Chores can be divided into three categories, personal chores, chores that are the person’s contribution to the home, and extra chores for which a child or teen can be paid. The third group is a great opportunity for parents to teach their kids the skills necessary to be a good employee.
Trainee Pay Is for Learning Chores
Begin by establishing two pay grades. If the young person is learning to do the job, the expectations and the pay will be lower. For example, when a twelve-year old first mows the yard, the results may be less than professional. He should understand that the pay is “trainee” pay.
When his skills and work ethic improve enough that he would be employable by someone else, his pay increases to what he would earn mowing for a neighbor.
Full Pay Chores Requires Higher Level of Responsibility
Once a young person is receiving full pay, the expectations are the same as for anyone you would hire to do the job. That includes getting the job done within the agreed time frame and doing a professional job. If you offer suggestions on how it should be done differently, he is expected to receive your suggestions without argument.
Parent Acts As Employer for Paid Chores
Acting as his employer, the parent treats him with respect and pays him in a timely fashion just as if he were a professional.
Allowing our children to earn money for extra chores is good training for that first “real job” teens so eagerly seek.
June 8, 2012
Blog, Character