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Why should I pay my children to work around the house?  Some may wonder why the Accountable Kids program incorporates earning money through the completion of extra chores. 

Why shouldn’t our children simply do everything we ask them out of the goodness of their hearts?  We answer this question with one of our own.  Why don’t we, as adults, get up and go to work every day without getting paid for it? 

The Accountable Kids program is intended to help children develop strong values and morals, but it is also a training ground for life.  There are certain characteristics that are vital for future success that are simply not taught anywhere but in our homes.  The ability to manage money is synonymous with the ability to control impulses.  The AK program teaches children the importance of being a contributing member of the family by reinforcing the importance of performing basic chores in the home.  But rather than giving kids an allowance to learn about money, the AK program gives children the opportunity to earn money and experience the empowerment of self-sufficiency. 

Earning money helps children understand the value of a dollar and what is required to earn it.  By having children earn their own money, instead of having it given to them, parents help prevent entitlement and foster empathy.  This allows children to develop a better understanding of what parents go through to earn money and support the family.  As children develop this understanding they are less likely to have the entitled expectation of simply wanting to manage mom and dad’s money. 

As children earn their own money, parents have opportunities to teach them to manage valuable resources.  Opening a savings account helps children develop a long term perspective of managing money.  By doing this children experience delayed gratification and learn impulse control.  We can also teach children a secondary nature of money by showing them the importance of serving God and serving others.  This can be done by providing an avenue to donate money to charitable causes.  All of these lessons help children develop empathy and understand that money is simply the currency of our society.  In this manner our children learn to manage money and not be managed by it. 

There are many benefits for allowing children to earn and manage their own money.  We encourage parents to seek out avenues that allow kids to learn these valuable life lessons and develop fiscal responsibility, accountability, impulse control, and altruism.  Mastering these characteristics not only makes for Accountable Kids, but eventually accountable and fiscally responsible adults that enjoy giving back to others.              

Scott Heaton, LMFT