Parents often use free printable charts for kids as a tool to help their children stay on task.

Chore charts are a very effective resource when used creatively and in conjunction with other parenting ideas. For example, the notion of paying kiddos for chores has been around a long time and a quick check of parenting forums will show you there is a bit of controversy over this simple idea.

Is paying for chores a good idea or a bad one? Let's take a look at some pros and cons for this evergreen parenting topic.

- The pros for paying for chores.

Kids need money. You can either give it to them or pay them when they earn it in some fashion.

You can pay for everyday chores or only for larger or 'special' chores. You can also tie their pay to things they need. For example, when our kids reach early teens, we pay them quarterly for their clothes and miscellaneous items, such as toiletries.

Then we teach budgeting. Learning the true cost of clothes and hair care products is a real eye-opener to a 13 year old!

Paying for chores can be a motivating factor for kids. It can be easier to make yourself do something you don't want to do if there's a paycheck waiting at the end of it. Every adult knows that.

In the real world, adults work for a paycheck. It's possible to set up a chores system to mimic that reality.

- The cons for paying for chores.

The argument is a good one; some chores need to be done just because it's a part of living in a family. Bathrooms need to be cleaned. Laundry needs to be put away. Trash must be taken out. No one pays Mom and Dad to do this; it's simply the right thing to do.

Very true.

Another con to paying kids for chores is that on those days when they don't need money, they might find it fairly tough to get motivated and actually do their chores. Whenever a task is tied to money this can be true and many children simply don't have the maturity to take the long view and get to work anyway.

So what's the answer?

It really depends upon your family situation and what you want to teach your children. If you simply utilize kids' charts and chores as a function of being part of a family, then you won't want to attach a paycheck to it. There are other things to pay your kids for, so that's okay.

If, however, you feel strongly that at this phase of your child's life, chores ARE his job, then maybe attaching money to it makes sense. You can set up printable chore charts for kids as types of time charts to keep track of household tasks and subsequent payments.

Either method can have the distinction of helping you teach your child some vital aspects of being responsible. And that's the best use of a chore chart there is.