Chores for Money

If your child is older than five, you've probably already started an allowance. By age six or seven, you also might have started giving weekly chore assignments. You may have also debated the value of tying the two together and entered into yet another debate on parenting. The two sides:

"The allowance pays for the chores" This side says that we live in a world that rewards people financially for their efforts and kids should understand the way the world works. "You don't get anything for nothing" goes the argument, which maybe is as truer for the kids as the parents in this case.

"You do chores because it's part of the responsibility in a family this side says that kids should do chores just because they are in the "collective" known as a "family." Mommy and daddy don't look for an allowance for doing things. The allowance is just a way to get spending money. If you tie the allowance to chores, good luck getting kids to do anything without opening your wallet with each request.

Some people say that your philosophy will tend to mirror your political persuasion Conservatives may be more likely to endorse the more capitalist "money for chores" approach. More "liberal" parents tend to believe in the value of learning that certain responsibilities just go along with being part of a family.

It's a debate with no real answer and without much option for experimentation - it's best to choose one strategy and stick to it. You may however, choose a hybrid, requiring some chores "just because" while allowing for extra spending money for the tasks that go beyond the call of duty.

Experts differ on whether an allowance for kids should be given as a reward for chores or if an allowance is a separate thing because chores are just part of the responsibility of being in a family. Make sure you monitor how great your child's workload is. Don't pile on too much extra work if he or she is already over-scheduled on activities.

Paul Banas is a founder of GreatDad.com. He writes articles on pregnancy and parenting topics related to dads. Share your experiences related to parenting, pregnancy and raising kids at fathers forum.