Chores - Belleville,MI

My 5 year old cleans up his playroom and brings his dishes to the sink after meals. He gets himself dressed in the am and puts his pjs on at night and puts the dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

We do not give him an allowance yet and when we do it will not be for "chores". I want him to understand that everyone helps out around the house becuase families share the work, not for money.

I put my five kids names on those craft sticks and put a magnet on the back. They pick a new choir everyday out of a cup then place it by their name. They love that everyday it is new. My 5 year old almost six cleans bathrooms, does dishes and vacuums. No I am not mean, they love it. The great thing is that they are always different. So if my 4 year old vacuums or has to clean the bathroom and does not do a great job, then tomorrow my 10 year old may get it and then it is done better. They are then allowed to pick a chore to do all week that they may get an allowance for. The catch is that they are not reminded about it or told to do it. If they miss a day and I have not told them other wise, they do not get paid. They also have to pay me a small fee for cleaning their room. This sounds worse as I write it down. They really are so use to it. We have more time as a family and they feel like that they have some control. I also pick my chores or do what has not been picked in awhile. They are also learning profit, they figure out how much profit that they would recieve if they have to pay me. Of course my 5 year old claimed that she is stinkin rich! The extra chore is not on a stick, I have a list and eachone has a price on it to how much I will pay them. Good Luck!

www.myrewardboard.com
is a great place to start! You get 15 days free trial. I have 4 kids ages 5,7,9,11. They all love it! You can choose chores already listed or make your own. Chose ones that a 6 year old can handle and make sure you teach him every step efficiently so they don't get overwhelmed with the tasks. I pay my two oldest $3 and $2 to my youngest. The chores my 5&7 yr old do are empty wastebaskets, put their clothes away (after the older ones fold them) clean their rooms, make their beds, take dirty clothes downstairs, brush teeth, get dressed, clear the table after each meal (we homeschool so we eat three meals a day at home), pick up their things around the house, dry dishes, do their school work everyday. There are also behavior skills they can work on, and a goals chart.
Check it out!
I would also recommend reading Raising your Child's Financial IQ by Robert Kiyosaki (author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad books.) Get them or make three piggy banks and put 10-30% of their allowance into each jar when they get paid. 1 for savings, 1 for charity and 1 for investments. If you read the book you'll understand what each one is for and how to use the money in it.
Good luck!
C.

We have a combination of expected chores (because you're a member of the household) and paid chores. Everyday my kids ( they are 5 and 6 yrs old) are expected to get themselves dressed , brush their teeth, clear their plates, put dirty laundry in the hamper, and keep up their own toys. Their "jobs" alternate weekly and they are to load the dishwasher, set the table, and vacuum (carpet/ hardwood floors). These are done 5 days a week and they receive a quarter per day. For the first couple of months we would take our kids to the dollar store to purchase one item, even if they didn't earn their whole allowance. It only took one time for my son to realize that when he didn't do all his chores, he couldn't get a reward. We have stopped taking them to the dollar store weekly, now that good habits have been formed but we do allow them to request a movie night when they have saved enough money. They bring their allowances and pay for themselves to see a movie (the $5 weekday ones). It seems to work out well. They initially learned if you don't do your job you don't get paid, and now they can save to attain something that they want. Hope some of this is helpful!!
J.

I have two daughters, 3 & 5, they both have about three chores each. Our youngest is responsible for setting the supper table and helping feed the dogs in the afternoon. Our oldest is responsible for giving us any items in her back pack after school and clearing the supper table. They both have to pick up their toys at the end of the night.

We'll issue reminders, like when it's time to set the table we'll call our youngest in to get the dishes needed. Our oldest knows when I start to stack dishes that she needs to help. At bed time we just simply say time for bed time routine - they know that includes picking up toys, getting into pj's and going to the bathroom (we do baths in the morning).

As for allowance goes, it depends on how well they have completed their jobs. They each get 75 cents for the week to start with, it breaks down to a quarter per chore, or a nickle per chore per day. Our oldest daughter can earn an additional 50 cents per week for good behavior at school. They can also get "bonuses" if they are particularly helpful during the day - like taking care of something without being asked. Both of the girls are very helpful and will pitch in and help if one of us are doing something - especially in the kitchen.

My youngest (of 3) is almost 6. At this age, feeding/watering the cat, emptying the bathroom trash cans, making their bed and dusting are all good and age appropriate. We don't give allowances in our house - everyone, including the parents, does their part. If everyone helps it leaves more time for getting out of the house and doing stuff together.

N.,

My 5 year old unloads the silverware rack from the dishwasher. He also takes care of his own clean, folded, playclothes. He has older brothers and shares a room with them, and they all clean up the bedroom together.

He also helps me tidy up around the house too, and likes to help fold laundry but he doesn't HAVE to help with those things, sometimes he just does.

I find my boys are more cooperative at chore time if we are all working together or at least in the same general area. We also use a reward system of computer time for extra chores, but we do not do an allowance for regular chores.

