It's funny isn't it. Everyones quick to "claim where theres blame", and is disappointed when their house doesn't rocket up in value, ane tends to expect something for nothing.
But everyone also expects their kids, who only have one shot at being kids, to live hand to mouth, dependent on begging, and to behave like little adults, having to work for pennies. I thought we'd abolished child slavery years ago.
And I don't think theres actually much evidence that you intrinsically change a childs nature by forcing them to "earn" pocket money. A lazy child/slow developer whatever is more likely to be effected by the hours you send them to bed, how you support them in their interests, than telling them to do the washing up for a £1.
Indeed, you teach them the price of everything, (ie washing up/hoovering ec) and the value of nothing. Why wouldnt any right minded adult who hates slaving away for an employer all week, suddenly expect 9 year olds to accept this shit?
Give the child a sum, say a fiver. If they spend it stupidly, they dont get any more, thats the rules, – blow it on sweets, you don't get to save for the computer game you want – its about teaching responsibility and about the effects of making choices, not about mind numbing slavery.
Do the washing up together, samw ithchores, if you want the chilsd to do them – spend some quality time whilst your at it, making it an opportunity to bond and communicate – talking about school, relationships, whatever is on the childs mind, rather than sitting watching telly whilst your dishes get done for 1/5 of the min wage.
I find almost every posters view both guilty of double standards, and lazyness. You wanted the child. Surprise, they create mess and inconvenience, deal with it, dont pass it on to them. Love them, spend quality time, don't treat them the way you bitterltyresent being treated yourself. If your boss behaved with you the way you seem to with your kids, no wonder they end up aged 15 hanging around bus shelters doing smack….
