I don’t think that allowances, deserts, computer time or whatever should be portrayed as payment for services. They’re things which kids should get because they’re a contributing member of the household.
I would take this further: they are things that kids should get because they deserve to have fun, to enjoy food like the adults do and deserve to learn about buying power and discipline by spending/saving money. Bribing people to do things conveys the message that these things are not worth doing without bribes.
A proper response to bribes would be “Why should I unload the dishwasher for free, am I crazy? What’s in it for ME?” which is exactly the opposite to the intention of having the child act as a part of the family team.
Check out Alfie Kohn’s “Punished by Rewards” for an extensive list of research showing that bribes and punishment are counterproductive at best.
