Should you pay children for chores?
Many families settle on a middle way: everyday chores like making the bed and clearing plates are unpaid, because everyone helps at home, and bigger jobs beyond the usual earn money, like washing the car or weeding the shamba. It teaches that money comes from work without turning every request into a negotiation. Small, clear rates work best, for example KES 20 to 50 a job for a 9-year-old.
- Unpaid: everyday family jobs. Paid: extra jobs beyond the normal.
- Agree the job, the standard and the rate before the work starts.
- Pay on a set day, not straight away, so it feels like a payday.
- Don’t pay for things you’d punish them for not doing.
The case for paying
- Children learn that money comes from work, not from asking.
- It gives them a way to reach a goal faster, which motivates saving.
- It teaches that a job done well is worth more than a job done badly.
The case against
- Children may start asking "what will you pay me?" for everything.
- Helping at home is part of being a family, not a business deal.
- If they don’t need money this week, they may just say no.
Both sides are right, which is why most families end up somewhere in between.
Three approaches that work
1. Pocket money plus paid extras (the most common). A fixed weekly amount, plus pay for bigger jobs beyond the usual. Making the bed and clearing plates are unpaid; washing the car or helping at the family shop on a Saturday earns money.
2. Fully earned. No fixed pocket money; everything comes from jobs. Works for some older children who are motivated by goals, but it can feel harsh for younger ones and turns every chore into a trade.
3. No pay for chores. Pocket money is fixed and separate. Chores are just expected. Money lessons happen through how they manage the pocket money. Simple, and avoids negotiation, but loses the "earning" lesson.
Fair rates in shillings
Keep rates small and clear, so the job isn’t really about the money. As a rough guide:
| Age | Small job (15 to 30 minutes) | Bigger job (an hour or more) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 8 | KES 10 to 20 | KES 30 to 50 |
| 9 to 12 | KES 20 to 50 | KES 50 to 100 |
| 13 to 17 | KES 50 to 100 | KES 100 to 300 |
Rules that keep it working
- Agree before, not after. The job, what "done" looks like, and the rate.
- Pay for the result. A car washed with soap still on it isn’t done. Send them back once, kindly.
- Pay on a set day. A weekly payday feels like a real job and teaches waiting.
- Don’t pay for what’s non-negotiable. Homework and respect aren’t chores for hire.
- Let them say no to paid extras. That’s their choice; the unpaid family jobs aren’t.
How myKesho helps
In myKesho you set chores and what each is worth. Your child ticks them off in their app, you approve the ones done well (or say not yet), and the money lands in their jars on payday. It keeps the deal clear and the record honest, with no arguments about what was agreed.
Questions parents ask
Should I pay my child for chores?
Many families pay for extra jobs beyond normal household help, and don’t pay for everyday chores like making the bed. It teaches earning without making every request a negotiation.
How much should I pay my child for chores in Kenya?
Keep it small: about KES 20 to 50 for a small job for a 9 to 12-year-old, and KES 50 to 100 or more for a bigger job. Agree the rate before the work starts.
What chores can a 10-year-old do?
Washing dishes, sweeping, folding laundry, watering plants, helping with younger siblings, simple cooking with supervision, and helping at a family shop.
Lessons for your child
- Earning at home: Tasks are work, and work can earn money
- Paid for a job well done: Why pay is for work done properly, as agreed
- Selling mandazi at the fair: Cost, price and profit in a tiny business
More guides
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