Allowances

Ok so Robbie has decided he'd like to start doing chores around the house. Of course this means that we need to give him an allowance. We have also agreed that he is not allowed to do chores (for money) until his responsibilities (cleaning room and basement, taking care of the dog when need be) are completed.

How many chores per day/week should we have him do? And how much should we pay him per week?

And do you have any other ideas on what an just about 8 year old can do besides dishes and help sort and fold laundry. He'd like to vaccum, but dh said no.

It's good he wants to help out more! I have my 8 yr old feed the dogs, help 10 yr old take out the garbage (he gets the bathroom garbage cans and dumps them into the other bag), help keep their room clean, put clothes away, set the table, clear the table, and just help out as needed. Sometimes my 10 yr old does the chores mentioned, plus others I wouldn't let my 8 yr old do. The sad thing is I don't give them an allowance ! We were for awhile, but they kept losing the money we gave to them ! So, until further notice, they get no allowance. Maybe when they can show that they can be responsible we'll consider it again!

Sorry I'm not much help, but this is what happens in our house.

Taking out the garbage, helping to pick up the rest of the house, dusting, etc....

Just curious why your hubby said he couldn't vaccum? (Don't want to open up a can of worms) but I would think that he'd be old enough to handle it..... that would be a good job for him, for sure.

Oops, forgot to add:
I would say that $1-2 (US, don't know exchange for Canadian) or so would be enough for each extra chore, I think that would be reasonable for an 8 YO

This post has been edited by supermom on Jul 3 2003, 04:31 AM

QUOTE

Just curious why your hubby said he couldn't vaccum? (Don't want to open up a can of worms) but I would think that he'd be old enough to handle it..... that would be a good job for him, for sure.

was also wondering that.

I have a couple years befor I have to worry about that but I do plan on giving her one. I plan on having her split it 1/2 to spend 1/2 to put into her savings account. I want to teach her saving money for things...so I aready started he savings account and when she is given money for whatever reason I put it in her account. So far for a 6 month old she is pretty rich!

QUOTE (supermom @ Jul 3 2003, 06:29 AM)

Just curious why your hubby said he couldn't vaccum? (Don't want to open up a can of worms) but I would think that he'd be old enough to handle it..... that would be a good job for him, for sure.

I thought so too, I think dh just thinks it's too much for him. I don't want to argue with him over this one cause I know that responsibility to him for kids is very important. I asked him what he thinks is good but he's sick right now and said he can't think LOL.

OK, then, he's off the hook - teehee - I thought you might say because he thought it was women's work - teehee -

Hope we were helpful, at least a little bit....he could do dusting - I always had my kids do it because I hated it so much, and I paid them extra to do it.....

how about cleaning the bathroom....somthing I dont like doing? or maybe just helping...

I didn't get an allowance till I was in the 4th grade. My mom had finally let me come home with my older brother after school instead of going to the babysitters anymore. When we got home we had to do our chores and weren't allowed to leave the house until 4pm when she got home,,,I was in charge of vaccuming, dusting and dishes and got 5 dollars a week. My brother also had chores but didn't get an allowance unless his attitude was acceptable. Me and a friend also collected cans from neihbors and recycled them at the grocery store for about 5 dollars that we would split.


Oh yeah, one thing that will never happen with our kids is one getting away with not cleaning their fare share. Me and my sister had to clean our room every saturday and my sister would always sneak out to go play outside, when I would tell my mom, she would say " just let her be, Id rather her not clean anyways cause she doesn't do it right" eeeeeerrrrrrrr, that use to tick me off...Did anyone elses parents do that? Same with the house , my mom always had me clean the house cause I cleaned the way she wanted it done, the rest of them got away with not doing anything.

I am such a bad mommy LOL I do not give allowances to my almost 11 yr old. He helps out alot with Sam but chores are another thing. I do not feel that bribing him with money at this age would be a good thing. I know you are talking about a 8 year old though. I think 1-2$$ would be great if the tasks were done w/o you having to ask 55 times. Once upon a time I made a check off chart and that worked for awhile.

lol...we had the check off chart too, my mom hung it up on the refridgerater and thought she would be able to assign us tasks every week,,,I say thought cause it lasted about a month cause i was the only one who did mine,,,,but I was also the only one with an allowance...

well I paid Robbie for the first time yesterday, I guess DH and I decided around $4-$5. He did dishes, and sorted the laundry for me this week, plus he's a huge help with the dog (feeding him and letting him outside on his leash), although I think this is more a responsibility of having a dog, it's one that I've had a hard time doing lately so he's picked up the slack for it a lot.