Experts agree kids can start chores as young as...

Author

The Weekly Parent
June 04, 2024

TOP OF MIND

All about chores
In 20 years, we'll have little robots in charge of completing every household chore, but in the meantime, we need help from our little ones. Your kid probably doesn't like taking out the trash, washing the dishes, or simply cleaning their room, but giving them tasks to complete is actually really important.

At least according to a 75-year study from Harvard. A pediatrician named Dr. Williams provided a breakdown of the report on his TikTok, and he explained how giving your kids chores provides them with a sense of self-worth.

He says they become more selfless, and more willing and able to see the needs of other people around them.

All that sounds great, but how do you actually get them to do the chores? And should they be compensated? If so, how much? Oh, and how young is too young for chores?

The important bits
Most experts agree kids can start taking on household chores and small tasks as early as two-years-old. What can they do at two? Well, unfortunately they can't mow the lawn or pressure wash the driveway, but they can put away their toys, dust, help fold clothes, etc.

Once they hit five-years-old, experts say they can graduate to things like feeding pets, sorting their own laundry, making their bed, and sweeping. You can view the full list here, which has chore ideas for every age group.

If your child is under the age of six or seven, chances are you can still get away with giving them a cookie or a high-five as payment for their hard work, but at some point, they'll discover other kids are getting moolah.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accounts determined that on average kids these days are getting $30 per week in allowance. Personally, we here at The Weekly Parent believe that's far too much, especially if they're under the age of 13. Other smaller studies found $5 or $10 a week were popular options, which sounds more reasonable to us.

Ultimately, it's not about how much you pay them, it's about the guidance you give them once they start filling their piggy bank with cash.

One of the best gifts we can give our children is a solid education on how to manage their money. Simply handing money over to a child without guidance is a missed opportunity. By making an allowance a teachable moment, parents will help instill money management skills in their child at a young age that will help prepare them for the important financial decisions later in life.

Gregory Anton, CPA, CGMA, Financial Literacy Commission chairman

What’s it all mean?
Well, it doesn't mean anything if you can't actually get your kids to do chores! So how can you convince your little one to contribute around the house? This article should help.

You can also look into apps like Greenlight, which helps you assign chores and set up a monthly allowance.

DID YOU HEAR

🦹‍♂️ How to feed your family without becoming a bank robber
Prices at the grocery store are out of control. The cost of food at home increased by 13.5% in 2022, the largest 12-month increase since 1979. In 2024, the prices didn't go up, but they didn't exactly go down either. What does it mean for us? Well, we just have to shop smarter. This article has some great tips, including eliminating sodas and juices, buying frozen vegetables as opposed to fresh, reducing the amount of snacks you buy, and much more. And be sure to check out our Bites with Kiyah section below for more tips and tricks!

😷 COVID-19 had limited developmental impact on young children
There's been a lot of speculation on just how much COVID-19 impacted our children, especially those under the age of 5-years-old. Thankfully, we have some good news to report on the matter. A new study from John Hopkins Children's Center reveals kids experienced only modest delays in developmental milestones during the pandemic. But still, even small changes can have lasting impacts, as the study (linked above) notes.

🥉 The most important parenting tip... according to Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is best known for being a Hollywood superstar, but his most important title is father. He and Blake Lively share four children together, and during a recent interview, Reynolds revealed a super impactful parenting tip he received from filmmaker Shawn Levy. In a nutshell? Make sure your kids know that you lose sometimes. Even if you work really hard on something, it doesn't always work out. "Because you lose so much more than you win," he admitted.

☀️ School's out for summer, and the kids aren’t all right
While most kids look forward to summer like you look forward to the launch of a new Starbucks drink, not all kids are happy about the end of the school year. Apparently, a lot of kids suffer end-of-school-year sadness. For some, school is a safe and stable environment, while others thrive on the routine of it all. Here's how you can help them with the summer transition.

👼 Baby names from the grave?
This mom didn't know what to name her baby, so she went to her local cemetery for inspiration.

Check-out Popcorn Brainstorm! Jokes & Trivia for Kids, the chart-topping Kids & Family podcast from Netflix. Featuring trivia, games and jokes from your favorite Netflix films and series, Popcorn Brainstorm explores Leo, The Dragon Prince and more!

A DOSE OF GOOD

BITES WITH KIYAH

As referenced above, feeding a family has become increasingly expensive. There are some great strategies for how to save money (and stick to a budget!) in the linked article, but our favorite expert of all things food has one other (SUPER IMPORTANT) tip to add that will specifically help you waste less food.

Check it out below...

Kiyah is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition. Follow her on Instagram.

FATHER’S DAY DEALS

Have a father in your life? Like him enough to buy him a gift for Father's Day? Well, we searched through Amazon to find some of the best deals.

If the dad in your life is in need of a new drill, this DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill is nearly 50% off on Amazon. You probably won't find a better deal.

If your dad is less into power tools and more into comfort, these indoor/outdoor moccasin slippers are ideal. Buy them now and get them for $53. They're priced originally at over $100!

Maybe your dad has caught the LEGO craze alongside their little one? This neat LEGO with Dad book gives you detailed instructions on some incredible LEGO builds, ranging from easy to complex. Best of all? It's 33% off!

And for all the dehydrated dads out there, this stainless steel Hydro Flask water bottle is nearly 40% off for a limited time.

Of course, if you don't have any money to spend this year, we're sure they'll gladly accept more time by themselves in the bathroom.

HERE’S A QUESTION

What's your weekly allowance budget?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

The other week, we asked you what type of milk your household consumes, and it was a tight race! With 37% of the vote, soy came out on top, but almond and dairy were tied in a very close second.

RECALLS

Cucumbers in 14 states
The FDA announced a recall of cucumbers this past weekend after it was determined they might be contaminated with salmonella. Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc is recalling cucumbers that were shipped to wholesalers and distributors in 14 states.

Those 14 states are...

  • Alabama

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • Illinois

  • Maryland

  • North Carolina

  • New Jersey

  • New York

  • Ohio

  • Pennsylvania

  • South Carolina

  • Tennessee

  • Virginia

  • West Virginia  

They're urging consumers to check with their grocer to see if recalled cucumbers were sold at their store, although, if you've seen the customer service at the grocery store lately, we wouldn't count on getting a clear answer.

It might be best to skip the cucumbers for the next week or two.

SURVEY WINNERS

A big BIG BIG shoutout to everyone who participated in our survey last week.

The two winners of the $50 Amazon gift cards will be notified later today, so be sure to check your email! It could be you! Well, it can only be you if you did the survey. 😉