Six is very young to be doing chores. I would ask my five and half year old to pick up a few toys, help put a puzzle away, perhaps he might help me lay the table - basically little ones like helping their mom if they do it together. I wouldn't expect him to clean or do anything like that - you could probably ask him to wash his face and hands if he was up to it. I don't give him an allowance yet. Sometimes he'll get a treat if it's not too expensive. Good luck - Alison

N., Honey that is an easy one, 6 chores a day, 60 cents a day, 6 days a week, they can choose the day off!
Half of the money goes into GLUED shut bank, for when they are 16, If you can find a "car" shaped bank that is great!
The rest they can choose how to spend, you can get 2 banks, one they can Take from when they need it! Start talking about how much cars cost, and how much will be in the bank when they can drive, it will be a good down payment for a car. I did this with all of my kids, now my grandson who lives with me. You can have a JOB JAR, put small jobs on a piece of paper, dust the living room, fold a load of laundry.... jobs can change as they get older.
Have "job time" each day, same time. No incentive, part of a working household, explain you need the help, talk about goals, what they can do with the money, just like brushing out teeth, getting dressed we all work every day, let one of the days jobs be help cook dinner, let them help choose the dinner in advance, work together! YOUR JOB as a parent is to teach your child to be responsible for themselves! By teaching them to cook, sort and wash laundry, vacuum.. when they grow up they can take care of themselves. Good luck hon, got any questions? I am always here. K.

My 7 Y.O has to clean up her clothes and make her bed.

When I empty the dishwasher, sometimes she joins in and LOVES to help fold clothes or towels.

If I sweep the kitchen, most of the time she offers to do the steps.

It has been such a part of her life, she just does it. I don't have to yell, beg or threaten .. it is just how she is I guess. Serve with a reverent heart.

Maybe make it a game and see if your little princess enjoys it too.

My 8 yr old has dishes on the weekends, since school takes priority on the week days. She also feeds the cat everyday, but she wanted that job.

My 6 yr old empties all the garbages on Sundays into the big kitchen garbage. She also changes the garbage when its full and takes out the garbage to the cans. All 3 kids take them to the street.

My 4 yr old is in charge of giving the dog food and water daily.

They dont get allowance....its their job to keep up the house. I just tell them its apart of living here. They are good kids and when they want something they usually get it, or they do extra chores to earn money.~~~

my 5 year old puts her clean clothes away (when she was 3 she liked to help fold too but that didn't last long) she also has to keep her room clean and pick up her toys in the living room. she does not get an allowence but every week from my paycheck she gets $5 direct deposited into her account. she loves to cash in her change at the bank and deposit it and when we do vacations and such she has her own money

Hi,

I think most families & children are different. I wonder if it depends upon the character of the child, Our girls are both responsible for something around the home (i figure home is the first place they will learn responsibility) our 5 year old is responsible for picking up after herself, for example clothes from the bathroom, her toys that she plays with and making sure her dishes are placed in the sink and also that her eating area is clean when she is done (table wiped, floor sweep, and it WORKS with her!!! she cleans on her level but it is major help for me. Our 9 year old has pretty much of the same chores but include making her bed, helping to clean up after the puppy and doing the dishes (a work in progress). I had to have a push from the husband to let go of some of the chores and once i did i was amazed at what the children can acomplish so i would say 6 is not to young to be responsible for chores.

Our 7 yr old sets the dinner table, and clears the dishes after we are done. She makes sure that the dog food and water are full. She puts her clothes away in her drawers. And she makes sure her room is picked up at night.
She also used to have to feed the cat, but our 4 yr old wanted in on the "fun" and asked if he can do that as HIS chore.
We give them .50 a year... sorta. Our 4 yr old gets $1.- a week to put in his piggy bank. The 7 yr old gets $3.- a week and has to put 10 percent in the piggy, 10 percent to the church/ needy. The rest she saves to buy stuff with...
We typically would not start a chore system for the kids until 5yrs. But the 4 yr old asked.
Mom and dad do check them... Look at the dog food/ water bowl when you walk past, remind them, Ask them to do it while you are doing something in the same room... Yes, they do complain sometimtes... But they love getting their $$$...

N.; hey yes the dreaded chores, haahah what i do with my 3 sons, is find out what it is they really like to do, most of them play video games etc, when they come home from school, they are to do their homework, and then their chore, then when done they can play video games, or whatever it is, afterwards, they learn they have to do these if they are to play, of course being consistant helps, at 6 i would think he could pick up his room and throw toys in a toy box, and maybe small stuff, what is a real motivator, is to put small things you want done, on a small peice of paper, one per paper, and put them in a bowl, and have him draw something out, also i put in there get a snack or a drink , if they draw that one, they get it, and so forth, once done with that little job, draw another till all the papers you put in are done, you might have to inspect after each paper, this seemed to work well with all 3 of myboys, and they did it together too, like for instance, put away 10 toys . or make your bed, or get all dishes from around the house and put in kitchen, little things, but not overwhelming things, like ifyou want his room clean, break it up , dont just put clean your room, put away all legos, put pillows on your bed, etc, just have fun and consistant is the key , and balance, also reward them and sometimes doing it with them helps too, enjoy life D. s