Allowances have the potential to teach children several valuable lessons. I say “potential” because the way some parents provide allowances teach all the wrong lessons. Children need to learn that money is earned. Money is earned by completing required tasks in an appropritate and timely manner. If children get their allowance regardless of performance, than they will not learn the value of work. Allowances need to be tied to specific jobs above and beyond a child’s ordinary responsibilities. An ordinary responsibility is taking your dish to the sink after you eat or keeping your room clean or picking up your clothing. An extraordinary responsibility is cleaning the garage or mowing the lawn or washing the car. If a job is not completed, not completed to the satisfaction of parents, or not completed on time, than children should not be paid for that part of their allowance. Parents should not reinforce poor work performance.
Thought of the day
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