Giving Children Commision for Chores

A while back I read an informative book titled, America's Cheapest Family by Steve and Annette Economides.  One of the ideas they gave in their book was to have commission for the children and to have timecards for everyone to show the tasks they had completed.  Do the tasks, get paid.  Don't?  Well, you don't get paid.  Matthew, who is 7 1/2 has been wanting to get a job to earn money and frequently asks to do things to get paid.  Liam is 3 and has no clue.  He likes money but that's about where it ends.

I figured we would start simple.  I call them their task sheets.  They each have three sections and there are three tasks in each section. Complete the tasks in one section and you get the agreed upon amount.  For Matthew, it is 15 cents.  For Liam, it is 5 cents.  On Monday we go through the task sheets, do some math together and they get paid.

Here's the List of Matthew's tasks:

1) Brush teeth and wash face
    Laundry
    Wipe Bathroom Counter
2) Unload Dishwasher
     Scoop Out Litter
     Trash
3) Put jacket and shoes away
    Pick up toys
    Brush Teeth and Wash Face

Here's the  List of Liam's tasks:

1) Go Potty in the toilet
     Brush Teeth and wash face
     Get dressed
2) Go Potty in the toilet
    Unload silverware from the dishwasher
    Give cat's food and water
3) Pick up toys
    Go Potty in the toilet
    Brush teeth and wash face

My goals are 1) to get them to do their tasks without being told and with a cheerful spirit.  2) To learn how to delay gratification.  3) To learn how to handle small amounts of money so that they can handle larger amounts when they get older. 

All important life skills that I am including in the children's education.


Big dreams meet reality.

We've been doing the task charts and commission for almost 3 weeks now and let me tell you what's happening...

The first day was awesome!  The second day was okay.  Then Matthew figured out the message I was giving him.  He can CHOOSE whether he wants to do  his tasks or not.  So, he took some time off of work.  About two weeks now.  Liam joined him on his vacation.  They both say it's okay that they're not getting paid.

I need to re-think my message.  :-0

This leaves me to do most of the work.  Brushing their teeth and using the bathroom typically gets done.  The cat's get their litter changed when I remind Matthew that we will not be able cats to keep the cats if he doesn't scoop the litter and their father just says "You will unload the dishwasher, NOW."

I still like the idea of commission... 

I just need to figure out how it's going to work for our family and the ages are children are currently in.

Week One

Week Two

 America's Cheapest Family, A Book Review