by Trina 
For a while now I’ve wanted to incorporate some type of chore chart into our daily/weekly routine. I want to teach the kids to pick up after themselves without having to nag all the time.
I’ve seen printable charts, magnetic charts and visual “charts” {like Flowers in a Pot or Bees in a Hive}. I’m thinking we are going to need something highly visual and interactive so I like the idea of the Bees in a Hive {worker bees are good workers 
} but maybe not in a jar, maybe a big poster with bee cutouts that can be positioned and repositioned as needed.
I need something that I can stick with, that will get the kids excited and I want to also incorporate some of them as PAID chores.
The kids are ALWAYS asking for things, whether it be something on TV or something they see while we’re in a store. I say no 99% of the time because #1 they don’t need more “stuff” and #2 the grandparents usually beat me to buying the “stuff” {whether I want them to or not…but that’s another subject}.
I want to teach them the value of saving up to buy something they really want so that they appreciate it more. I also want to teach them about giving and saving.
I just found a website that may offer some suggestions on this as well, but I haven’t had a chance to read any of it yet. But I’ve got it bookmarked for later, you can check it out here.
So I want your feedback on what you’ve tried and what works for you or what didn’t. Do you pay your kids an allowance? How much and which chores do you specify as paid chores?
September 1, 2010 at 11:46 am
Oh! I’m def gonna be back to see what your readers suggest. I was just talking to Joey about how frustrated I am with having to constantly tell the kids to do things/pick up when they should KNOW to do it already.
I’m also curious about the paid chores. I go back and forth between “they should get an allowance” and “I shouldn’t have to pay them to do things that are just part of being a family.”
Can’t wait to hear your solution!
September 1, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Stephanie & Gina~
I was reading over this and I like what she says. http://www.homeschool-curriculum-for-life.com/paid-chores-for-children.html
I think that personal hygiene and basic chores like cleaning their room, etc should not be paid chores. But ones that would not be typical everyday chores. Like pulling weeds or raking leaves, helping daddy or mommy with a project like cleaning out the garage, car or frig etc.
I think its healthy for kids to learn early about the value of earning money and appreciating it then giving, saving and spending, in that order. But I also think it’s important for them to know you don’t always get “paid” to work. Like cleaning up after yourself isn’t a paid job for anyone even in the adult world.
September 1, 2010 at 11:53 am
I fall firmly on the side of “I shouldn’t have to pay them to do things that are just part of being a family.” Abby (who is 6) has chores that she must finish before she can have certain privileges (like watching TV or playing DS) and she gets privileges taken away if she doesn’t do them. Grayson (who is 2) will eventually have the same thing. He already helps pick up toys, etc. We don’t tie money to it at all. I’m not opposed to an allowance at some point in the future, but it won’t be tied to their chores.
Incidentally, we use a Melissa & Doug magnetic dry erase board chore chart that I found at a consignment sale for $1. It works great because you change up the chores as needed. I don’t know if they still make them, but we love it!
September 1, 2010 at 12:22 pm
They actually have a Melissa & Doug chore chart on HauteLook today. Mine is a little more “old school” but the magnets and the concept are the same.
September 1, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I believe there are some chores that children can be paid for, but i believe that children should also learn that “chores” are a part of being a family and working as a team.
September 1, 2010 at 2:35 pm
We are starting that this month. As far as chores, it would include to keep their room picked up/beds made. AJ- take out the trash, pretty much anything we ask them to do would be considered a chore, but they have to do it with a good attitude and if there is a bad attitude then we might start taking a fee from their allowance before they recieve it. We are probably thinking somewhere in the vacinity of around $5 a week, maybe $3-$4. That’s alot for them after a month!
September 1, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I firmly believe there are chores, such as personal hygiene, making their bed and picking up their belongings to be “responsibilities” and not to be paid for. You can have a separate list for the “extra paid for” chores. Those can be done after they have kept up with the responsibilities. Make a chart of 4 or 5 age appropriate chores and assign a “price” for each chore. I did a “price” for each item, because kids get discouraged when they have an “all or nothing” chore chart. When one child sees the other making more money, they are usually motivated to want to do more too. You can add more chores as their abilities grow.
September 1, 2010 at 3:29 pm
This is something I’ve been wanting to do as well. I am so tired of nagging my 6 yr old
I am really interested in seeing what you pick out…because I think a chart is a good way to go…I was thinking about hanging something on the back of my daughter’s bedroom door…I don’t know…LOL…but I’ve got to come up with something, heehee!
September 2, 2010 at 10:05 am
I keep my kids’ chore charts on the fridge in the kitchen. The chores include things like emptying the dishwasher and the house trash. We break it down daily so that by the end of the week, if the kids have done everything by 6:00 pm daily, they earn $5 per week. (My kids are older so this amount seems fine for now). They’re expected just to help out around the house too as part of the family. Oh, and we have an extra space on the chore chart if the kids do an extra job to earn extra money – like washing the dog or washing the car. Hope this helps!
September 2, 2010 at 11:41 am
Hi Trina! Just got caught up on all your OOTD videos. I think they are great. Loved the one where Xander sang himself Happy Birthday. I of course love your videos and would love to still get to watch them. I like when you show new eye makeup and lip gloss too.
~Rae
September 2, 2010 at 11:48 am
My parents used to give me a base allowance. I was expected to keep my room clean and help sort the laundry or collect the trash. Then for whatever else I did around the house, I’d earn an extra $1 or 2. Like sweeping or helping clean the kitchen.
And I used to get paid for grades. I know that sounds weird. But my parents always told me that it was my job to go to school and get good grades. I think I got $4 or 5 for an A and $2 less for a B. And nothing below that.
I also found this article (http://www.smartandtrendymoms.com/2010/09/chore-cup.html) You could write different chores on it. Then put a different color dot on it. Just an idea.
September 7, 2010 at 9:48 am
We didn’t pay allowance to our kids. When they were young, made “good work tickets” for doing regular family/personal chores and then at the end of the week, they could use their tickets to go shopping in “Mom’s store”. When they were older, we used work charts and rotated jobs such as sweeping, setting and clearing the table for meals, trash etc. I had a few messy and a few neat kids as teenagers. The ones who were neat, I praised God for and the ones who were messy, I just closed their bedroom doors so I wouldn’t have to see it !