This summer, as I was staying with various family members, I noticed that various families had chore charts. I had a mother-guilt ,thinking to myself, "We have no chore chart; my kids don't even know what a chore is!" Well that has since been rectified. Nothing big, but each morning Gabe and David have their "Morning chores." They have to get themselves dressed, do something with their pajamas and make their bed. Mom assists PRN (as needed). Their payment is 10 cents either in the form of a dime or two nickles.
David can barely count out ten items, but it is surprising how early on kids get the idea that money has value. That it is worth something and can be exchanged for something else of value. They are collecting their little dimes in jars. These jars get taken back every day after the ritual deposit of funds so that there aren't dimes all over the floor for Mac to swallow. I think it is good for them to have a little responsibility and to be rewarded for their efforts. Gabe wanted to use his dimes to help buy a hamburger when we went to eat. Since he didn't have them with him, we told him we would cover it being the nice parents that we are.
I feel a tithing Family Home Evening coming on in the near future. Can't spend those dimes unless we give back to the Lord first.
I'm thinking of adding "brush teeth" as a fourth chore for an extra 2 cents- Now that would really make the math fuzzy!
You're funny.
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They will remember the lessons they learned from these dimes for a lifetime.
PS. And you're wise not to underestimate the ability of a youngling to ingest coins. I remember looking at 13 pennies on Adam's X-ray somewhere around two years old.
ReplyDeleteOK, I am going to ask it. Why wouldn't a sticker or smiley face on a chart have worked as well as coins with value (money). Are you always going to pay your children for tasks / duties that they should be doing as a part of daily living or as a part of their contribution to your family?
ReplyDeleteJust trying to get inside your thinking.
what a great idea! and yes, it does seem funny how young they can be but associaite money as something of value. smart kiddos!
ReplyDeleteLove it. I stick dimes on the piano. The kids move them back and forth from side to side each time they practice a piece, or part of a piece. At the end they get to keep the dimes.
ReplyDeleteI have tried a chore chart many times. Never been successful. But my kids still help. Lots.
Oh, the good old days when dimes were exciting!
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