Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "chores" and pay
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/11/2003 7:54:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,
pamsoroosh@... writes:
another thing I am almost afraid to mention...LoL...chores and being paid for
work. At our home the kids, just by doing one chore a day plus keeping their
rooms reasonably straightened, can earn about 30.00 per month. There are
other things we all pitch in to do that are not paid for because we are doing
it 'for the family" (we are adding onto the house right now) and we never
force anyone to work. We also have special things needed done that we will
pay extra for (bringing wood in which EVERYONE hates, for example.) We never
bug anyone to do their chore or their room...it's all their choice. But we
do monitor who is doing it and who is not and they are rewarded for it. They
know that by doing these things, I am paying them because they are taking a
big load off of my back (we have 6 kids at home total, I do about 3 or more
loads of laundry per day alone) and because I really appreciate their help.
Anyhow, if they always have money, it does eliminate them even asking for
stuff, although I am often buying candy or goodies anyway. We have a lot of
opportunities for one-on-one time (dr's appointments, foster care agency
meetings, etc) so it's so nice to go out to lunch or shopping and treat that
one kid by themselves :o) Lots of sharing and discussion when there's only
the 2 of you in the car.
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
pamsoroosh@... writes:
> > When we're in the check-out aisle and my kids are drooling over theYeah, that's reasonable...Plus, our kids always have money. Which brings up
> > candy, I say something like, "I know. That candy *does* look
> > delicious,
> > doesn't it? It makes me want to hurry up and check out so we can go
> > home and bake cookies." Also it helps that I have never, ever bought
> > candy in the check-out aisle.
>
> I pretty much always say yes if they ask. Candy is cheap and if that is
> what they want, it is fine with me. They only ask once in a while.
> Rosie went through a stage of wanting tic-tacs every time we shopped.
> So - 75 cents once or twice a week? I can manage that.
>
another thing I am almost afraid to mention...LoL...chores and being paid for
work. At our home the kids, just by doing one chore a day plus keeping their
rooms reasonably straightened, can earn about 30.00 per month. There are
other things we all pitch in to do that are not paid for because we are doing
it 'for the family" (we are adding onto the house right now) and we never
force anyone to work. We also have special things needed done that we will
pay extra for (bringing wood in which EVERYONE hates, for example.) We never
bug anyone to do their chore or their room...it's all their choice. But we
do monitor who is doing it and who is not and they are rewarded for it. They
know that by doing these things, I am paying them because they are taking a
big load off of my back (we have 6 kids at home total, I do about 3 or more
loads of laundry per day alone) and because I really appreciate their help.
Anyhow, if they always have money, it does eliminate them even asking for
stuff, although I am often buying candy or goodies anyway. We have a lot of
opportunities for one-on-one time (dr's appointments, foster care agency
meetings, etc) so it's so nice to go out to lunch or shopping and treat that
one kid by themselves :o) Lots of sharing and discussion when there's only
the 2 of you in the car.
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
coyote's corner
Brianna and I have a home business and we're pow wow traders. Just about every weekend we're at powwow. She gets paid $25.00 per day at pow wow. That's $50.00 per week. That's the standard that traders pay. In my opinion, Brianna does more than someone I would hire - she helps me load the van, she helps at home etc. I can't afford to pay her more. There are some traders that don't pay their kids. I disagree w/ that. Why shouldn't Brianna get as much as someone that doesn't know our stock as well and that I can't trust as much??
During our off season, she gets $25.00 per feast/festival - but these are usually one day affairs.
As for the house, well, every once in a while I go crazy and go on a cleaning binge - she helps if she wants.
I do make her pick up anything that our dog can choke on or destroy - but Brianna's good about that.
Sometimes, when we're broke - she'll go into her savings to help.
Janis
During our off season, she gets $25.00 per feast/festival - but these are usually one day affairs.
As for the house, well, every once in a while I go crazy and go on a cleaning binge - she helps if she wants.
