Do you give allowance to your kids? Do they have to work for it? How much do you give?

Our 9 year old recieves $5 per week. He must complete all chores which are - one load of laundry start to finish, two nights of dishes and trash daily. He can do extras on a $1 basis - clean out the car, pick up stick in the yard, etc. He recently saved $50 and bought a hermit crab and tank set up. He was very proud of himself! I think it's positive all the way around.

I'm actually an expecting mother...but I work with children and families around issues such as this. I have always found that allowance can be a positive thing when used correctly. For instance, just giving your kids money weekly can lead them to expect something for nothing. I've seen some kids become totally spoiled this way...to the point where they kept track of how much their parent owed them..and they were only 6 and 8 years old!!! Allowance is usually successful when it's tied to some sort of responsibility. I know some question whether you should encourage work or good behavior in exchange for money..when these are things that should be internally motivated. If this is a concern, consider assigning a special task that is separate from daily responsibilities like keeping your room clean or treating others with respect. It also depends on the age of the child. I think for younger kids, something between $2 and $5 dollars is fine. There are many places where a few dollars can be spent that the child will view as rewarding and learn the value of money. I'm usually shocked to hear when kids under the age of 8 are getting more than $5 weekly. Im sure it depends on the person though. You also have to set the limit according to what you can afford. Don't promise $10 a week if it's not in your budget to give. I've seen this happen also, and the kids often become disappointed and unmotivated. I'd be curious to hear more options on this. Good question. Although, I'm not sure there's an exact formula for doing it the right way. Good luck and have fun with it!