When your children reach a certain age, you might expect them to start helping with little jobs around the house.
Whether it's tidying their bedroom, putting their laundry away or even helping to vacuum or with cooking, it's often tricky to try and get your child onboard with helping out in the first place.
Some parents will reward their children with pocket money, or other small treats, but one mum believes that children shouldn't be asked to "earn" money by doing chores.
Previously making headlines when speaking about about the worst parenting tips and myths to avoid, parenting specialist Kirsty Ketley, 42, has now shared the potentially divisive view that kids should get pocket money without helping out at home.
Surrey-based Kirsty, who is mum to Ella, 10, and Leo, six, claims she gives her six-year-old pocket money without having to earn it as she would expect her children to just "muck in" without being paid for it.
"We have started giving our six-year-old pocket money – £2 a week like his sister," Kirsty explains.
"The kids don't get money for chores – we just expect them to muck in – but they have to have stick to our family rules and boundaries.
"It is important for us that the kids are aware of what money is, how to save, and how to spend responsibly, and I think that has to start young.
"If they want a magazine or a toy, for instance, they have to save and spend their own money.
"This has helped them understand the cost of things and often they decide they don't want whatever they have asked for in that moment.
"We do set rules that they don't just spend their money in the sweet shop, and that they use it for things that they will get more enjoyment out of."
Kirsty admits this opinion may spark debate, but she strongly recommends for other parents to follow suit as giving children their own money to spend without earning it helps them "understand the value of money."
She adds: "I feel it's important to give kids pocket money as it helps them not only understand the value of money better but also teaches them to be financially healthy.
"Growing up they will need to understand how to manage money and instilling good financial habits from a young age is best, I think.
"For some, paying for chores works well because their kids need the incentive, and there is nothing wrong with that, but for us, the kids are just expected to 'muck in' and help – and they don't need a financial reward for doing so."
Explaining her process, the parenting guru added: "They get £2 a week, which will likely increase as Ella gets older and more independent.
"They save their money for things they have seen and would like – for Leo, usually toys – but for Ella, it's books, stationery, magazines, bath bombs, hair accessories, and sometimes clothes.
"We don't allow them to just go to the sweet shop and spend it all on sweets and it's not for anything that they need, like clothing.
"Ella buys because she wants, not what she needs, or school stuff – that's our responsibility as parents."
The parenting technique doesn't mean Kirsty's kids get off scot-free, however, as they still help around the house.
"They get the money because they've behaved well and followed our house rules," the mum said.
"The kids' rooms are their responsibility, so they are in charge of keeping them clean and tidy – [although] obviously with Leo, he does require some help, but we help alongside him, rather than do it for him.
"Both will dust, hoover, and tidy and put clothes away. If they don't, then their rooms are not cleaned or tidied, and this approach works well.
"One of our house rules is that if you make a mess, you clean it up to the best of your ability, so when the kids play downstairs in the living room, for instance, they know they have to tidy up after themselves when they have finished playing, which they get on and do.
"If we ask them to unload the dishwasher, they do so without complaint and Ella often asks to help with hanging the washing or hoovering the living room.
However the mum-of-two understands it can be tricky to know how much to shell out.
She explains: "I'm not sure on the maximum to give., I think you can only give what you can afford and it's important that kids understand that, but also give what they need.
"Does a six-year-old need more than £2 a week? A twelve-year-old, however, will need more because the things they will be buying cost more, and they are also becoming more independent and there will be more hopping on the bus to go out with friends."
Do you have a story to share? Email Niamh.Kirk@reachplc.com