I do make her pick up anything that our dog can choke on or destroy - but Brianna's good about that.
Sometimes, when we're broke - she'll go into her savings to help.
Janis
----- Original Message -----
From: CelticFrau@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "chores" and pay
In a message dated 4/11/2003 7:54:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,
pamsoroosh@... writes:
> > When we're in the check-out aisle and my kids are drooling over the
> > candy, I say something like, "I know. That candy *does* look
> > delicious,
> > doesn't it? It makes me want to hurry up and check out so we can go
> > home and bake cookies." Also it helps that I have never, ever bought
> > candy in the check-out aisle.
>
> I pretty much always say yes if they ask. Candy is cheap and if that is
> what they want, it is fine with me. They only ask once in a while.
> Rosie went through a stage of wanting tic-tacs every time we shopped.
> So - 75 cents once or twice a week? I can manage that.
>
Yeah, that's reasonable...Plus, our kids always have money. Which brings up
another thing I am almost afraid to mention...LoL...chores and being paid for
work. At our home the kids, just by doing one chore a day plus keeping their
rooms reasonably straightened, can earn about 30.00 per month. There are
other things we all pitch in to do that are not paid for because we are doing
it 'for the family" (we are adding onto the house right now) and we never
force anyone to work. We also have special things needed done that we will
pay extra for (bringing wood in which EVERYONE hates, for example.) We never
bug anyone to do their chore or their room...it's all their choice. But we
do monitor who is doing it and who is not and they are rewarded for it. They
know that by doing these things, I am paying them because they are taking a
big load off of my back (we have 6 kids at home total, I do about 3 or more
loads of laundry per day alone) and because I really appreciate their help.
Anyhow, if they always have money, it does eliminate them even asking for
stuff, although I am often buying candy or goodies anyway. We have a lot of
opportunities for one-on-one time (dr's appointments, foster care agency
meetings, etc) so it's so nice to go out to lunch or shopping and treat that
one kid by themselves :o) Lots of sharing and discussion when there's only
the 2 of you in the car.
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
marji
Hey Janis, I was wondering if you come to any pow wows/festivals in the
downstate/Hudson Valley area of New York state. We love to go to pow wows,
and it would be wonderful to meet you and Brianna. I'm keeping my fingers
crossed.
Marji
At 12:59 4/12/03 -0400, you wrote:
downstate/Hudson Valley area of New York state. We love to go to pow wows,
and it would be wonderful to meet you and Brianna. I'm keeping my fingers
crossed.
Marji
At 12:59 4/12/03 -0400, you wrote:
>Brianna and I have a home business and we're pow wow traders. Just about[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>every weekend we're at powwow. She gets paid $25.00 per day at pow wow.
>That's $50.00 per week. That's the standard that traders pay. In my
>opinion, Brianna does more than someone I would hire - she helps me load
>the van, she helps at home etc. I can't afford to pay her more. There are
>some traders that don't pay their kids. I disagree w/ that. Why shouldn't
>Brianna get as much as someone that doesn't know our stock as well and
>that I can't trust as much??
>During our off season, she gets $25.00 per feast/festival - but these are
>usually one day affairs.
>As for the house, well, every once in a while I go crazy and go on a
>cleaning binge - she helps if she wants.
>I do make her pick up anything that our dog can choke on or destroy - but
>Brianna's good about that.
>
>Sometimes, when we're broke - she'll go into her savings to help.
>Janis
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: CelticFrau@...
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 9:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "chores" and pay
>
>
> In a message dated 4/11/2003 7:54:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> pamsoroosh@... writes:
>
>
> > > When we're in the check-out aisle and my kids are drooling over the
> > > candy, I say something like, "I know. That candy *does* look
> > > delicious,
> > > doesn't it? It makes me want to hurry up and check out so we can go
> > > home and bake cookies." Also it helps that I have never, ever bought
> > > candy in the check-out aisle.
> >
> > I pretty much always say yes if they ask. Candy is cheap and if that is
> > what they want, it is fine with me. They only ask once in a while.
