Parent Talk: House Cleaning

You've picked it up maybe a hundred times. And there it is again: the PS3 controller, the discarded pair of socks, the homework assignment — just lying there on the living room floor. Despite repeated pleas, entreaties and downright bribes, the owners of these items still seem unable to lend a hand.

So the timeless question remains: How do you get the kids to help out around the house?

You might be guessing that the answer is as complicated as say, , but for area mom Lisa Tamari, it's simple matter of dollars and cents (maybe one could say that about the city's budget, as well).

"To encourage our children to help out around the house, we have a job chart with prices. Examples of chores include cleaning the basement play area (50 cents), setting the table, vacuuming. The key is to give them their earnings immediately upon completing the chore."

Parents: what do you think? Personally, I think getting youngsters to help out by turning them into little venture capitalists might be the smart way to go.