Then I recalled a conversation that I once had with my principal in regards to chores and allowance. She had once read an article that said that an allowance should not be directly related to your children doing their chores. After hearing that, I disagreed. I felt like there was nothing wrong with paying your children for their work. After all, when I complete my job I get paid.
She went on to explain that every child should learn how to manage money - to see the value in saving for the things you want, and not frivolously spending money on things that are not needed. After all, when all the money gets emptied from their piggy bank to buy that must-have toy, maybe they will think twice. Agreed.
The article stated that chores are a way of contributing to the household and being part of making the house run effectively. As a family we work together to accomplish tasks and take pride in how it looks (and feels) when it is done. Agreed.
So my principal adopted this theory with her own children when they were little. She paid them a weekly allowance at the start of the week. Throughout the week they had a list of a few chores they were responsible for completing. It was their job to do it. If the job didn't get done, or they didn't feel like doing it, they could pay their sibling to complete the task (if they said they would). If not, my principal completed the task, but charged an adult rate to do it.
After the discussion, she had me convinced. I like that completing a task is not directly correlated with getting paid to do it - that they are not motivated by extrinsic variables like money. I want Quinn and Sullivan to be motivated to do things intrinsically because it is the right thing to do - regardless if there is a reward that comes from it. I want them to be generous in their gestures and their willingness to help others out. Maybe that is a far reach to correlate those two, but time will tell.
I also want them to be able to manage money appropriately and see the value in saving for the things you need or want. I believe strongly that they have to learn this lesson early.
So.... we've started an allowance and we've also started chores. The girls have been VERY good about doing what is asked and what is expected. Only once has Sullivan paid Quinn to do her chore. Quinn has paid Sullivan no times.
Each morning, the girls are expected to make their bed. After we eat, Quinn wipes the table down and Sullivan vacuums up the crumbs on the floor. Nothing complex for chores yet, but enough for them to feel they are contributing. The chores will change over time.
A conventional way to make your bed...
An unconventional way to make your bed... but it still works!
The happy girls with their finished products...
For now, we are relishing in the fact that they are contributing (without a fight) and learning the value of saving their money.
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