Charting Chores

Children want money, but as a parent how do you handle the situation when your child holds their hand out all the time? From toddlers to teens money is going to be an issue. Your child wants this and that without realizing objects cost and you have to pay. This is where charting chores come into play.

Deciding when your child starts earning money is a decision only you can make. And how much they receive is also up to you. Before you assign your child chores, set boundaries. Don’t over-compensate or under-rate your child.

Chores can actually begin with the toddler. Although he or she doesn’t understand the value of money, it’s still important to instill values. You need to teach your child the importance of earning money to spend.

Valuable lessons about earning and saving money begin at an early age. For toddlers you need to keep it simple. Start by teaching them to pickup their toys. This is a simple task and requires little effort. The amount you pay should also be simple. Toddlers don’t really need a lot of money. Two dollars is a reasonable chore rate. You could also start teaching your child about saving for a rainy day as well. When you pay for a job well done reinforce why you had them pick up their toys. Your chore rate should be $1.00 for each year of  their age.

Once your child is old enough to understand the concept of money, increase their chores and chore rate. With different incentives your child will have a better understanding of hard work and want to earn more money.

From the tween to the teen is a little more complicated when it comes to charting chores. Older kids tend to think their parents owe them. Don’t let handing over money at will get out of hand. Your teenager should already know the value of money. Chores at this point should be increased as well as monetary compensation. Although, you still need to keep it to a minimum or you’ll go broke. Also, with teens a requirement should include setting up a saving account and putting half of their chore money in it.

Charting chores doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Just knowing when to start and how much to pay is really all you have to decide. Start with ground rules, set boundaries, and don’t give in to your child’s demands.