Family Members or Hired Hands?
August 8th, 2012
by Katrina Brooke
Kids should not be paid to do their chores.
Despite what some children believe, we are not involved in a sinister conspiracy to enslave the youth of America! We just know that kids are happier and more successful when they contribute without receiving constant compensation.
Some questions for you…
What’s going to leave your kids feeling better about themselves and their family?
Will they enjoy the greatest self-esteem and sense of family loyalty if they think, “I do these things because I’m a loved, appreciated, and needed member of this team”? Or will it be better if they think, “I do these things because I get five bucks”?
What do you want them to believe about relationships?
Will they enjoy happier and more fulfilling relationships if they’re focused on selflessly helping others, or will they enjoy more contentment if they’re always asking themselves, “What’s this person done for me lately”?
How would you like them to do in school?
Do you hope they’ll be internally motivated by the good feelings associated with accomplishment? Or do you wish them to become dependent upon constant external rewards?
What sort of work ethic do you want them to have?
Do you want them to believe that it’s their job to do whatever it takes, or would it be better if they spent most of their time grumbling, “They don’t pay me enough to do that. That’s not my job”?
In our CD, “Didn’t I Tell You To Take Out the Trash?!”, we teach a variety of ways to give kids the gift of a great work ethic. We also teach what to say when kids complain about being expected to contribute without pay:
In our family, we help each other because
we love and need each other.
Thanks for your reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible. If this is a benefit, forward it to a friend.
Dr. Charles Fay
©2012 Love and Logic Institute, Inc
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