Parenting Preschoolers (3-5) Support Group

This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of preschoolers (3 to 5 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development. Join to share your stories and get advice.

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joleneLS 01/02/2013

My daughter is three and a half and I was wondering about a type of allowance program.

She loves collecting coins for her piggy bank. She picks pennies off the sidewalk, raids couches for nickels and hords any loose dimes. All to 'feed' her piggy. And once it's full we told her she could spend it on what she chooses and then we will start all over again. She has a seperate savings account for future major expenses (school, house etc).

I was wondering if anyone started giving money for extra help around the house at this age. Three out of four days she sets the table for me at supper. She often takes it upon herself to go organize the entryway and shoe rack, we live in a bilevel and it's tiny and easily messed up. She will go and clean up any clothes lying on the washroom floor or even our bedroom floor.

I thought about making a chart and giving a sticker for the EXTRA chores. She wouldn't get one for things like cleaning her room, or picking up her toys as those are regular responsibilities. And when she gets to five giving her a quarter.

Is it too young to start something like this? Should I wait until she is older? I never got an allowance growing up, we were expected to help out for free and I am okay with that but my spouse wants to give her an allowance and sometimes you just have to compromise :) which is why we decided only for above and beyond chores.

Thanks

MrsS42603 01/07/2013

It sounds like your daughter is a VERY good helper! My son is 4 and he is definitely not ready for an allowance. My older daughter is 7 and started getting an allowance this summer. She had asked about getting an allowance (thanks to the "helpful" suggestion from her cousin) but we had held off because she whined many times when we asked her to help out with stuff. Now she is very good about helping out most of the time and has certain responsibilities that she's supposed to do in order to earn her allowance. We still have to remind her to complete those chores sometimes, but when we do, she does it right away.
It's never too soon to start teaching your children about money, so if you feel that your daughter is ready to start receiving a small allowance, go for it!

deleted_user 01/09/2013

At this age What I do is when my daughter participates in chores she gets her 'allowance' right away. We have a nickle jar and when she does a task that is asked of her thats abave and beyond she gets a nickle for her bank. I found that while she loves stickers she didnt relate stickers to earning money very well. and it lost its momentium.

I do do a chart for her daily responcibilities and at the end of the week when her sister gets her allowance she does too but the extra stuff is rewarded right away.

joleneLS 01/18/2013

We are ending week two right quick and the first two weeks have gone well! We pay out at the end of Friday, so she gets paid every week, and she gets really excited. The second she hears the squeak of the dish washer door opening she is there in a flash to unload the cutlery for a 'nickel sticker' she calls them. lol. Thanks for your help guys :)

deleted_user 02/01/2013

for my 6 year old and 3 year old both they get allowances but what I do is if they do the chores they are asked to do without whining or throwing a fit. They will get a dollar BUT if they whine about it or throw a fit they pay me a dollar to do it. I figure it teaches them they have to work for their money it isn't going to just be handed to them so it is more of a job. I mean if you go to work and do your job you get pay but if you don't do your going to get fired and no money. I see it as the same. They don't have a chore chart but I might ask them to pick up the toys the baby pulled out or feed the animals, maybe help me take the laundry from the dryer, and clean their room. oh and empty the trash from the bathrooms. I mean they are simple but they are their normal responsibilities no different then if you had to go to work and your responsibilities were to sweep your area, the boss would still pay you. my oldest also vacuums some or steam mops but those are like once in 2 weeks the rest the time I do it because he is still learning but if he isn't taught or given a chance to learn he wont know how. He can also sort laundry and rake leaves. *no I don't work my kid to death like it sounds, lol I do most the stuff daily so it isn't like it take more than 10 mins for any of his chores but variety keeps the kids interest rather than day after day of the same things.

deleted_user 01/02/2014

I would wait until she was older and more able to understand it. My daughter Abby (will be three tomorrow) loves helping too, and she does it just to spend time with mommy.

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