Should kids get allowance for chores? The case for and against
Thoughtful parents land on different answers here. The three common approaches, the honest pros and cons of each, and how to choose the one your family can keep.
In this guide
- First, chores matter either way
- Approach 1: pay for chores
- Approach 2: keep allowance and chores separate
- Approach 3: the hybrid
- Should kids get allowance for chores? Pros and cons at a glance
- How to choose for your family
- What about a chore chart for kids with money?
- When they say “I don’t need the money”
- Questions parents ask
- Sources
The short answer
There is no single right answer. Families usually choose one of three approaches: pay for chores, keep the allowance and family chores separate, or a mix where everyday jobs are unpaid and extra jobs earn money. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists allowances tied to chores as one option, money writer Ron Lieber argues against the link, and Michigan State University Extension says the key is to choose a method that fits your family and stick to it.
Should kids get allowance for chores? Ask ten parents and you may hear ten firm answers, each from someone who has thought hard about it. The honest summary is that each approach has real strengths and real trade-offs, and the one that works is usually the one you can keep doing every week. Below are the three main options, what each one teaches, and a few questions to help you pick.
If you have already decided and just need numbers, see our guide to allowance for kids by age.
First, chores matter either way
Every approach starts from the same place: kids should help at home. The American Academy of Pediatrics, on its HealthyChildren.org site, puts it simply: “Young children are naturally eager helpers.” Most preschoolers can start pitching in with simple tasks, which teaches life skills and how to cooperate as a family. The AAP also suggests praising your child’s effort rather than the outcome, and not expecting perfection.
So the real question is not whether kids should do chores. It is whether money should be part of the deal.
Approach 1: pay for chores
In this setup, the allowance is earned. Do the agreed jobs, get paid. The AAP mentions this directly as something to consider: “tangible rewards like allowances and stickers tied to completed chores.”
The case for it:
- It links work and money. Michigan State University Extension notes that when children are paid for specific chores, they learn responsibility and that earning money in the real world can be difficult.
- It makes “earning” concrete. A 2013 review for the UK’s Money Advice Service, by Cambridge researchers David Whitebread and Sue Bingham, suggests that small jobs around the home for pocket money may bring the idea of earning to life for young children.
- It is easy to explain. “You helped, so you earned it” makes sense to a five year old.
The trade-offs:
- The opt-out problem. If chores are a job, a child who does not want money this week can decline the job. Lieber’s warning, as reported by TODAY, is that kids may stop helping once they have enough money.
- Rewards can crowd out helping. In a small lab study from 2008, 20-month-olds who received a material reward for helping later helped less than toddlers who got praise or no reward. It involved toddlers, not money or chores, so treat it as a caution rather than a verdict. It does suggest keeping some everyday helping free of payment.
- Everything starts to have a price. “What do I get?” can creep into requests that used to be automatic.
Approach 2: keep allowance and chores separate
Here, chores are part of being in the family, and nobody gets paid for them, grown-ups included. The allowance is a separate tool for practicing money decisions. Ron Lieber, author of The Opposite of Spoiled, is the best-known voice for this view, and told TODAY in 2015: don’t peg allowance to chores.
The case for it:
- Chores stay about family. Helping is expected because everyone lives there, not because it pays.
- The allowance can do its real job. A steady amount gives kids regular practice with choosing, waiting and saving, and that does not depend on how the week of chores went.
- Fewer negotiations. No haggling over whether a half-made bed counts.
The trade-offs:
- Earning has to come from somewhere else. “You earn money by working” is one of the first ideas the CFPB suggests for ages 3 to 5. Without paid work, you will want to teach it through conversation and other jobs.
- It can feel like money for nothing. Some parents are uneasy with that, and it is a fair feeling to have.
- Chores need their own motivation. The AAP suggests clear expectations, honest praise and, when a child chooses not to help, consequences such as losing a privilege.
Approach 3: the hybrid
Many families end up here. Everyday family jobs, like clearing your plate or putting toys away, are unpaid. Extra jobs, the ones you might otherwise do yourself or pay someone for, can earn money. The CFPB’s guidance for ages 6 to 12 leaves room for exactly this mix: “You can earn money through an allowance or by doing jobs for the family or others.”
