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Should I Give My Child An Allowance?
The first money a child makes is not from a job but from an allowance. The idea of an allowance is an old one, but some parents question if it is the right thing to do. Should you give your child an allowance?
An allowance used to be fifty cents a week. That was a long time ago. Now, an allowance can be as much as five or ten dollars a week. It seems like a small amount, but if you have more than one or two kids, it can add up rather quickly.
An allowance is not the same as money earned for chores performed. An allowance represents a way to teach kids about handling money. In my family, we used to get three dollars each week for allowance. On the weekends, we would ride our bikes to the store and stock up on goodies before heading to a nearby park. We learned early on that if we put our money together, we could buy more snacks than we could separately.
Allowance is based on parental income and the age of the child. If you are struggling to make ends meet, the allowance may have to wait, or it can be small until you can afford for it to be more. When a child asks why they are getting the money, say that it is because they have the privilege of being your son or daughter.
The child receiving the allowance should be able to understand the concept of money. Waiting until the child learns about money in school is an option. The allowance can be a demonstration of the principles that they are being taught in school.
Giving an allowance is an ease into the idea of money and its uses. The child may not want to buy anything at that point, but you can explain the importance of saving a portion of the allowance and keeping the rest available for their needs. If you just bought Jane a new doll and she wants another one, discuss the price and how much money she will need to save to buy her own.
With a goal to work towards, children look forward to receiving their allowance each week and watching the money pile begin to grow. Once they reach the amount they need, it is up to them whether to purchase the doll or keep the money. You have just shown the benefits of delayed gratification.
An allowance is helpful for kids to develop a healthy attitude about money. They didn't earn the money, but that doesn't mean that they should squander it either. When they start doing odd jobs around the house for more money, they will already know how to save what they earn.
There is nothing wrong with giving a child an allowance each week or each month. The money is theirs, but it is the parents' job to help them handle it with care. They will make mistakes, but there is time to correct these before they become responsible for themselves.
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