Would you pay your child to help?

I wouldn't pay my child anything. We, as a society, need to get back to helping our elder family members without expecting anything in return.

 

Yes, without hesitation. She's asking her son to give up his summer to a part-time job. If she were paying a Granny Nanny or another caregiver it would cost her around $20 an hour and up. (When my MIL had to have care at home it cost us $700 a week for someone to stay the night with her.) I worked one summer taking care of a lady who'd had surgery for a detached retina and made $200 a week. She should pay him.

 

Paying a child to look after an elderly family member is teaching them to be selfish.

 

I disagree, it's teaching them to be responsible and what it is to work to earn your way. It's a perfect teaching moment on tithing, saving, spending responsibly.

 

Part time jobs are an excellent way to do what you teach.

By paying a child to take care of a sibling or an elderly family member, you are teaching them that their time is more important than their family. In fact, their time is so much more important that they need to be compensated to look after their family. That is teaching selfishness.

 

Ann,

I wouldn't pay the child, or even mention pay.

If the boy does a good job, I'd certainly reward him at some point, and explain as to why, perhaps a huge lesson reinforced.

 

Rescue horses? Whom do the horses rescue?

 

I'd probably pay, but first I'd not mention it before deciding if he's to be trusted to do it in the first place and how much the pay should be. I'd see the reaction to being asked to do so, especially with someone that young these days.

If it is a very negative reaction, it's not going to work anyhow and another alternative would have to be found.

If it is a "I'll do it but expect stuff in return" type of response I'd (without mentioning it) cut back on the amount I'd originally planned.

If it's a sweet and thoughtful response, I'd go with the full amount planned.

I understand the concept of family, but family is also everything wrapped up in one to a child. There's no reason a family can't model an employer to a child, with pay, to help them learn. In this case, it sounds like a wonderful way to both have someone with Gramma and to teach them about the value of work and some money management.

For my own kids, I sometimes pay and sometimes don't. It depends. I have always paid them to clean my room. LOL That is something I'd never ask them to do without pay, but if I get tired and they need some money or ask for a way to earn some? YAY! I've Works for all of us! If it's a chore to do with the rest of the house or something else off their list, it's up in the air. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, but never will I do so if there's an attitude about it. In fact, sometimes I'll throw in something extra for having to deal with an attitude, but like I said before, a good one makes me feel more generous both with money and saying yes to fun stuff.