The case for it: kids learn both lessons. Family members help each other, and work beyond the basics can earn. It also gives a motivated child a way to reach a savings goal faster.
The trade-offs: you have to draw the line between “family job” and “extra job” clearly, and keep it there. MSU Extension adds a useful rule: it is generally unwise to pay for things that should be done anyway, such as brushing teeth, taking a bath or working hard at school.
For extra-job ideas that suit young kids, see our guide to ways for kids to earn money.
Should kids get allowance for chores? Pros and cons at a glance
| Approach | Main strength | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Pay for chores | Clear link between work and money | Kids may skip chores when they don’t need cash |
| Separate | Chores stay about family, allowance teaches choices | Earning must be taught another way |
| Hybrid | Teaches helping and earning | Needs a clear line between family and extra jobs |
How to choose for your family
Three questions usually settle it:
- What do you most want the money to teach right now? If it is “work earns money,” paying for some jobs helps. If it is “choose carefully and wait,” a steady allowance does more.
- What can you keep up? Tracking paid chores takes attention every week. MSU Extension’s advice is to choose the method that fits your family and stick to it.
- How does your child respond to rewards? Some kids light up at earning. Others start pricing every favor. You know which one you live with.
Whatever you pick, two habits help. If you pay for a task, keep the pay fair; MSU Extension notes that overpaying for an easy task is as unhelpful as underpaying for a hard one. And if the allowance comes with no strings, do not start withholding it as a punishment later, because that changes the deal in a way kids notice.
What about a chore chart for kids with money?
A visible list helps young children whichever approach you choose. The AAP suggests posting chore lists or charts so kids know what is expected each day and each week. If money is tied to chores, put the pay next to each job so there are no surprises. If it is not, leave money off the list entirely, so the two stay clearly apart.
When they say “I don’t need the money”
It will happen, especially with the first approach. Stay calm: “Our family jobs aren’t optional, because we all live here. The extra jobs are optional, and they earn money.” If that sentence does not fit your current setup, it may be a sign to move toward the hybrid. Changing your system once you learn what works for your child is not a failure. It is the point of trying.
Questions parents ask
Should kids be paid for chores?
Families reasonably disagree. Paying for chores clearly links work and money, which Michigan State University Extension and the AAP both treat as a valid option. Critics such as Ron Lieber argue it lets kids opt out of helping once they have enough money. Many families pay only for extra jobs beyond everyday family tasks.
What chores should kids do without being paid?
In the hybrid approach, everyday tasks that keep family life running: putting toys away, clearing their plate, putting dirty clothes in the hamper. Michigan State University Extension also advises against paying for things that should be done anyway, such as brushing teeth or bathing.
At what age can kids start doing chores?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says most preschool age kids can start pitching in with simple household tasks. Its list for ages 5 to 7 includes setting and clearing the table, putting toys away, feeding a pet and putting dirty clothes in the hamper.
Is it OK to take away allowance for not doing chores?
If the allowance is earned through chores, not paying for undone jobs follows naturally. If it is given with no conditions, withholding it as a punishment tends to backfire, according to Michigan State University Extension. Decide the rule up front and keep it consistent.
Sources
- Age-Appropriate Chores for Children, adapted from Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12 American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org
- Allowances can help children learn money management skills (July 2013), Melissa Payk Michigan State University Extension
- The new allowance rules: Start early and don't peg money to chores (2015), A. Pawlowski, with Ron Lieber TODAY
- Money as You Grow: Young children (ages 3 to 5) Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Money as You Grow: School-age children to preteens (ages 6 to 12) Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Habit Formation and Learning in Young Children (May 2013), David Whitebread and Sue Bingham, University of Cambridge Money Advice Service, now the Money and Pensions Service
- Extrinsic rewards undermine altruistic tendencies in 20-month-olds (2008), Felix Warneken and Michael Tomasello, Developmental Psychology 44(6) American Psychological Association
Links checked on October 12, 2026. Guidance changes; the publishers above keep the current version.
Written by the WonderLab Journal editorial desk and checked against the sources above. Found something out of date? Tell us through the corrections page.