> > Rosie went through a stage of wanting tic-tacs every time we shopped.
> > So - 75 cents once or twice a week? I can manage that.
> >
> Yeah, that's reasonable...Plus, our kids always have money. Which
> brings up
> another thing I am almost afraid to mention...LoL...chores and being
> paid for
> work. At our home the kids, just by doing one chore a day plus keeping
> their
> rooms reasonably straightened, can earn about 30.00 per month. There are
> other things we all pitch in to do that are not paid for because we are
> doing
> it 'for the family" (we are adding onto the house right now) and we never
> force anyone to work. We also have special things needed done that we
> will
> pay extra for (bringing wood in which EVERYONE hates, for example.) We
> never
> bug anyone to do their chore or their room...it's all their
> choice. But we
> do monitor who is doing it and who is not and they are rewarded for
> it. They
> know that by doing these things, I am paying them because they are
> taking a
> big load off of my back (we have 6 kids at home total, I do about 3 or
> more
> loads of laundry per day alone) and because I really appreciate their
> help.
>
> Anyhow, if they always have money, it does eliminate them even asking for
> stuff, although I am often buying candy or goodies anyway. We have a
> lot of
> opportunities for one-on-one time (dr's appointments, foster care agency
> meetings, etc) so it's so nice to go out to lunch or shopping and treat
> that
> one kid by themselves :o) Lots of sharing and discussion when there's
> only
> the 2 of you in the car.
>
> Nancy
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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>
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>
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>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
>
>If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email
>the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list
>owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
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Lisa M. C. Bentley
Zoe is my oldest and she is 6.5 years old. When she turned 6, we
realized that we hadn't explicitly ever given her an allowance or any
type of cash money to use as she wanted. We figured out what we could
always afford to give her and started at that. Currently it is $3 per
time DH gets paid, or $6 a month. No, this isn't a lot, but it is when
you consider that we have budgeted money to be able to buy her anything
that she wants food, book, clothing, arts & crafts, and experiment
wise. She just needs to tell me what she wants and I'll happily buy it
(she's not asking for expensive things, just things like yeast and pipe
cleaners and tapioca).
Anyway, she has come up with some creative purchases. She is a Girl
Scout and she spent quite a bit of her money purchasing cookies (some
for a charity, too). She has also bought her 2.5 year old sister a
stuffed animal on a whim. This money is not associated with chores. We
have no "child has to do chores". She does, however, often help me do
the dishes/laundry/vacuuming (she's excited that she's finally big
enough to physically run the vacuum). We rarely require cleaning done
by the kids and even then it is usually just, "Please don't bring
anything new out until I've finished cleaning the floor or table in
order to give you a fresh clean place to have things."
I am a part-time professional photographer from my home and Zoe really
loves to help. She is quite knowledgeable about cameras and lighting
setup, etc. So, whenever she helps me with a photo shoot, I pay her.
Depending on how much she works and how much I make for the job, I give
her between $5-$20 per job. This is never required of her, but rather
an opportunity that is available if she wants to do it. I also do
contract web design projects that I get paid for.
Here's a funny/cute story that happened last night:
Note that I've *never* required her to clean her room, and once a month
or so DH and I will go in and clean it all (with her permission and
strong desire to find things!!). Anyway, last night she was asking me
the difference between contract work and having a regular job (like
DH). She liked the idea of paying someone one time to do a specific
job. She thought for a bit, then asked if she could pay me to clean her
room! I asked her when she needed it done by, how much she was willing
to pay, the details of what she wanted cleaned, etc. She wants it done
by Sunday, is willing to pay half of all the money she has (I don't know
what that amount is), and she just wants the stuff that belongs in other
rooms put away and the bed made (all stuff that I actually already
regularly do). I'm excited that she finally noticed that these things
need to be done. :) I told her that I'd do all that and more,
willingly and for free, if she'd just keep me company. She is insisting
on paying me though, so I guess that I've got a new job. :)
-Lisa in AZ
P.S. My 2.5 year old cleans for no pay, too. I have a good routine for
washing clothes. I always wash a load a day (put in a combo
washer/dryer at night and take out in the morning). We presort our
dirties into baskets on the closet floor and whichever is the most full
gets washed that night (we also wash diapers). I will do the laundry in
the morning and my 2.5 year insists on helping me carry the basket of
clean clothes. She often disappears when I get the clothes to the
bedroom and I discover that she takes the dirty clothes to the wash all
on her own. She starting doing this- for fun- when she was just a year
and a half old! We live in a ranch style house with no basement, so it
is safe. She also loves to unload the dishwasher. She is a born
organizer.
