After much deliberation at our house, we decided to get our daughter on an allowance schedule for doing chores. I never got an allowance when I was younger. My parents always told me “Why would we give you money for something that is expected of you?” And now that I am a parent, I kind of agree.
But that being said, there is a lot to teach a child regarding the value of money, reward for work and saving for a purchase that an allowance helps with. I kind of wish we started it sooner at our house, but better late than never!
So to start us on this project, I found a wonderful tool that is quite affordable and age appropriate. It is the “Responsibility Chart” by Melissa & Doug. Not only are the chores very appropriate for young children (lets face it, 7 year olds and cleaning chemicals don’t mix), but there are great magnets with accolades that your child can feel good putting on the chart as they finish a task. They also include a couple blank magnets for you to fill in a chore or social behavior you want your child to work on that they did not include. To start out small, I have set the rule that three magnets must be achieved per day, and any extra is an extra ten cents. We are giving our daughter a dollar for a completed week.
As she gets used to it, I plan on increasing the amount of mandatory magnets per day. It has been really helpful! She is remembering to clear her plates after a meal, get ready for bed on her own and get dressed on her own. I don’t need to repeat myself ten times or always be there to help. It really has motivated her to step up and be more independent.
Flora is an award-winning creative director in Chicago turned food and lifestyle blogger extraordinaire. She is also author to the popular BEE NATIVE! gardening book series and various children's books that celebrate the wonder and hard work of bees and butterflies. Her blog and social spaces inspire thousands to create, learn, cook, grow, and craft, making their world lovelier one pixel/petal/seed/bite/stitch/brushstroke at a time. Follow her on all the social spaces, YouTube, and Amazon, and get creative!
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