• Home

  • Meet Stacey

    • Work with Me

  • Decor

  • Family

  • Food

  • Style

  • Travel

  • Shop My Feed

  • PRIVACY POLICY

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Posh in Progress

Should Little Kids Get an Allowance?

By Stacey Freeman 1 Comment

Did you have chores as a kid? I did. But they were all very simple, and I received incentives for helping. My kids have always been very interested in helping around the house. As preschoolers, we came up with several things they could do to help around the house. I’ve read several articles that talk about the benefits to kids who have chores. But should little kids get an allowance for helping around the house? Or is this part of their ‘job’ to live in our family’s home?

Should You Make Little Kids Do Chores?

Now that our kids are old enough to do chores, and are starting to understand the value of money, we’ve decided that some chores will earn them an allowance. For us, chores have at least a couple of benefits. Most important to me, chores teach work ethic and responsibility. They also show our kids that life isn’t always about fun and play. Life is about work, doing things that we don’t love. Although I want my kids to have a carefree childhood, I also want them to understand that life does require discipline, a strong work ethic, and doing things we don’t love to do all the time to be successful.

This article actually outlines 7 ways that chores benefit kids. I couldn’t write it better myself. Probably most important is that chores create more successful adults. We all want our kids to be successful, right? So instead of seeing chores as a punishment, we should see them as a powerful tool to instill work ethic and values.

Should Little Kids Get an Allowance For Chores?

Once we decided that it made sense for our kids to participate in doing chores, we talked about whether our kids should earn an allowance or not. As kids, we both received allowances. Mine were attached to chores when I was younger, but as a teenage, they no longer were. My allowance was much more tied to ‘being a good kid’. My parents didn’t have to question where I was or whether I got good grades, because I did. They instilled that work ethic in me early on, so I just did what I was supposed to do. I can’t say for sure if chores are part of the reason, but I am sure they didn’t hurt.

Another thing my parents instilled in me from an early age was the need to save. When I got my first job at 16, and throughout high school, every check I earned, half of the money was put into a savings account. The other half, I was able to spend freely. Although, at the time, this felt like such a punishment, I’ve learned they were simply trying to instill the value of saving for the future.

How to Start Teaching Financial Literacy Too

After much though, we’ve decided to give our kids $5 a week for helping with chores around the house. Although they aren’t quite old enough to do most of the chores without constant supervision, we have gotten them involved in several ways. They help with dusting, sweeping, and mopping. They do complain sometimes, but other times, they really enjoy being involved.

Once their weekly chores are complete, they each receive $2.50 – the other half is added to their savings accounts. We told them that at the end of the year, they could cash in their savings for one big prize. For example, a trip to Disney, or a toy they’ve been eyeing. This tactic teaches them the value of saving and also the value of delayed gratification – at least, I hope it does. Earning an allowance is an easy entry point to teaching your kids about financial literacy. If you’re looking for more tips, I wrote an article awhile back with 7 tips to teach young kids about finances.

The one thing our kids are required to do that does NOT earn them an allowance is keeping their room clean.  think it is still a little confusing to them. But, we are trying to instill the value of taking good care of your things and taking pride in your own home. Although we decided not to attach room cleaning to their list of chores, it is still part of their weekly responsibilities. Thus far, they have shown a lot of pride after they clean their room. They always rush downstairs so we can come and see their work. Giving them positive reinforcement after they clean their rooms has been really helpful, thus far.

Overall, we’re still working through this allowance thing. However, I do think the potential benefits outweigh any potential negatives. Do you have any thoughts on giving young children an allowance? I’d love to hear your experiences – good or bad!

 

Tagged With: allowance, family, parenting

About Stacey Freeman

I am a Style Maven, Mommy, Educator, and Traveler.

« A Quick Day Trip To The Venice Canals and Abbot Kinney
This is How I Designed My New 6 Chair Dining Room Set »

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Reasons Women Need to Talk About Money More Often | Posh in Progress says:
    at

    […] Looking for more financial stories or ideas for how to talk about money? Here’s one about whether kids should get an allowance. […]

    Reply

What do you think? Cancel reply

Hi, I’m Stacey!

