My wife and I attempted to set up a set of tasks for our children to earn an allowance. We abandoned it after about a week, partly because we are so busy with many other things!
What we have found is that our children are willing to do tasks around the house, consistently, without the expectation of payment. If they happen to go above and beyond, we will consider giving them a small amount of money.
What has your experience been with providing an allowance? Here are some comments from our parenting friends on the Action News Facebook page. The first one provides us with a little comic relief:
Michael Costello: "No, I don't give my kids an allowance. 'Why,' you ask? Because they're 36 and 34 years old!"
Eddie Quinn: "If you want to consider them having a cell phones allowance, then yes! Otherwise we give them money when we can and when we think they really do need it."
Mischele Pamuk Lewis: "I don't give my nine year old a weekly allowance but if she goes above and beyond or surprises us by doing something we didn't ask, we reward the desirable behavior."
Christine Saxton: "My son is four and if I ask him to pick up his toys I will give him a dollar or two and he feels like a big boy."
Vanessa Nya Finney: "I have a 10-year-old daughter. Yes I do give her an allowance because it is teaching her to get the little wants in life that you have to work for. I don't give a large amount of money."
Allison Cox: "My oldest son is 12 and it is a good way for him to learn how to work for money."
Jenn Ciccio: "I'm going to start soon. My kids are seven and I think it's time. I just want them to pick up after themselves and do little things here and there."
Mark Rein: "At 18 years old, start working!"
Dan Nolan: "No!!! Why? Well, why is the answer. They actually do very well without one."
BTW: Notice the dads take the hard stance when it comes to this issue!
Gina Whedbee-DiNofa: "I started giving allowance, $10 a week. But every Friday my kids and I transfer via internet the money from my account to theirs and then they record it in their check registry book. It teaches them how to handle the money."
Kevin White: "Instead of allowances we provide for trips during the school year as well as any activities that they would like to do. Movies, clothing, everything else falls under the category of 'if you want a big ticket item, work for it!'"
If you are interested in setting up an allowance, here is a website that can help you organize the tasks:
Here are some allowance tips: http://www.teenhelp.com/parenting-teens/allowance-tips.html
And if you haven't already, become our friends on our Action News Facebook page, and my personal page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?profile=1&id=9335481377#!/6abc.ActionNews
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-ODonnell/92168272835?ref=s
Read more Parenting Perspective blogs by visiting the Parenting Channel on 6abc.com.
