where do you draw the line - kids helping out

Try and think ahead and see if there are any jobs she can do that are "prep" type jobs. For example, around here it would be:
- cut seeds off plant head / or gather seeds from plants
- cut cloth in small strips to be used in rugs later
- inventory the pantry or go to the Cabins and inventory
- write dates on cans in pantry
- sort things in closets / or clean out the linen closet (we get Cabin linens mixed up with our's at times)
- collect kindling / collect rocks for garden

Try to find jobs or tasks that she is good at and likes. All of us have to do chores we don't like (clean the toilet or empty the cat poop or wash the greasy pans) but when we enjoy the assigned tasks and are good at them, it goes better.

Around here our older son is fast and good at the weed whacking. Since we have acres and acres to check for weed whacking, he takes charge of that most of the time. We all have to weed whacking sometimes, but he is mainly "in charge" of it.

Middle son is really good at organizing, computer and Quickbooks so he does the family and business books. He is also good at cooking and helps in kitchen a lot.

Younger son is good at cooking and helping with almost anything. He is only 14 and so has not really taken full charge of jobs yet but he is learning.

Sounds like your daughter already helps a lot and in my view, that is really good. Since she is willing to earn the money that is really good too. So many kids today are lazy and ungrateful. Sounds like you are on the right track already.

Just put on thinking cap and you will think of small jobs to add that she can do.

We have a weekly list and a longer term planning list. It is a monthly "to do" list. Then, we have a monster huge list that covers any work for the next year. Yes.....go on and say it: I am hyper vigilant! We all look to the lists and pick out what needs to be done. The weekly things just have to get done but if someone has time and wants something to do, they can look ahead and pick a chore.

Good job thinking about it and brainstorming it. That is a good step. Good luck!

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Meanwhile, Back in Saluda

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I have 8 kids and everyone has jobs to do and they do it for free.

The older boys take care of the barn and the critters. The younger ones help me in the house. The girls (age 8 switch which day they empty the dishwasher.) Each week the kids are assigned a zone in the house to keep picked up. (living room, dining room, bathroom, kitchen, etc.) The are also expected to do 'as needed' jobs like bring the groceries in, pick up trash in the yard, etc.

We don't give allowances, but that's because I have kids who would gladly "borrow" their brothers money or they wouldn't keep it in their piggy banks. Ever try to find out whose quarters are on the living room floor?! I also have a few kids who would blow every penny at the cafeteria on junk food or piddle it away and not save a dime.

In return for doing what they are asked to do we give them money as needed and we take them to do fun things. This summer we went to the State Fair and everyone who wanted got to do the zip line. If they want to go to a dance at school or another function we take them as the schedule allows. We also go to the movies, theater and concerts a lot. They understand that not a lot of their friends get to go to these events and they are grateful for the opportunities.

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I refuse to believe corporations are people until Texas executes one.

I also believe that workers need Unions as much as gun owners need the NRA.

Never paid allowance and my kids worked pretty hard, had barn chores they traded off, some household chores like firewood stacking near the door. For big jobs (spring barn cleaning, rototilling the garden, hard work jobs), they were paid extra, like $10 an hour or a flat fee (typically cleaning the goat shed in the spring was considered a $100 job). I paid for the extras like sports fees, camp, feed for their 4H animals. When they were teens, I gave them some pocket money when they went to an activity, but being farm kids, they didn't have a lot of typical ways to waste money like local fast food and malls and such.

We always had allowances and think it is the best way for children to learn the concept that work equals reward. Also, if kids don't have money to manage they don't learn to manage money.

Allowances were based on completion of chores and attitude and behaviour. Responsibilities were age appropriate. In the real world a lot of success is based on how you do it and relate to others and of course you don't get paid for what you don't do.

It is also a great way to teach self reliance and sharing. The chores on which allowances were based were all to do with taking care of yourself - cleaning your room, making your bed, keeping common rooms tidy, collecting dirty laundry and putting away clean laundry (later on learning to do laundry), setting the table, helping with dishes and later with meal preps, taking out the garbage, bringing in wood, taking care of pets and of course doing your homework on time.

There were also some big jobs that paid extra but also jobs that you were expected to just help with. These were often time oriented. A child needs time to be a child so they should not work all the time but also not expect that all your time is theirs. If you want me to take you to the swimming pool and I am weeding the garden then start pulling.

I overheard DS(12) and a buddy were discussing this one day this summer. The buddy was bent out of shape because his dad had paid MY kid $20 for helping stack bales one afternoon. "He never pays ME!"

DS said, "Yeah, my folks don't pay me for working, either. They feed me and allow me to live in their house..."


Where does he get this stuff?? lol

In all honesty, though, we DO pay our kids for out-of-the-ordinary stuff. For example, I want to hay our meadow next summer. He's going to be doing the raking and I'll pay him for that...

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

I find jobs for my daughter to make her money Like washing the car folding up the laundry if Im too tired, raking leaves pull weeds exc. my daughter is 9 and she had worked for me and the neighbor lady and saved up 16.00 one week I was very proud. OO we are moving and my lawn mower is gone i have a Reel mower and paid her 3.00 to cut the front yard . I feel it helps them to understand no matter the age you WORK for money no matter where u live. in second grade she picked peas and raspberries from my garden and sold them by school she had made 165.00 that summer and bought most of her school clothes herself.

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Dear God So far today Ive done ok I havent gossiped got mad been greedy grumpy or nasty Im very thankful But in a few min. Im goin to get outta bed from then on Im goin to need alot more help AMEN

Got to agree but if you have a person like my Mom was married to there isn't no amount I could be paid to be worth it.