realized that we hadn't explicitly ever given her an allowance or any
type of cash money to use as she wanted. We figured out what we could
always afford to give her and started at that. Currently it is $3 per
time DH gets paid, or $6 a month. No, this isn't a lot, but it is when
you consider that we have budgeted money to be able to buy her anything
that she wants food, book, clothing, arts & crafts, and experiment
wise. She just needs to tell me what she wants and I'll happily buy it
(she's not asking for expensive things, just things like yeast and pipe
cleaners and tapioca).
Anyway, she has come up with some creative purchases. She is a Girl
Scout and she spent quite a bit of her money purchasing cookies (some
for a charity, too). She has also bought her 2.5 year old sister a
stuffed animal on a whim. This money is not associated with chores. We
have no "child has to do chores". She does, however, often help me do
the dishes/laundry/vacuuming (she's excited that she's finally big
enough to physically run the vacuum). We rarely require cleaning done
by the kids and even then it is usually just, "Please don't bring
anything new out until I've finished cleaning the floor or table in
order to give you a fresh clean place to have things."
I am a part-time professional photographer from my home and Zoe really
loves to help. She is quite knowledgeable about cameras and lighting
setup, etc. So, whenever she helps me with a photo shoot, I pay her.
Depending on how much she works and how much I make for the job, I give
her between $5-$20 per job. This is never required of her, but rather
an opportunity that is available if she wants to do it. I also do
contract web design projects that I get paid for.
Here's a funny/cute story that happened last night:
Note that I've *never* required her to clean her room, and once a month
or so DH and I will go in and clean it all (with her permission and
strong desire to find things!!). Anyway, last night she was asking me
the difference between contract work and having a regular job (like
DH). She liked the idea of paying someone one time to do a specific
job. She thought for a bit, then asked if she could pay me to clean her
room! I asked her when she needed it done by, how much she was willing
to pay, the details of what she wanted cleaned, etc. She wants it done
by Sunday, is willing to pay half of all the money she has (I don't know
what that amount is), and she just wants the stuff that belongs in other
rooms put away and the bed made (all stuff that I actually already
regularly do). I'm excited that she finally noticed that these things
need to be done. :) I told her that I'd do all that and more,
willingly and for free, if she'd just keep me company. She is insisting
on paying me though, so I guess that I've got a new job. :)
-Lisa in AZ
P.S. My 2.5 year old cleans for no pay, too. I have a good routine for
washing clothes. I always wash a load a day (put in a combo
washer/dryer at night and take out in the morning). We presort our
dirties into baskets on the closet floor and whichever is the most full
gets washed that night (we also wash diapers). I will do the laundry in
the morning and my 2.5 year insists on helping me carry the basket of
clean clothes. She often disappears when I get the clothes to the
bedroom and I discover that she takes the dirty clothes to the wash all
on her own. She starting doing this- for fun- when she was just a year
and a half old! We live in a ranch style house with no basement, so it
is safe. She also loves to unload the dishwasher. She is a born
organizer.
Pamela Sorooshian
It does help a lot to just make sure they have a bit of money so that
when they're wanting to buy things that I don't feel comfortable
spending our family money on - I can say, "Why don't you buy that with
your own money?" That gets them to consider a bit more seriously how
much the whateveritis is really worth to them.
