The research behind Sprout.

We believe in simple ideas backed by good research. Here's what studies tell us about chores, responsibility and learning about money.

What chores actually teach

Responsibility starts small

A long-running study of 9,971 children found that doing chores in the early school years was associated with greater self-competence, helpfulness towards others and belief in their own ability by Grade 3.

White, DeBoer & Scharf (2019)
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

Chores exercise thinking skills

Taking part in self-care and family-care chores was linked to better working memory and self-control among children aged 5 to 13.

Tepper, Howell & Bennett (2022)
Australian Occupational Therapy Journal

How kids learn about money

Kids learn money by using it

Children who regularly received pocket money showed a better grasp of prices and money decisions than children who did not.

Abramovitch, Freedman & Pliner (1991)
Journal of Economic Psychology

Pocket money supports financial responsibility

In a large American study that followed people over time, young adults who had received pocket money as children reported modestly higher financial responsibility.

Collins & Odders-White (2021)
Journal of Family and Economic Issues

Where parents come in

Parents are the first money teachers

A major review of the field identifies three main ways children learn about money: watching their parents, talking about it at home, and hands-on experience.

LeBaron & Kelley (2021)
Financial Socialization: A Decade in Review

Money talks matter

In a survey of 5,370 New Zealand teenagers, those from families that were open about money felt more confident about banking and budgeting.

Agnew & Sotardi (2025)
Journal of Family and Economic Issues

These studies describe patterns across groups of children. They point to what tends to help, not to a guaranteed result for any one child.

Our approach at Sprout

We combine the best of both worlds.

Chores teach responsibility and contribution

Money creates real opportunities to learn

Parents guide, approve and have the final say

Sprout is built to help families build good habits, have better conversations about money, and raise confident, capable kids.

Full references

Every study mentioned on this page.

White, E. M., DeBoer, M. D., & Scharf, R. J. (2019). Associations between household chores and childhood self-competency. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 40(3), 176–182.
Tepper, D. L., Howell, T. J., & Bennett, P. C. (2022). Executive functions and household chores: Does engagement in chores predict children’s cognition? Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 69(5), 585–598.
Abramovitch, R., Freedman, J. L., & Pliner, P. (1991). Children and money: Getting an allowance, credit versus cash, and knowledge of pricing. Journal of Economic Psychology, 12(1), 27–45.
Collins, J. M., & Odders-White, E. (2021). Allowances: Incidence in the US and relationship to financial capability in young adulthood. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42, 533–544.
LeBaron, A. B., & Kelley, H. H. (2021). Financial socialization: A decade in review. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(1), 195–206.
Agnew, S., & Sotardi, V. (2025). Family financial socialisation and its impact on financial confidence, intentions, and behaviours among New Zealand adolescents. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 46(1), 246–258.

Put it into practice.

Chores, pocket money and real conversations, all in one place.

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