We did Logging and farm work,no matter how hard we worked we was always told how Lazy we were and get beat

Because me and my Brother couldn't lift a Green Rail Road Ties and load it on a Wagon by ourself,because we Doubled Up we were Lazy.

The Last Straw was I was in the USMC Reserves and was working at the Local Feed Mill,he wanted all my Income,I told him what I thought,he throwed me down and stomped my Head.I packed up and left.

big rockpile

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I love being married.Its so great to find that one person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.



If I need a Shelter
If I need a Friend
I go to the Rock!

When I was a young teen (I think it was before I was old enough to work, but I can't remember), my mom would pay me $5 to fold and put away the laundry for our family of five. That would have been close to minimum wage at the time. I don't remember how long it took to do. I did it for a few months, and finally ended up telling my mom it just wasn't worth the $5 anymore. To this day, folding laundry is my most hated household chore :P I think soon after that, I started babysitting for spending money. MUCH better than laundry!

That was the only thing I was ever "paid" to do by my parents. As soon as I turned 14, I got a real part-time job, and have always had one (still do, in addition to full time!) I guess the lesson I learned, rather than the "value of a dollar" was that some jobs just aren't worth the pay, and to look for one that is!

Marshloft::

I feel you took my post in a different direction for which it wasn't intended..I love my boy's more than anything in this world..by my boy's helping out around the house I buy them pretty much anything they want..they are very spoiled! I'm not MEAN to my boy's..

I also want them to know that they should be helping their spouse/companion around the house and know how to use a washing machine...kwim? My dh has never been one to help out with any housework..I had a stepmother that was wicked and my step sibling's got EVERYTHING and my brother's & I got the poop at of the stick..so I know what you mean! I still hurt mentally from that after all these years..HUGS..

I didn't read every response because I had an idea and didn't want to forget it so I'm sorry if someone has already said this!

I don't know if this is a good idea or not, don't know if it would help or not. You could create a chore list, and give each chore a monetary amount. For her to be able to continue her outside classes/activites, she would need to do enough chores to "pay" for these activities. It would help teach the value of a dollar, and help motivate her to do her chores.

Oh I'm sorry I got off Track too.I believe if I had been in a Loving Family,worked hard for what I wanted and learned responsibility,changed my Education I had gotten I would have had a more Rewarding Life not that I have that many regrets on what I did after leaving.

I have to admit my Kids I let them work at regular Jobs and found they actually worked harder for others than me.

All but our Youngest went to College which I still think might be in the Genetics but he is still a very hard worker.

big rockpile

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I love being married.Its so great to find that one person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.



If I need a Shelter
If I need a Friend
I go to the Rock!

I don't, and won't, pay my kids.

We don't pay by the job. Everyone gets an weekly portion, what some would call an allowance, but everyone works very hard for it doing everything that needs doing so the term allowance which connotes free money doesn't fit. We farm, we homestead, we build, everyone pushes everyday to get all that needs to be done according to their ability. A young child can do dishes, set the table, domesticate piglets, tame chickens but I don't expect them to haul 80 lb bales of hay. However they can man the gate making it easier. While they can't use the chainsaw, not strong enough yet, they can use loppers to clip kitchen wood and kindling as well as gather it. We all work together and we all benefit.

As to the allotment of allowance, I have a simple system: it's one dollar a year of age per week. Our kids then allot that to different savings: charity, spending, medium savings goals, long term savings goals. They don't tend to spend much but we rarely get in town so there isn't a lot to spend on.

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SugarMtnFarm.com -- Pastured Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Dogs and Kids

don't normally pay by the job. The boy does get a cut of most animals sold since he does the chores.
Occasionally I will get tired of something cluttering up the place and have him clean it up and put it on Craig's List, he gets a piece of that as well.

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Deja Moo; The feeling I've heard this bull before.

Thank you all for the input - in the end we decided that, for now, she will clean my car for her pocket money. She can do the inside one week and the outside the other week, and see how she gets on with that. Certainly the first few times it will take long enough that she earns her dance money plus a bit. Once she's done it a few times it might not take so long so I might have to find her another job to go with it. The only two conditions are that she must do all her other chores first, and that she has to work at it realistically - if it takes her 5 hours to clean the car I will NOT be paying for 5 hours work LOL.

Thanks again

hoggie

There were certain jobs that were expected from all of them...small chores like keeping their rooms presentable, and helping in common areas like dusting, sweeping, dishes, etc. but other things were available for them to do at a set price, and if they wanted spending money, etc. They could undertake the chore and get money that way. Say for example, "cleaning out the fridge"...That might be worth $5.00. Moping a kitchen floor might be worth $3.00. Jobs were posted and the first person to sign up got the job. Kind of gave incentive to work, and get some pay.

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"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow the fields of those who don't."-Thomas Jefferson

I am kind of between paying for extra jobs. My older girls (19 & 16) do as much work as I do and there really isn't anything extra I pay for. My littlest is 7 and for one thing she is spoiled rotten but she does her little things like folding towels, putting away her laundry, helping with barn chores. Things like that. The littlest is cheap though, the older girls, I spend a small fortune on, sometimes I like to remind them of that

When my older girls were in the 8-14 age though they had regular chores (daily stuff, including milking their own animals), then I had a list of things to do if they wanted to earn extra money. I posted the list on the refrigerator, it had a chore and a dollar amount. Things I really didn't want to do and stuff I thought was "extra", like cleaning out the truck and vacuuming might have earned them $10.

edited: now that I think back on it, during this age they were usually saving up for livestock. They have always been savers. My middle daughter is now saving up to start a Millinery shop, hat blocks are expensive.

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Idleness is leisure gone to seed