Learn to work: The value of family chores
In an ideal world, all it would take to get your kids to complete basic household tasks would be a polite request or perhaps an entreaty to their shared sense of family responsibility and duty if they’re being particularly difficult. In the real world, however, most kids require a little more material encouragement to develop a good work ethic and get their chores done.
But while offering your kids rewards for family chores can sometimes be accompanied with feelings of guilt (it’s a lot like doing most other things as a parent in that way), a reward system properly implemented can, in fact, be a win-win in terms of getting stuff done around the house and teaching your kids valuable concepts such as learning to work, the idea of reward and incentive and encouraging them to look for opportunities to earn more.
So how to do it properly? Here are 5 tips for drafting a successful chore incentive scheme:
1. Set realistic goals
It’s important to choose tasks and rewards for your kids that are appropriate to their age group. Start with simple jobs for younger kids such as picking up toys and move to tasks with greater complexity and more responsibility as they get older.
2. Make milestones
Divide tasks into daily, weekly and monthly milestones, with smaller daily rewards and larger monthly ones. This is a good way of keeping kids motivated on a short-term basis while teaching the value of regular, consistent work in the long term.
3. Choose relevant rewards
Letting your kids earn money as a reward for their chores has the additional value of teaching them to manage their finances from an early age. It’s also a good opportunity for you to introduce them to the world of banking by depositing their reward money into a (sum)1 Account with no monthly account fee.
A (sum)1 account can be linked to your bank account so you can keep an eye on your kids’ finances while encouraging their financial independence with a secure debit card and a variety of free transactions every month.
4. Be flexible
Just because it isn’t on the list doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be done. Encourage your kids to look for opportunities to earn extra rewards by completing chores independently. It’s a great habit to learn.
5. Keep track of progress
Keeping a chart is a great way for your kids to see the progress they’re making towards their goal, keeping them motivated and engaged with the process.
Download our rewards chart template to get started: