yard work, like raking leaves or digging up bulbs for the winter - if you got her a smaller rake? If you have a dishwasher she could help by loading the dishwasher after dinner? It's so wonderful that she wants to help out and I'm sure you don't want to discourage her by working her too hard, so I think if you give her things to do where she is working together with you (or hubby) or working nearby, then she'll feel like she's working as part of a team, as opposed to being put to work alone. |
| A good job for little ones is dusting.. .at least it is around here. LOL
My kids all have done chores since they were small, ages 3-6 basically just picking up their own toys etc... ages 6-8 cleaning their rooms, helping to set the table, straightening up the entry way (shoes, boots, mitts, hats etc), 8-10 they start learning bigger stuff like dishes (washing,drying and putting away plastics, pots and pans), wiping down tables and counters before and after meals, helping to clean the bathroom, by the time they are 12 they are expected to each clean one room of the house per day and we all take turns on whatever room. I don't care which room they do, but it includes tidying up, dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming etc. The litterbox gets scooped everyday, and dog poop gets picked up everyday, but since there are 6 of us no one has to do it more than once a week except me. 
Because things gets done so frequently it doesn't build up and takes only a few minutes. Both my husband and I work full time and with the dogs and kids there is no way I could keep up otherwise. Each kid gets an allowance which has gotten bigger as they have, and if something doesn't get done, they don't get any money. My middle child frequently gets nothing  He'll figure it out one of these days... LOL |
| I still keep the habit of everything up high, but I suppose I could rearrange some things...to do shoes, hats etc..that area is pretty tidy.
No chemicals for them...I was thinking of getting the swifter dust cloths...but I have zero nickknacks...just end tables and tv stand...easy dusting areas. Altho I never consider this...swifter vac with floor duster...she can do that I think, light weight and fun too. We rarely use the dining table, so I dish up from the stove and we eat infront of the tv...bad habit yes..but we don't want to change enough, LOL. I know she is very tired of cleaning up toys, I seem to nag them a million times about it. I had them shovel the driveway after we had snow...they did a pretty good job...they had fun. I keep thinking about being pregnant next year, then the babies..I will need their help more than they know. But I never want to forget they are still kids themselves. But as a household, we should start coming up with a routine, and be comfortable with some sort of schedule. Right everything is willy-nilly...except for bedtime and waking up...that is very regular. |
| Here's what my 3 and 5 year old help with...
-Setting the table -Taking their dirty dishes to the sink -Making up their beds (with help from me) -Picking up any and all toys they leave scattered in the house -Picking up any toys, clothes, books, etc... in their bedroom floor before bed -They help me cook - get ingredients, add the ingredients when I open cans, cut veggies, etc.. , stir, easy stuff They LOVE doing this so it's not really a chore to them -Feed the dogs & cats (I water) -I have a Bissel mop/vacuum machine and Brandon likes to use it lately - so I let him mop after I sweep -They both like to rinse the dishes and put them in the drainer so they do that while I'm washing them (they actually fight over this job!) -They clean my walls, cabinets, windows, refrigerator, etc... when I'm tidying up elsewhere. It keeps them busy and out of my hair and they enjoy it. -We've been doing a ton of yard work, so they've been carrying sticks and pine cones and putting them in the burn pile -They help pick veggies out of the garden when we have them to do & they help plant when it's time to plant too. I just give them the easy, busy work. They like helping out, and they do get allowance. Not really money, but we might buy them a new toy, a video game, take the to the arcade, take them bowling, or to McDonald's to play & get a happy meal. Here lately, they've been wanting to put their 'allowance' into their savings accounts for the trip we're taking to Walt Disney World next year. They said they want to buy toys while there, so I told them they better start saving their money because Disney is expensive. They're doing it so far. I'm putting about $25-30/paycheck into their accounts for them...definitely more than they usually get but that'll give us plenty of spending money for them without it killing our bank account when we get there.  |
| My kids have always had chores to do. My kids do more chores than most kids. They dont watch tv during the week(I'm really strict...no tv, no video games, no computer...unless its to do homework), after school they have to get their homework done, time to play and then chores. Their chores take up a total of 1/2 hour a day. I also don't give them allowance. Chores are part of what is expected of them as part of a family. We have a 'job' schedule on the fridge and each kid has 2 major jobs per week, and some smaller jobs as well as keeping their rooms tidy and toys picked up. They also put laundry away (each kid does their own, I fold the wash and put it in individual baskets...when the basket is full they are responsible for putting the clothes in their dressers...this job has been done since they were 3 or 4)