The minute my kids hit the teenage girl state of mind of caring more
about clothes, I started giving them a big enough amount of money, on a
monthly basis, that I felt comfortable saying that they were
responsible entirely for their own clothes. That way I NEVER had to
deal with them wanting to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a
trendy or badly-made item of clothing. My girls are also extremely
generous and always seeing things they want to buy for their friends -
things they are sure their friends will "just LOOOVE." So making sure
they had some money coming in was a way that I could get out of that
problem too - I hated to not buy things they wanted to give to friends,
but it was a lot of money they were wanting to spend. Now they are just
as generous, but also quite a bit more discerning.
We give a small allowance - seems to be less than anybody else around
here. They get their age, once a month. So the 12 yo gets $12 per month.
I expect chores to be helped out with when I ask - but am understanding
about it and don't insist if they are busy doing other things. Money
isn't tied to chores.
-pam
when they're wanting to buy things that I don't feel comfortable
spending our family money on - I can say, "Why don't you buy that with
your own money?" That gets them to consider a bit more seriously how
much the whateveritis is really worth to them.
The minute my kids hit the teenage girl state of mind of caring more
about clothes, I started giving them a big enough amount of money, on a
monthly basis, that I felt comfortable saying that they were
responsible entirely for their own clothes. That way I NEVER had to
deal with them wanting to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a
trendy or badly-made item of clothing. My girls are also extremely
generous and always seeing things they want to buy for their friends -
things they are sure their friends will "just LOOOVE." So making sure
they had some money coming in was a way that I could get out of that
problem too - I hated to not buy things they wanted to give to friends,
but it was a lot of money they were wanting to spend. Now they are just
as generous, but also quite a bit more discerning.
We give a small allowance - seems to be less than anybody else around
here. They get their age, once a month. So the 12 yo gets $12 per month.
I expect chores to be helped out with when I ask - but am understanding
about it and don't insist if they are busy doing other things. Money
isn't tied to chores.
-pam
On Saturday, April 12, 2003, at 06:13 AM, CelticFrau@... wrote:
> Anyhow, if they always have money, it does eliminate them even asking
> for
> stuff, although I am often buying candy or goodies anyway. We have a
> lot of
> opportunities for one-on-one time (dr's appointments, foster care
> agency
> meetings, etc) so it's so nice to go out to lunch or shopping and
> treat that
> one kid by themselves :o) Lots of sharing and discussion when there's
> only
> the 2 of you in the car.
>
Bill and Diane
I absolutely refused to put quarters in vending machines, and eventually
started an allowance because of that. My kids (3 and 5) get 75 cents a
week. The 3 will occasionally put some in a vending machine, but has
also spent on some longer-lasting stuff like a bowl with a straw made in
it from the grocery store. The 5-year-old wants to spend his only on
TRAIN stuff, but will occasionally talk his sister into buying him some
candy too.
I *never* spent any of my allowance, or even earnings later at minimum
wage, on anything other than goodies.
:-) Diane
started an allowance because of that. My kids (3 and 5) get 75 cents a
week. The 3 will occasionally put some in a vending machine, but has
also spent on some longer-lasting stuff like a bowl with a straw made in
it from the grocery store. The 5-year-old wants to spend his only on
TRAIN stuff, but will occasionally talk his sister into buying him some
candy too.
I *never* spent any of my allowance, or even earnings later at minimum
wage, on anything other than goodies.
:-) Diane
>We give a small allowance - seems to be less than anybody else around
>here. They get their age, once a month. So the 12 yo gets $12 per month.
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/13/2003 4:01:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,
cen46624@... writes:
chores/extra work, etc, but it is their option. Before we began doing foster
care, my kids (any age) got about 3.00 per week. But because we receive a
monthly stipend for each foster child, I felt it's "their" money, so they
need to get a fair portion of it to spend as they please. Well, I couldn't
very well give them that much and not my biological kids, so that's why they
got the increase. If they choose not to do any chores, they still get money,
but it goes in a bank.