Popular Posts

  • Starbucks Egg Bites Recipe In the Oven featured by top LA lifestyle blogger, Posh in Progress

    How to Make Starbucks Copycat Egg Bites In the Oven

  • Summer Eggplant Tomato Pie recipe featured by top LA lifestyle blogger, Posh in Progress

    How to Make This Brilliant Summer Eggplant Tomato Pie

  • Doralto the perfect margarita alternative

    The Doralto: The Little Known Alternative to the Margarita

  • 3 Day Water Fast before and after featured by top LA lifestyle blogger, Posh in Progress

    I Went on a 3 Day Water Fast and This is What Happened

  • How to Style Biker Shorts for Curvy Women, tips featured by top LA fashion blogger, Posh in Progress

    How to Style Biker Shorts for Curvy Women: 3 Cute Ideas

Disclosure

This site uses selective affiliate links, which means a commission is earned if you make a purchase via the link. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers or affiliate partnerships. We appreciate, and thank you for, your support!

Pinterest

Join Stacey on Instagram

poshinprogress

Writer - Educator - Entrepreneur
Mom Life • Travel • Fashion • Recipes
My new children’s book ➡️https://amzn.to/3rjsXKE

Stacey Freeman, Ph.D.
Are you ready for the holiday weekend? If you’re Are you ready for the holiday weekend? If you’re looking for a festive and refreshing drink idea, head over to poshinprogress.com to check out my go-to summer drink - this watermelon blueberry smash cocktail recipe. Link in stories! 

#cocktailrecipes #cocktail #cocktailrecipe #watermeloncocktail #blueberries #watermelon
Supporting a healthy immune system and prioritizin Supporting a healthy immune system and prioritizing my health has been a major goal of mine in 2022. I've been focusing a lot more on my supplements, to make sure I'm getting everything I need. Each day, I start with the @naturemadevitamins Multi + Omega-3 gummies because they provide the nutrients my body needs plus heart-healthy Omega 3s.†  From Nature Made, the #1 Pharmacist recommended vitamin and supplement brand* Tap in my stories to learn more about some of my favorite Nature Made supplements. #ad #NatureMadeVitamins 
 
†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 
 
*Based on a survey of pharmacists who recommend branded vitamins and supplements.
Where you’ll find me most days… Last summer, Where you’ll find me most days…

Last summer, I took on a big DIY patio renovation and it was seriously the best decision. I absolutely love my outdoor space now. If you’re looking for tips on easy ways to update your outdoor space, head over to the blog to check out my before and after and all the products I used. Link in stories!

#patio #patiodesign #patiofurniture #patiodecor #patiomakeover
Please don’t touch my kids’ hair. Please tell Please don’t touch my kids’ hair. Please tell your kids not to touch their hair. I can’t believe I have to say this or explain why this is racist. But I do.

I’m sure this seems like a random statement to most people. It might not seem like a big deal to you. But it’s not random and it is a big deal. It’s a common experience for Black people, and it’s not ok. 

Given everything going on right now, it’s hard for me to talk about a right to our personal space and bodies. That’s part of it. But it’s also about making my kids feel like an other.

New on poshinprogress.com, I’m sharing the story of my shock and surprise when my daughter told me she didn’t feel comfortable wearing her hair down anymore because so many of her classmates were touching her hair. And then being dumbfounded to find out my son has had a similar experience. I also share information on racial micro aggressions and history of Black people’s hair. If this story is surprising or confusing to you, please read more about why it’s never ok to touch Black people’s hair.

#blackhair #microaggressions #biracialkids #blackkidshairstyles #blackkids
Weekend summer casual on repeat. During the summ Weekend summer casual on repeat. 

During the summer, I live in t-shirt dresses. I try to find ones that have built in shape, like this one with a little shoelace tied waist. I also add shape and finish the look by adding jackets or light layers. 

You can shop some of my favorite t-shirt dresses here: https://liketk.it/3Izy2 or link in stories.

Follow my shop @poshinprogress on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!

#liketkit #LTKcurves #LTKunder100 #LTKunder50 @shop.ltk #curvyfashion #curvystyle #summerfashion #casualstyle
I was going to post about summer fashion. I was go I was going to post about summer fashion. I was going to talk about my kids’ beach camp next week. 

But this can’t go unsaid. I am so angry right now. I am terrified for my daughter and women in the U.S.

We just lost a fundamental human right. We just lost control of our bodies. 

This is not about saving the lives of unborn children. Because if it was, then all guns would be banned - because guns are the leading cause of childhood death in the U.S. 

This decision is about control. About controlling women. 

If you have the ability to choose whether to own a gun, why can’t I choose the healthcare decisions that are right for me? This is no longer a democracy. This decision has so much greater impact than people even realize. 

If you’re looking for resources, I’m linking a comprehensive one in my stories. This is not a place for debate, this is a place to protect women and our rights to control our bodies. We must stand together.

#womensrights #roevswade #roevwade
Load More... Follow Stacey on Instagram

© 2022 Posh in Progress. All rights are reserved.

Copyright © 2022 · Glam Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in