Kids and allowance for chores

because I don't have kids, I AM the expert, so take note of all I say.

I am a big believer in kids learning how to work, and that work is part of life.   My viewpoint is formed from my own upbringing and then my experiences with trying to employ young people.  Man, what a bunch of entitled little sh1t$ I met in the 16-25 year old range of employees.  I am afraid for us as a species.

I think chores should be a given for kids.   I did not grow up with cows, but we heated by wood, had extensive gardens, canning, and snow removal issues.   HTM and I sure learned how to work as kids.    I would NEVER have expected my folks to shell out any extra cash for shoveling the snow for our home (and the side walks of our elderly neighbors).  We preserved the foods from the garden, and had to help.  We also had to help pick berries for any jam we wanted to eat that year (my mom would make Jam from the wild berries that grew on a hillside a few miles from our home - we would ride our bikes down with buckets over our handlebars and pick pick pick.    Mom would make as much jam as we picked, and that was IT - no store bought jam graced our PB sammies or toast).  And, we heated by wood - hauling wood was a part of life from a young age, and splitting and cutting came in the mid teens.   NO extra money.

Now, allowances were given.  We were expected to save our money for the things we wanted, or for extra spending money.  I don't remember it being tied to what I did that week, but if I was in trouble, I didn't get any.

Anyway, as an employer, I beg you.   Teach your kids that work is part of life.

My 3.5 yo has a chore chart.  she gets sticker for each thing she does (help set table, feed dog, help in garden, help mommy with dinner, etc.  she gets a quarter for each thing she does.  Suprisingly, even at 2.5 she understands the concept of do a chore, earn some money and buy something you want.