Let me get this clear. At times, paying children for household chores is quite okay. It’s fun too. But as a parent, we must always be scared of overdoing certain things while bringing up children. This may be one of those things.

I’m scared of the new age finance applications or cards that tout rewarding children for doing household chores as the real thing for bringing about financial literacy in kids. That’s next level ridiculous!

Paying for household chores? Really?! Aren’t children part of the family? And what are we really teaching them? Expect to make money for the things that they should rather be doing as a part of the family in any case!

I believe we must be wary against making this a habit. Here are the reasons, why I think we must not pay children for household chores.

Eight Reasons Why Children Should Not Be Paid for Household Chores

1. Lack of Motivation & Ownership

Responsibilities come from being a part of the household. Children need to make their own bed, for instance. Help out with cleaning, drying and a myriad of other tasks. They are expected to be a part of the team, the family and help out by doing their bit, so collectively, everyone has fewer tasks.

Expecting to be paid for tasks can affect children’s motivation to realize ownership and take up responsibilities on their own.

2. Lack of Work Ethic

When children are paid for chores, they may not see the value in working hard and completing tasks to the best of their abilities. Instead, they may focus solely on completing the task as quickly as possible in order to receive their payment.

Paying for chores may also teach children incorrectly that certain tasks are more valuable than others and prioritize the financially rewarding ones first. This can lead to them to undervalue the importance of tasks that do not have financial incentives but are probably more important, or they may not feel the need to perform them with the same level of dedication.

This could affect their task prioritization skills and work ethic which would have future implications as they go about their lives.

3. Lack of Sensitivity 

Paying for chores may also affect children’s general sensitivity. Children should inculcate a realization that they need to contribute their bit in the house for the overall good of the family. They should be sensitive to and circumspect of the circumstances at home at various times and contribute accordingly to keep the household running smoothly.

Instead, they’ll contribute only when paid!  What are we really teaching them?

4. Lack of Sense of TeamWork

Hey, teamwork is important – at home, at work. Everywhere. Teamwork comes from a camaraderie, a shared feeling, fun and everyone playing their part towards a shared collective goal. Paying children for household work just to do their part in the team!

Jeez!

5. Serious Future Implications – Corruption

Okay, this one’s scary. But it’s also a theory, so you may give it your own thought.

When we teach our children to expect money for each little thing that they do (which they should be doing in any case), they may just come to see this as a normal way of doing things!

This sense of entitlement and mentality can easily become a part of their adult persona and mentality. Wouldn’t they be more susceptible to accepting bribes or engaging in other forms of corruption then, making money for every little task or obligation that they do, even if that were a part of their responsibilities.

Aren’t we programming them so?

How to Go About Household Chores for Children

Let’s teach our children to be sensitive. Let’s teach them the power of collective work and responsibility – how when they do their tasks diligently, it reduces the work burden on their parents. Let’s show how it increases collective household productivity.

Let’s teach them teamwork and the importance of playing their roles in the team.

Let’s teach them to take ownership and pride in their responsibilities and see the value in contributing to the household and community. Let’s teach them the value of hard work and selflessness, that of sensitivity, honesty and integrity.

Let’s teach them to be humans first, not driven by the lure of the lucre.