I think it evens out either way. If you don't give your child any allowance
or a small amount, but then spend more on them at the store, what's the
difference? The way we do it, they just get the cash and spend it as they
see fit.
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
cen46624@... writes:
> >We give a small allowance - seems to be less than anybody else aroundLike I said, our kids *can* earn about 30.00 per month (or more) for
> >here. They get their age, once a month. So the 12 yo gets $12 per month
chores/extra work, etc, but it is their option. Before we began doing foster
care, my kids (any age) got about 3.00 per week. But because we receive a
monthly stipend for each foster child, I felt it's "their" money, so they
need to get a fair portion of it to spend as they please. Well, I couldn't
very well give them that much and not my biological kids, so that's why they
got the increase. If they choose not to do any chores, they still get money,
but it goes in a bank.
I think it evens out either way. If you don't give your child any allowance
or a small amount, but then spend more on them at the store, what's the
difference? The way we do it, they just get the cash and spend it as they
see fit.
Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
coyote's corner
We haven't yet....but we have a better van now so we can travel further!!
I'd love to meet you & yours and to meet at pow wow is so cool!
Janis
I'd love to meet you & yours and to meet at pow wow is so cool!
Janis
----- Original Message -----
From: marji
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "chores" and pay
Hey Janis, I was wondering if you come to any pow wows/festivals in the
downstate/Hudson Valley area of New York state. We love to go to pow wows,
and it would be wonderful to meet you and Brianna. I'm keeping my fingers
crossed.
Marji
At 12:59 4/12/03 -0400, you wrote:
>Brianna and I have a home business and we're pow wow traders. Just about
>every weekend we're at powwow. She gets paid $25.00 per day at pow wow.
>That's $50.00 per week. That's the standard that traders pay. In my
>opinion, Brianna does more than someone I would hire - she helps me load
>the van, she helps at home etc. I can't afford to pay her more. There are
>some traders that don't pay their kids. I disagree w/ that. Why shouldn't
>Brianna get as much as someone that doesn't know our stock as well and
>that I can't trust as much??
>During our off season, she gets $25.00 per feast/festival - but these are
>usually one day affairs.
>As for the house, well, every once in a while I go crazy and go on a
>cleaning binge - she helps if she wants.
>I do make her pick up anything that our dog can choke on or destroy - but
>Brianna's good about that.
>
>Sometimes, when we're broke - she'll go into her savings to help.
>Janis
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: CelticFrau@...
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 9:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "chores" and pay
>
>
> In a message dated 4/11/2003 7:54:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> pamsoroosh@... writes:
>
>
> > > When we're in the check-out aisle and my kids are drooling over the
> > > candy, I say something like, "I know. That candy *does* look
> > > delicious,
> > > doesn't it? It makes me want to hurry up and check out so we can go
> > > home and bake cookies." Also it helps that I have never, ever bought
> > > candy in the check-out aisle.
> >
> > I pretty much always say yes if they ask. Candy is cheap and if that is
> > what they want, it is fine with me. They only ask once in a while.
> > Rosie went through a stage of wanting tic-tacs every time we shopped.
> > So - 75 cents once or twice a week? I can manage that.
> >
> Yeah, that's reasonable...Plus, our kids always have money. Which
> brings up
> another thing I am almost afraid to mention...LoL...chores and being
> paid for
> work. At our home the kids, just by doing one chore a day plus keeping
> their
> rooms reasonably straightened, can earn about 30.00 per month. There are
> other things we all pitch in to do that are not paid for because we are
> doing
> it 'for the family" (we are adding onto the house right now) and we never
> force anyone to work. We also have special things needed done that we
> will
> pay extra for (bringing wood in which EVERYONE hates, for example.) We
> never
> bug anyone to do their chore or their room...it's all their
> choice. But we
> do monitor who is doing it and who is not and they are rewarded for
> it. They
> know that by doing these things, I am paying them because they are
> taking a
> big load off of my back (we have 6 kids at home total, I do about 3 or
> more
> loads of laundry per day alone) and because I really appreciate their
> help.
