It might surprise new and non-parents to learn that the topic of a kid’s allowance is one of the hottest of hot button issues in the parenthood world. Some parents think kids should be rewarded financially for doing household chores, some vehemently disagree. Here is how some of the dads of our Facebook community answered a question from a fellow Life of Dad user.
"My children or five and six-years-old. I am curious what other dads think are age appropriate chores for them to do…
Posted by Life of Dad on Monday, March 13, 2017
Jonathan Andrew: My son is 5 1/2 and I have him clear the dishes after every meal, load, start and empty the dish washer, including the knives (I have taught him how to handle them and he knows not to touch them without a grown up around), load and start the clothes washer (he needs help with the soap dispenser but he does everything else). He also helps move the clothes from the washer to the dryer and starts the dryer. He, also, helps fold the clothes and puts his own away. He cleans up his room, he helps bring groceries in from the car and puts them away. I don’t have a reward system in place for any of this.
Kat Cosgrove: Our 2 year old puts her dishes in the sink, puts her clothes in the wash, folds tea towels, helps empty the dishwasher, put food shopping away, picks up her toys and refills the toilet rolls in the bathroom. There are no rewards for this except a thanks and a hug. We talk often about everyone in the family working as a team to make sure everything gets done.
Douglas Leatham: We keep it simple…make their beds, pickup clothes & toys, help with doing the dishes, and emptying dishwasher, and bringing their dirty laundry down to the laundry room. We use a chart to track who does what each week, and my kids get 50 cents for each task completed that goes into their piggybank.
Rich Blk Alderslade: We have a pasta reward system at ours. He made a treasure chest at school so everyday we work out what he’s done to help us and how good he’s been. Once we know how many he has earned he helps us count it into his chest. Every 50 and he gets a prize. Could be anything from his favourite chocolate to his 밀크티 of choice to his favourite magazine. As for chores he helps with sorting out the washing machine and carries plates out after dinner and on the weekend he helps me make his lunch. He’s only 5 by the way.
William C. Kreutinger: I have my kids that age empty the dishwasher after I take knives out and empty little bathroom and office trash cans into the big one in the kitchen. They can also put their clothes away and other things I can’t think of right now. Their reward is continued peaceful existence.
Lee Sforza: Why should they get a reward for being a good human. Chores build character. You shouldn’t have to pay a 5 year old.
How do you handle chores and allowance in your family? Share your story with us on Facebook!
Flickr photo by Steven Depolo, used under Creative Commons license.