Allowance...

[Izzy0906]

Ok, I have a question. How much would you give an almost 6 year old? It's just me and her and she loves to collect things. She's working on her Littlest Pets collection and Bella Sarah cards. She is already good at saving (she saved up $50 to get a butterfly house that she really wanted on her own). She keeps asking for more cards or pets and I keep telling her no because I don't think I should have to buy them. So she has a new set of chores.

1. Emtpy all waste baskets (except kitchen)
2. Feed Dog and hamsters
3. Strip sheets off of all beds every weekend
4. Dust
5. Set Table
6. Help Clear table
7. Keep room straightened
8. Make bed daily

Now for these chores and her age (almost 6) what do you think is a fair weekly allowance?

[blitzen]

My almost 6 year old gets .25 per chore (we have four listed on his chart). He rarely does them all every day. He also gets fined .50 for the things we have listed on the fine chart (there are three things listed there). We came up with all of these together.

So, I'd suggest coming up with a per chore amount instead of a set weekly amount. It's been working out really well for us. Plus, she gets rewarded for the things she actually completes.

[Izzy0906]

My almost 6 year old gets .25 per chore (we have four listed on his chart). He rarely does them all every day. He also gets fined .50 for the things we have listed on the fine chart (there are three things listed there). We came up with all of these together.

So, I'd suggest coming up with a per chore amount instead of a set weekly amount. It's been working out really well for us. Plus, she gets rewarded for the things she actually completes.

I NEVER thought of doing it that way. That's PERFECT. What type of things (if you don't mind me asking) are on the bad chart? I"m assuming you mean things like no lying or no fighting with siblings etc??

[Jamauk]

We don't have a chart for our five year old, but he gets several opportunities to earn a quarter per week.

Basically I'll say "Ben, I have a quarter job for you, are you interesed?" He usually says yes, but on occasion he has passed it up. Then later he's mad because he wants to do the job, but I've already done it.

Things like making his bed, putting a new bag in teh trash cans (his bed room, the office ~ none of the yucky ones). Going out to the curb to bring the trash can back on Friday afternoons, folding wash cloths.

As for clearing his plate after meals and keeping his toys picked up ~ these things are expected of everyone in the house so they aren't rewarded with money. Its just part of being a family and living in our house.

We also got this idea from Dave Ramsey: we don't put the quarters in his piggy bank (that money is "free" money ~ change from Grandma & Grandpa mostly). But we cleaned out an old Peanut butter jar (because its see through) he can see the change growing and when he spends it, he can see it shrinking. Visuals are great for kids this age.

[Izzy0906]

We don't have a chart for our five year old, but he gets several opportunities to earn a quarter per week.

Basically I'll say "Ben, I have a quarter job for you, are you interesed?" He usually says yes, but on occasion he has passed it up. Then later he's mad because he wants to do the job, but I've already done it.

Things like making his bed, putting a new bag in teh trash cans (his bed room, the office ~ none of the yucky ones). Going out to the curb to bring the trash can back on Friday afternoons, folding wash cloths.

As for clearing his plate after meals and keeping his toys picked up ~ these things are expected of everyone in the house so they aren't rewarded with money. Its just part of being a family and living in our house.

We also got this idea from Dave Ramsey: we don't put the quarters in his piggy bank (that money is "free" money ~ change from Grandma & Grandpa mostly). But we cleaned out an old Peanut butter jar (because its see through) he can see the change growing and when he spends it, he can see it shrinking. Visuals are great for kids this age.

I like that idea too. She puts in her b-day money, money for graduation (kindergarten) etc. In her piggy bank. I like the clear jar idea alot. Thanks

[heartofmine]

Great ideas. Just make sure its clear that some things are expected and not rewarded with money. I like the clear jar idea too.

[Izzy0906]

Oh yes. Bed making has been removed along with straightened room. She has plenty of things she does daily that are not included on this list. These are the Xtra's I just added to her.

[IntlMom]

We don;t pay for things that are required. Nope, no "allowance" in our house. As a child in this house you are expected to make your bed, clean your room, and help when told/asked to. However, we do offer paying "jobs" that they may either take or turn down. Basically they are in .25 increments. .25: empty the dishwasher, vacumn, clean a bathroom, dust, weed (.25 for every 15 minutes of "quality" weeding), my oldest loves this one. He sit outside for an hour weeding and then bring in the bucket to show me......I;m happy to pay a dollar for that! Anyway, that;s how it works at our house.

[Palooka]

We don;t pay for things that are required. Nope, no "allowance" in our house. As a child in this house you are expected to make your bed, clean your room, and help when told/asked to. However, we do offer paying "jobs" that they may either take or turn down. Basically they are in .25 increments. .25: empty the dishwasher, vacumn, clean a bathroom, dust, weed (.25 for every 15 minutes of "quality" weeding), my oldest loves this one. He sit outside for an hour weeding and then bring in the bucket to show me......I;m happy to pay a dollar for that! Anyway, that;s how it works at our house.

Exactly. They should not be payed for being part of the family and doing basic stuff to help out and learn responsibility. I never payed my kids for cleaning their rooms. That is a required rule here.

Yep, there is plenty of extra stuff that they can choose if they want to make some money around the house.

[foxxyroxie]

We don;t pay for things that are required. Nope, no "allowance" in our house. As a child in this house you are expected to make your bed, clean your room, and help when told/asked to. However, we do offer paying "jobs" that they may either take or turn down. Basically they are in .25 increments. .25: empty the dishwasher, vacumn, clean a bathroom, dust, weed (.25 for every 15 minutes of "quality" weeding), my oldest loves this one. He sit outside for an hour weeding and then bring in the bucket to show me......I;m happy to pay a dollar for that! Anyway, that;s how it works at our house.

I don't have kids of my own but I can relate to this when I was a kid. My sister and I were almost always given money to see a movie or buy something (within reason). But because our friends got an allowance we wanted a weekly allowance so after some balking, my parents agreed to give us an allowance for doing our chores. But at the end of the week, when they were handing out our allowance, my mom said, 'okay.... I cooked your meals all week, I did your laundry on this day and took you such and such a place this day and there another day. That with be x-amount for meals, x-amount for laundry service and x-amount for taxi service." Let's just say by the end of the conversation, we didn't have much money left so to spend anyway so it wasn't worth it. We eliminated the 'allowance system' upon mutual agreement between my parents and me and my sister.

Kids will realize that that is the way the world runs anyway. There's always a price for something you want or need. I agree wholeheartedly, why should a child be paid for being a part of a family unit. A family works together for the good of the whole group, not just for each individual. Everyone participates and does chores according to their abilities.