Parenting From The Source

Paul was talking about chores when he wrote: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward,” (Colossians 3:23) This Scripture lays a foundation for what we teach our children about [...]

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 [...]

Are chores something kids do for free because they are a part of the household, or should they be paid? Let’s divide chores into three groups and look at the question for each category. Each Person Is Responsible for Personal Chores That includes being responsible for one’s own messes and maintenance (putting dirty clothes where [...]

Chores run more smoothly if each family member knows what’s expected. Chores: 5 Ways to Get Organized A sign up sheet is a good way to communicate those expectations allowing each family member to plan his or her week with time for chores. What Teens Say Adolescents complain that they are asked to do a [...]

Chores work best using a signup sheet: Chores: 5 Ways to Get Organized. In my last blog, I mentioned as a common chore “purchasing and putting away groceries.” I could imagine readers thinking, “Allow my children to purchase and put away groceries?” Vary Chores As Training for Adulthood Designating only certain chores for the children [...]

Organizing family chores can make a household run smoothly and make it more likely that everyone’s attitude is positive. Here are five guidelines that help a family get organized: “Clean Up Your Own Mess” All family members are responsible for their own messes. That means taking their dishes to the kitchen, putting away snacks, hanging [...]

Chores are such a debated topic in families with teens that it is often tempting to give in and do the jobs ourselves. However, we do our kids an injustice if we don’t teach them to work. They will grow up without a work ethic, the skills needed to maintain a home, or the sense [...]

Chores bring out the creativity in teens. Their mantra seems to be “Do whatever you must to avoid all work.” They go to elaborate schemes to get out of a ten-minute chore. I had a student tell me he was grounded for hiding dirty clothes under his mattress. He folded them neatly so that he [...]

When our daughter was a college freshman in 1987, her roommate had $1,000 to spend each month in addition to clothes and other expenses. Even today, that’s extravagant. How do parents decided how much allowance to give their children? Resources and Individual Needs Determine Amount There’s not a correct amount for all kids, because needs [...]

If an allowance is treated as a teaching tool for stewardship, it should not be dependent on chores. Being Part of Family Means Responsibilities Our children have certain responsibilities that go with being part of a family. My dad had a rather quaint way of expressing this concept: “Since you put your feet under the [...]