Giving Your Child an Allowance Essay Example

Imagine a little girl making her bed every morning and cleaning her toys up during the evening. The parents are very proud of their daughter. Imagine the little boy who refuses to clean up his room because he is not motivated to do so. The parents are getting frustrated and want to do something to motivate their son. Chores are essential in running a home and many children take part in that. Amongst many families is often an allowance or reward system. When children complete their assigned chores, they are rewarded with an allowance. This gets many children motivated to help out around the home and gives a sense of pride when they can spend their own money on something they want. The issue here is that not every parent believes in the allowance system and believes it is a given expectation for the children to do their part. This brings out conflict as children, money, and the home are often common issues argued between parents. It is important that mom and dad come to a reasonable agreement. 

Sophia just recently turned eight and asked her dad about getting an allowance. Sophia’s dad does not believe in the allowance system and expects his daughter to contribute to the home by doing chores. Dad believes that chores should be mandatory and should be completed without a reward or allowance. He emphasizes that the true reward in itself is the feeling of accomplishment in a clean home. He believes it teaches responsibility, self-respect, respect for one’s belongings, and the value of work. He mentions that when he was growing up, he did not get an allowance and doing his chores was rather expected of him. If he did not do the chores that were expected of him, punishment would follow. Dad also expresses that he does not get paid to do the lawn, wash dishes, or take out the trash. That chores are all apart of keeping a home and one day the children will have to keep up with their own home. Dad refuses to give Sophia an allowance because he is concerned that she will expect money every time she completes a chore and will not want to do the chores asked of her unless she is rewarded.    

Dad has given many valid points on why expecting chores to be done is a good thing for Sophia. It can be self-rewarding, teaches responsibility, respect, and value of a home. He made a very good point that he does not get paid to do chores and that it should be mandatory. The children will indeed benefit by doing chores because one day they will have to care for themselves and keep up with their own home. Perhaps expecting certain chores to be done without a reward or allowance will benefit both the family’s home and the child’s future. Dads’ ideas would work best by creating a chore chart for Sophia. The chore chart would include all the chores that Sophia is expected to do on a daily or weekly basis. Chores that are expected of Sophia daily are making her bed, tidying her room, picking up toys, and picking up after herself. Sometimes Sophia is expected to help fold/put away clothes, set/clear the dining room table, help with dishes, care for the animals, and to dust. It is very wise to have certain expectations of children within the home. If expectations are not met, then it makes sense that consequences/ punishments are enforced. 

Unlike dad, Sophia’s mom believes in the allowance system and thinks it will help motive her daughter to do more chores around the house. She believes that chores are essential to running a home and that it is expected Sophia partake in that. Mom is all for giving her daughter an allowance because it rewards her for a job well done, teaches responsibility, and the value of saving. Another reason mom is very supportive of the allowance system is that she was given a certain amount for each chore completed while growing up. She felt motivated as a child to do more chores to save even more money and buy things that she really wanted. It felt like such a sense of accomplishment and independence. She wants the same for her daughter. If dad decided to give an allowance it would not only benefit Sophia but the family as well. Dad wants his daughter to learn the value of a home and be responsible for her own in their future. By giving an allowance, Sophia is still being taught responsibility, respect, the value of not only a home but monetary value. Giving an allowance does not take away that her completing chores is still mandatory and expected of her. Giving an allowance still gives Sophia that self-rewarding feel through hard work and determination. By offering the reward of an allowance, Sophia is also less likely to complain and therefore will complete her chores. This would also result in fewer consequences. 

An agreement that would best benefit the entire family would be for Sophia to have a list of chores that she is still expected to complete every day without an allowance. Then to have a secondary list of chores that are not always required of her to do. The secondary list of chores is where she would refer to in making that allowance money. This way dad benefits in knowing that Sophia is completing the everyday chores that are expected of her. Mom and Sophia benefit because an allowance system is in place, just not for every chore. To satisfy the entire family, it is also suggested that all mandatory and expected chores be completed before allowing Sophia to move to the second list for any chance of allowance money. A chore chart would also be ideal in showing what chores are expected and what chores can be done for allowance and how much for each chore. An example would be how Sophia is expected to make her bed and tidy her room every day. This would be written as a daily chore with no allowance. Once everything is completed, she can choose from the chore chart. Sophia could choose something like doing the dishes and would receive $2 or she could choose to vacuum the living room for $1. 

Chores are essential in nearly every home. Each member of the family should be doing their part to ensure the home is running smoothly. Some parents expect their children to do a share of the chores, otherwise consequences will arise. Another set of parents believe in an allowance or reward system to motivate their children in doing chores. This is often a common issue argued between parents and households. It is important to resolve such a conflict because it can take a toll on families in the long run. Children can be expected to complete chores, but with motivation and rewards, there are bound to be better results. Now imagine that same little girl making her bed every morning and cleaning her toys up during the evening. The parents are very proud of their daughter. Imagine the same little girl saving up her allowance and buying a huge barbie dream house with her own money. Imagine the smile on her face knowing that all the hard work she did paid off, the sense of accomplishment in her eyes. That is Sophia’s future goal with her allowance!