My kids are wanting things...

[Robin Hood]

that I don't want to buy them, so after talking things over, dh and I decided to start an allowance system for them so they can earn the things they want. They get $10.00 a month payable on the 15th and 30th at $5.00 each time. For each chore they don't complete by the given time each day, they have to subtract .25. Back talk, failure to obey immediately and other infractions all cost them .25, also. Today is payday and guess what.... they owe us money! :lol:.

 

We've worked in a way for them to earn it back, and they didn't quite make it, but they don't owe us as much as they could've. They are figuring out math quite well with up and downs and the decimals, going into negative numbers (which they haven't learned yet) and other unseen benefits that I hadn't figured in to the plan. It's cool. They don't complain at all about it. There is no mention that it seems unfair. They know they blew it. I'll keep tweaking it as we go because I do want to see them succeed but it was a good reality check for them.

 

I am hoping for the best as we experiment with this idea. I guess having a business for 15 years paying out payroll, we just think that way. Of course as employers we never got to deduct pay for failure to work, but at home it's more of a truer reality.

[LisaKinVA]

My only comment is about the penalties for bad behavior -- I would provide them a way to earn that back through "good behavior" as well. It just seems like there are a lot more ways for them to lose money, than to earn it.

 

For example: we have a "choose a chore" kind of thing, in which the children can earn back what they've lost. If they "forget" to make their bed on Monday -- they can clean the baseboards in 2 rooms to earn it back.

 

For poor behavior, there are extra chores, and there is going out of their way to be helpful to a sibling (for example, reading stories to their younger siblings, helping their younger siblings with their work, playing flash card games, or doing spelling drills, or offering any number of things to help out -- and I can't be the one asking them to do it. THEY have to do it).

 

Just my 2 cents...

 

But yes, the system you're using does work very well to illustrate a point. My concern is that if they always come out on the "losing end" without any way of "making it up" they may become disenchanted with the idea and give up altogether, because they can never earn anything.

[Lovedtodeath]

But yes, the system you're using does work very well to illustrate a point. My concern is that if they always come out on the "losing end" without any way of "making it up" they may become disenchanted with the idea and give up altogether, because they can never earn anything.

 

Try to catch their good behavior too. "You were very polite and helpful when I was (about to drop, too busy to get to the oven, needed toilet paper, asked for, needed you to be quiet, wanted you to get/not get the phone, etc.)"

 

Plan on them earning the money and buying the silly things, so you don't unwittingly try to set them up for failure. (I am looking at my own behavior here, not pointing fingers.)

 

It sounds like it is going well. Rewards for good behavior have a good track record and will round it out.

[Robin Hood]

My only comment is about the penalties for bad behavior -- I would provide them a way to earn that back through "good behavior" as well. It just seems like there are a lot more ways for them to lose money, than to earn it.

 

For example: we have a "choose a chore" kind of thing, in which the children can earn back what they've lost. If they "forget" to make their bed on Monday -- they can clean the baseboards in 2 rooms to earn it back.

 

For poor behavior, there are extra chores, and there is going out of their way to be helpful to a sibling (for example, reading stories to their younger siblings, helping their younger siblings with their work, playing flash card games, or doing spelling drills, or offering any number of things to help out -- and I can't be the one asking them to do it. THEY have to do it).

 

Just my 2 cents...

 

But yes, the system you're using does work very well to illustrate a point. My concern is that if they always come out on the "losing end" without any way of "making it up" they may become disenchanted with the idea and give up altogether, because they can never earn anything.

 

This is just their first "payperiod", but yes, if they got the chores done the next day on time, they got their money back. Plus, anything outside of chores, anything that saves me time from my own work, I pay them extra. They have only been at it for 10 days, so they have some adjustments to make, too.

[Robin Hood]

Try to catch their good behavior too. "You were very polite and helpful when I was (about to drop, too busy to get to the oven, needed toilet paper, asked for, needed you to be quiet, wanted you to get/not get the phone, etc.)"

 

Plan on them earning the money and buying the silly things, so you don't unwittingly try to set them up for failure. (I am looking at my own behavior here, not pointing fingers.)

 

It sounds like it is going well. Rewards for good behavior have a good track record and will round it out.

 

Did that too. "You were so kind to your sister when she ...., add another quarter to your pay."

 

It's really fun to see them respond so well. I think it'll turn around soon.

[Lovedtodeath]

I have tried the 10 cent at a time deal and I can never stick to it. DD ends up with very little and disheartened. With older children it will probably work better for you though. Keep us posted.

 

(Right now, I am rewarding $5 per week for learning and sticking to a new good habit each week.)

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

We have a payment system for chores, but my dc get paid as soon as the chore is done. for them, having the money right away was more of a motivation than waiting 2 weeks, or whatever. Sometimes if I have a particularly distastefull job that needs to be done, I'll auction it off. For example, this morning it was 10 degrees F and I asked who wants to start the car for 50 cents? Nobody? How about $1?...I would have gone higher because I really, really, really did not want to step out into the cold.

They made their own banks and the money I give them goes right from my hand, to their hand, to the bank. They put pictures of what they're saving for on the bank, just for extra incentive. At first, they would blow each dollar when it was saved, but now not so much. My ds8 just had me exchange $20 in change for a $20 bill. The bill went back into his bank. I have a deal with them that if they can save $100, I'll match it into a savings account, and then I'll match every $50 after that.

ETA: Behavior issues are dealt with separately, mainly by taking away screen time, in 5 minute increments for small things. They also earn screen time for good behavior during homeschool (we used to pay for this, too, but it was ineffective for us, the computer is a bigger motivator).

Edited December 15, 2008 by MeanestMomInMidwest

[Lovedtodeath]

We have a payment system for chores, but my dc get paid as soon as the chore is done. for them, having the money right away was more of a motivation than waiting 2 weeks, or whatever. Sometimes if I have a particularly distastefull job that needs to be done, I'll auction it off. For example, this morning it was 10 degrees F and I asked who wants to start the car for 50 cents? Nobody? How about $1?...I would have gone higher because I really, really, really did not want to step out into the cold..

I love it!