Ask:
I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. We want to start an allowance for the 4 year old. How much does your child get a week and what are they expected to do?
Thanks
Answer:
I never give my kids an allowance. We give them money based on chores and then have them put half away and some on something to buy. I help them comparison shop but they buy what they want. When they were 4 I was pretty cheep with them and they got about 4 dollars a week depending on how they did their chores. Dusting, folding towels, making their bed, or setting the table.
Answer:
Ds is 5 and still doesn't 'get' the value of money yet. I mean he knows it buys things, but as far as actually getting it, he really doesn't. I might wait until he's older for this.
However, I think when we do 'do' an allowance, I'm not going to do it based on chores. My family knows my whole spiel about us all living in the house, and that we all have to help out. I expect ds to do what I ask of him, not expecting $ for everything I ask of him. We just all help out here, when needed/asked. So when the time comes, I can see just giving him whatever amount and still continuing to expect him to do his normal things (feed the cat, clean up, etc.) I ask of him.
Answer:
We are still working on this concept. We have a list of chores that our two older ones are supposed to take care of, but we have to argue with them most of the time to do it. So, we had discussed that if they do all of their chores every week without us having to fight with them, then they would get a set amount of money. We are still trying to finalize it. Right now my 4yo gets the laundry from the dryer for me and will help me do cleaning durning the day. I do not feel he can do many other things on his own yet...
I would suggest not just giving him money, but making him realize that he needs to work for it by folding towels, or wiping the front of the fridge offf, etc...
Good luck!