Green Chores

Today when we left my youngest daughter’s preschool, we discovered some styrofoam peanuts in the front plantings. My kids were very upset since they have heard that plastic is not good for animals. After some discussion, we picked them up to make sure no birds or rabbits, the animals we see most frequently there, would be harmed.

As we walked to the car, my oldest asked if she could have some green chores. She went on to explain that she wanted to do work that was good for the earth but wanted her dad and me to treat them like her other chores and pay her for them. I said I thought this was a great idea and that I would talk it over with her dad.

I know allowances, chores, and payment are issues that get a lot of discussion. After a bunch of reading and thinking we have decided to pay the girls for “chores” they do that are above and beyond our expectations (for their current age and level of responsibility) for contributing to the family’s well being. For example, putting dirty clothes in the hamper = part of life so no payment but picking up all the sticks in the yard after a storm = chore so payment. They have to save 10% of their earnings and have to give 10% away to charity but the rest they can spend.

Rich and I agreed to expand our definition of chores to actions that help the earth to show the girls how much we value them. We consider this our own little WPA project. : )

What do you think? Would you institute green chores in your family?

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