Pocket Money for kids

smiler34

jackyann wrote: »

I think the "marbles in a jar" idea to encourage good behaviour works very well. However, I do have concerns about linking good behaviour to payment. I think it should perhaps be a short-term strategy. Then you can have the conversation about "we expect good behaviour".
Docking pocket money as a consequence of bad behaviour is fine, but regularly paying for good behaviour doesn't sit well with me (absolutely not a criticism of those that do, just a contribution to the debate)
Similarly, we said to our kids (as our parents did to us) "we expect everyone in this family to do chores". Sometimes we had rotas, sometimes set chores, kids were excused during exams, it varied. But the principle that you just got on with the job and didn't expect payment was constant.
We paid for "extra" one-off jobs, and sometimes, when flush, gave extra gifts for spends during the holidays.

I do think that the most important thing is that kids are part of the discussion. Whatever you decide, you explain the idea behind it; you explain if the family has to cut down for awhile, you explain how you budget & why (and give them some say as & when appropriate) and you celebrate a windfall.

The pennys in the jar was a last resort for me when nothing else was working with my son, but now they are all getting good at keeping all their pennies (or most of them lol) I have now created a chores list for them, nothing major just things like setting the table and helping unload the dishwasher so they are also kind of working to earn their pennies as well, obviously the option is still there to take them away if the good behaviour doesn't keep up. It has been quite a short term things tbh and the difference in his behaviour in a few weeks is amazing and I think thats more down to realising his boundaries which were obviously shown to him physically through the loss of his pennies.

jackyann

smiler34 wrote: »

The pennys in the jar was a last resort for me when nothing else was working with my son, but now they are all getting good at keeping all their pennies (or most of them lol) I have now created a chores list for them, nothing major just things like setting the table and helping unload the dishwasher so they are also kind of working to earn their pennies as well, obviously the option is still there to take them away if the good behaviour doesn't keep up. It has been quite a short term things tbh and the difference in his behaviour in a few weeks is amazing and I think thats more down to realising his boundaries which were obviously shown to him physically through the loss of his pennies.

I do think that watching the pennies grow & shrink is what sticks in the mind (which is why marbles are also a good option). I also think that the system helps focus the mind of both the child & the adult on keeping the boundaries, which is the important thing.
Thank you for responding to my post in the spirit in which it was intended.

blastarhymes

are gal is 8, she does jobs around the house for money, its written on the calinder and she is "Paid" at the end of the month....

welcome to the real world hollie!!!!