I’ve been trying to get my kids more motivated to help around the house but having mixed results. Sometimes they do their chores without being asked, other times it’s like pulling teeth. I’m wondering what reward systems have worked well for other parents here? Should I stick with allowance or are there other approaches that might work better? My kids are 8 and 11 if that matters.
We tried allowance at first but found it didn’t really stick long term. What ended up working better was letting my daughter earn points toward things she actually wanted, like extra screen time or picking the family movie night film. Sometimes we’ll do surprise rewards too when she tackles something without being reminded. The tricky part is finding what motivates each kid since they’re all different.
Mine respond better to immediate small rewards than bigger delayed ones. Extra 15 minutes before bedtime or choosing what’s for dinner works well. I also found that rotating chores keeps them from getting too bored with the same tasks.