Paying kids for chores feels either obviously right or obviously wrong depending on who you ask. The research is more nuanced than either camp admits.
The "crowding out" worry
The classic concern is that paying for a task can crowd out the internal motivation to do it — that once money is attached, the willingness to help for its own sake fades. Studies have found this effect is real, but mostly for things people would happily do for free. Scrubbing a toilet was never on that list.
Base chores vs. earning chores
The distinction the research points toward: some contributions should be unpaid, simply because you live here. Others — bigger, optional jobs — are reasonable to pay for, and paying for them teaches a real lesson about work and money. Separating the two protects intrinsic motivation while still letting kids earn.
The practical takeaway
Don't pay for everything, and don't pay for nothing. Keep a small set of expected, unpaid chores, and let extra effort earn on top. That's the model Monstir defaults to — and the one most researchers would nod along with.
