No parent wants to raise entitled children. Most parents would agree it's important for children to learn at an early age that they can't spend what they don't have (Proverbs 22:7b), and they have to work to earn nmoney (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Children must also learn that maintaining a household takes time, money, and teamwork. This is where the wise use of allowances and chores comes in.
The most effective use of an allowance is when it's linked to kids being responsible for purchasing certain items, depending on their age, such as snacks, entertainment, and even school clothes and cell phone bills.
In this way the allowance doesn't become a handout but a kind of "down payment" in helping kids learn the benefits of budgeting and saving, the value of delayed gratification, how to weigh the value of one item or activity over another, and the consequences of thoughtless spending. Having money creates choices, and
I'm convinced that the best place for kids to learn how to make wise choices is in the home. One of the best ways I've found to use chores is to divide them into two categories: Family chores and work-for-pay chores.
Family chores involve a few tasks kids do simply because they're a part of the family. These help them learn what it takes to run a home and give them a sense of participation, accomplishment, and ownership.
This teaches children accountability since their choices affect the rest of the family.
Work-for-pay chores are those kids can do to earn extra money on a job-by-job basis, such as shoveling snow, sweeping the garage, or mowing the lawn. This helps strengthen their work ethic while gaining an even greater appreciation for the value of money.
I'd encourage you to sit down together as a couple and prayerfully consider what your goals are for your kids, and then decide on the approach that might work best for you.
This article is courtesy of HomeLife Magazine.