Do you give your children an allowance? (teens, teaching, toys)

[mrstewart]

And if you do, what are they required to do to earn their allowance?
We do not give an allowance for the basic chores needed to keep a household running, but we have a set rate for chores/services that are above and beyond the call of household duty.

Some of my kids friends just get an allowance for doing nothing. I always tell them they are lucky they don't live at my house!

[regarese]

We got one when I was a kid. $7 a week and 5 of that had to go into our bank accounts. I think we topped out at $10 a week by the time we were old enough to get real part time jobs. We had to vaccuum everyday (shedding cats), do the dishes we made after school before my mom got home from work, set/clear dinner table, eventually had to do the after dinner dishes, start dinner according to instructions that were left for us (like peel the potatoes), and "other duties as assigned".

[slove1106]

My kids are still young so I thought I'd start on the responsibility now and teach them early. I give my 5 and 8 year old $1 a week (just to ease them into the money deal) and they do simple little things. My 8 year old does the dishes and makes sure to feed his pet (which he hasn't quite got the hang of yet... and he wonders why he can't have a dog!). And my 5 year old (and most of the time my 8 year old too) does the only thing I can really "teach" her for the time being, which is pick up after their mess... You know, putting toys away and such.

I also have a little system going where they'll get a sticker for every extra chore they do or extra school practice work they do. (I have school type worksheets for them to do to kind of speed up their learning) Whenever they get 20 stickers, I also give them a dollar. They also get stickers for doing little stuff here and there as well.

[mari4him]

Not sure how old your kids are but I agree that some household chores such as picking up after themselves, keeping their own rooms clean, their bathroom should be done with or without allowances.

When my kids were younger I used to give them $7 a week. $1 went to church offering (teaching tithing principle). 1/2 of remainder being $3 was saved for any special purchases they wanted and the other $3 was allowed to be used (often on the ice cream truck that came by on weekends lol).

As they got older, Tweens/Teens allowances just kind of stopped because I purchased any needs they had and often some wants here and there anyway. I would however give money to them as needed such as going to the movies with a friend. Receiving these gifts of money was based on if they were up to date with chores, homework done and their behavior had not been a problem, etc. I'd also give rewards when report cards came. They would get matching dollar for grade point. Example. A's = $4, B's = $3, C's = $2.. D's or F's received nothing. This was to encourage and motivate a bit the effort towards the higher grades. Usually each report card held 6 courses meaning 6 grades so even when they came home with straight A's cost to me was $24 while the rewards to them were immense.

I know some people do not or will not agree with that saying grades are their responsibility and yes they are. School is like their job. But we as adults when we go to our jobs like and want that paycheck at the end of the week, rarely do we work for free. To tweens/teens they don't always grasp the concept that good education and grades will be important later on in life. They live in here and now for the most part so this just gave them a little paycheck and when you think that they had to work hard for 9 weeks to earn $24 ... well lets just say I'm glad they never really got greedy about it or figured that out. It was just a fun little challenge for them.

[hutch5]

We give a monthly allowance, 1 euro for each year of their life, so my 11 years old gets 11 euros and my 8 years old gets 8. This is the starting point and they can earn more by helping out in the house and improving some of the behaviour that need improvement. Seems to be working.

[SuzyQ123]

My dd is 9 and she does get money each week but the amount varies. It depends on if/how well she did "her list" without me telling her to do the things on it. I change the list from time to time, adding or taking away things on it. I do pay for grades too. A=$10.00 B=$5.00.

With her money she buys mostly what she wants with my OK. When we go to Wal-Mart she migh want a CD of a Hanna Montana purse. She had to pay for 1/2 of a Nintendo DS she wanted. For big items we usually go 50/50. This helps her learn about long term savings. She is now saving for a bedroom make over, new paint, curtains, bed set, pillows, rug and stuff like that.

Her is a copy of her current list. It helps to keep us from fitting because she knows what to do with out me always having to remind her.

SHOWER
Wash hair and body
Dry off floor
Pick up towel and dirty clothes
Brush teeth
Put lotion on
Clean off counter after you brush your teeth
Put jewelry in your room not left on sink

MORNING
Brush teeth
Get dressed
Make bed
Put PJ’s away
Put hair out of eyes
Eat/drink something
Get backpack together

AFTER SCHOOL
Come straight home/Don’t walk Crystal home
Change/put away clothes
Have a snack/drink
Do all homework/Read for 20 minutes
Put pack back together
Clean up any messes you made
Walk/feed,water the dog
Set the table for dinner
Clear table after dinner

EXTRA
Clean bathroom and kitchen counters/put towel in dirty clothes basket
Clean off stairs/carry everything up the stairs
After you use the bathroom flush and wash your hands
Fold your laundry and the towels

SATURDAY
Vacuum your room
Change your bed sheets
Dust your room
Straighten shoes and closet

When everything on list is done THEN you can
Watch TV
Get on computer
Use the phone
Go outside
Have a friend over
Play in your room
Get in the pool

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by mrstewart

And if you do, what are they required to do to earn their allowance?
We do not give an allowance for the basic chores needed to keep a household running, but we have a set rate for chores/services that are above and beyond the call of household duty.

Some of my kids friends just get an allowance for doing nothing. I always tell them they are lucky they don't live at my house!

Mrstewart: I just want to say "good for you" for having your children do basic chores (without an allowance) and having them earn one. My child is only 2 (and she is learning as we go along), but I'm amazed by the number of teenagers in my neighborhood who do nothing at all. Parents pay for getting lawn mowed and house cleaned and these kids don't even learn to clear a table and do dishes. I frankly don't think doing chores is a disincentive to studying. Time management and work-life balance are important skills to learn early on.

[mrstewart]

Thank you!

[KristyLiz]

We do not give our kids an allowance - not because we have anything against it, it's just never crossed out minds to do so.

I never got an allowance as a kid either, so maybe that's why.

My boys are 7, 5 & 2.

[bibit612]

Our kids 13 & 11 get an allowance of $20 a month. Their chores (keeping their rooms clean, doing their own laundry, taking out the trash, alternating cleaning their bathroom, watering indoor plants, vacuuming the floor and carpet, setting the table and doing the dishes alternating by week, and dog care are not tied to their allowance at all. Their incentive program tied to grades are pretty hefty..the 13 y.o. gets $375 a quarter for 4 A's in core classes, $250 for 3 A's & a B, nothing if worse than this; the 11 year old gets $50 a quarter for each A. These amounts get directly deposited into their accounts to save for a downpayment for a car. The age to get a learner's permit in SC is 15 1/2. My daughter will be able to save for a nicer, newer used car when it's time, so we are incenting her tremendously (and rather generously!) so she knows that the quality of her future vehicle depends on how well she does in school. My son's is lower since he has more years to save for it. Their accounts also hold Xmas money from grandparents and other relatives.

They get paid extra for certain chores out of the ordinary...shredding business paper, washing windows and cars, stuffing business envelopes, etc. It is also their responsibility (their own money) to buy b-day presents for their friends.

I got an allowance growing up but it pales significantly compared to what frills they are getting now.