>
> Anyhow, if they always have money, it does eliminate them even asking for
> stuff, although I am often buying candy or goodies anyway. We have a
> lot of
> opportunities for one-on-one time (dr's appointments, foster care agency
> meetings, etc) so it's so nice to go out to lunch or shopping and treat
> that
> one kid by themselves :o) Lots of sharing and discussion when there's
> only
> the 2 of you in the car.
>
> Nancy
>
>
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>
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coyote's corner
How adorable!!
Congratulations on your new job!
Janis
Congratulations on your new job!
Janis
----- Original Message -----
From: Lisa M. C. Bentley
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 1:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] "chores" and pay
Zoe is my oldest and she is 6.5 years old. When she turned 6, we
realized that we hadn't explicitly ever given her an allowance or any
type of cash money to use as she wanted. We figured out what we could
always afford to give her and started at that. Currently it is $3 per
time DH gets paid, or $6 a month. No, this isn't a lot, but it is when
you consider that we have budgeted money to be able to buy her anything
that she wants food, book, clothing, arts & crafts, and experiment
wise. She just needs to tell me what she wants and I'll happily buy it
(she's not asking for expensive things, just things like yeast and pipe
cleaners and tapioca).
Anyway, she has come up with some creative purchases. She is a Girl
Scout and she spent quite a bit of her money purchasing cookies (some
for a charity, too). She has also bought her 2.5 year old sister a
stuffed animal on a whim. This money is not associated with chores. We
have no "child has to do chores". She does, however, often help me do
the dishes/laundry/vacuuming (she's excited that she's finally big
enough to physically run the vacuum). We rarely require cleaning done
by the kids and even then it is usually just, "Please don't bring
anything new out until I've finished cleaning the floor or table in
order to give you a fresh clean place to have things."
I am a part-time professional photographer from my home and Zoe really
loves to help. She is quite knowledgeable about cameras and lighting
setup, etc. So, whenever she helps me with a photo shoot, I pay her.
Depending on how much she works and how much I make for the job, I give
her between $5-$20 per job. This is never required of her, but rather
an opportunity that is available if she wants to do it. I also do
contract web design projects that I get paid for.
Here's a funny/cute story that happened last night:
Note that I've *never* required her to clean her room, and once a month
or so DH and I will go in and clean it all (with her permission and
strong desire to find things!!). Anyway, last night she was asking me
the difference between contract work and having a regular job (like
DH). She liked the idea of paying someone one time to do a specific
job. She thought for a bit, then asked if she could pay me to clean her
room! I asked her when she needed it done by, how much she was willing
to pay, the details of what she wanted cleaned, etc. She wants it done
by Sunday, is willing to pay half of all the money she has (I don't know
what that amount is), and she just wants the stuff that belongs in other
rooms put away and the bed made (all stuff that I actually already
regularly do). I'm excited that she finally noticed that these things
need to be done. :) I told her that I'd do all that and more,
willingly and for free, if she'd just keep me company. She is insisting
on paying me though, so I guess that I've got a new job. :)
-Lisa in AZ
P.S. My 2.5 year old cleans for no pay, too. I have a good routine for
washing clothes. I always wash a load a day (put in a combo
washer/dryer at night and take out in the morning). We presort our
dirties into baskets on the closet floor and whichever is the most full
gets washed that night (we also wash diapers). I will do the laundry in
the morning and my 2.5 year insists on helping me carry the basket of
clean clothes. She often disappears when I get the clothes to the
bedroom and I discover that she takes the dirty clothes to the wash all
on her own. She starting doing this- for fun- when she was just a year
and a half old! We live in a ranch style house with no basement, so it
is safe. She also loves to unload the dishwasher. She is a born
organizer.
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