Their weekly jobs are : empty dishwasher, set table, feed dogs, clean dog poop, carry dirty laundry to laundry room, dust stairs and spindles, take out recycling, scrubby dishes after supper, vacuum their rooms. Since we all do chores together no one feels like they are doing work while others are playing. The younger kids also might need help to do some of the chores and you have to be willing to not have things 'perfect'..for example sometimes the clothes put away in their drawers are not as neatly folded as they were when I took them out of the dryer...but I have learned to pick my battles and in the scheme of things they feel like they have really helped me so whats a few wrinkles! Your 7 year old can certainly help with the laundry....sorting clothes into piles for the washer, folding towels, helping to put laundry away. She can take the garbage, composting and recycling out. |
| I forgot to mention that I am a stay at home mom and I could easily get all these chores done myself while they are at school but then that would not be teaching the kids how to do things for themselves. My parents didnt do that with my sister and at 28 she is still living at home having mom and dad do everything for her. |
| I am so glad to hear about all these kids doing chores. So I can tell mine that they are not the only ones in the world!!!
When they are little it is hard not to re-do it behind them, but it can always be re-done when they are in bed.  As long as they don't know they will still think they are doing a great job.. |
I have an 18 yr old am willing to farm out so someone can teach him again that doing chores is a part of contributing to the home.  |
| Folding laundry like towels or matching socks together.
Can they clean mirrors and windows. You can mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle(no chemicals). If you put enough water it doesn't smell. I know we always have doggie nose prints on the sliding glass door. Vacuuming, sweeping and mopping. I remember as a kid I always wanted to help with "grownup" type of things. I know my neices and nephews always enjoy helping with dinner. Getting cans out of the pantry, setting the silverware, etc. |
I'll take him, Wynette! I need a houseboy to help pick up around here. Does he do yardwork? I tried to get Jil to do it while she was here but alas, no.  |
| Here's what we were responsible for as kids. As we got older, we got more chores to do, so add them slowly:
cleaned out our bedrooms 1 time a week made beds every day picked up basement (playroom) on saturdays cleaned bathroom 2x a month (note there are now fabulous, chemical free cleansing products like 7th generation that are perfectly safe for pets children and pregnant gals. I love my 7th gen products! No more excuses for kids not to do cleaning!!!) Helped clean the house 1x a month (dusting, vacuuming) did dishes every night and wiped up the kitchen. (christina and I would trade between the "sink" duties and the dishwasher duties We also helped with the garden, pulling weeds and picking fruits and veggies. We would also do "side projects" for extra money when we wanted. Gross stuff like cleaning the oven, refrigerator, and microwave. Don't be wimps! There is no reason why everyone's children (Who are healthy) cannot take an active role in the household chores. You're teaching them responsibilty, and housekeeping skills that they will need when they become adults! |
| These are some great ideas, and I never looked at it as chores to do...but I do have our kids help with their own laundry, putting in the basket as a habit. I also have a basket for each member to put away their things.
I do make them tidy up the playroom and their bedroom....but this is never "fun" it's always work...no matter what game I try to make it. I have on occasion asked them to collect the bathroom garbage, and they do recycle things...if the bag is light enough I have asked them to take it to the garage. I think I will try the vinegar and water...after all they are the ones messing up the mirror constantly. She will now take the job of feeding the dogs, and using the swifter vac on the laminate and lino. I will also get the swifter cloths...or spray a cloth and they can both dust. Do the mirror...problem is they have to climb on the things to reach. I will make a list and put it on the fridge...she wants to have some money too...and I know daily house chores is expected, but at the same time I want to teach work ethic. They work at home, they will be rewarded, and if they don't work they don't receive. We are talking $1.50 a week kinda thing for her. I don't think we will include what is expected in this allowance part...like the toys, bedroom and cleaning up their personal things. But the extra such as laundry, and cleaning, and pets etc...that can be paid things. |
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