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Elizabeth
Mom of Three
Member since 9/05 7900 total posts
Name:
"MOMMY!!!"
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Moms with elem. school age kids
If your child wants something that costs $25, how do you go about them being able to get it?
I don't really buy my kids stuff except for their bdays or Christmas and a little bit in between for various special occasions but if they ask for something we usually put it on their Christmas list or Bday list. My 6 yr old wants a Wall-E Leapster cartridge but his bday and Xmas are far off. Easter will be a small basket but not filled with $25 items.
So how would you go about him earning it? We're not doing an allowance yet - even if I did, he's not getting $20 a week. I won't go out and just buy it, and I'm not sure what's a fair amount to reward him for various jobs or what to do. He never really asks for that many things but he really seems to want this cartridge so I feel bad making him wait a month or 5 weeks to earn it, yet I think he should fairly earn it. What's too long a period for a 6 yr old to have to take to earn something?
Any thoughts?
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Posted 3/12/09 11:06 AM  |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms with elem. school age kids
I would make him work at $5 week or make him wait until the holiday. It's not a bad thing that it takes him a while to save up. In fact, I think it's a great thing because he understands how much work went into buying his game.
Whatever you do don't buy it on "credit" where he pays you back & makes sure he knows he has to pay sales tax.
I know I'm probably not the norm but I made my kids pay be back for a dvd that they begged me for & DH was horrified that I took $10 from each of them. It's not the money, it's the lesson.
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| Posted 3/12/09 11:13 AM |
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Celt
~~~~~~~~~~
Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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Re: Moms with elem. school age kids
It's a great opportunity to teach the work/reward lesson. I definitely think $5/week for 5 weeks or so could be sustained, tied to chores or any other "work" you decide on. My parents were limited with the gifts too but my mom frequently surprised us with that one special thing we wanted if we got caught doing something "spectacular"!
Report card time was was also a BIG reward opp in our house, Dad usually threw us each a $20 and we thought he was the bee's kneeeeees for that!!
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| Posted 3/12/09 11:42 AM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Moms with elem. school age kids
I don’t have a child this age but what about a 2 week period, starting this Saturday and then on the 28 or so you can go together and buy it (providing he has earned enough “points”)
Then set up a chart with some tasks and each task is 1 or 2 points, then once he earns 20-25 points he can get the game. The tasks can be helping to set the table, walking the dog, reading a book to his younger sibling, helping to fold the laundry, helping to take out the garbage, etc. When he completes a task you put a star/check next to it. He can re use some tasks such as folding laundry or setting the table on multiple nights.
And if he gets good reports from school for something special you can reward him with an extra 2 points or something...
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| Posted 3/12/09 11:50 AM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Moms with elem. school age kids
My DS is nowhere near this now, and I am sure I will be on here in a few years asking the same questions, but I'll tell you what my parents did.
We had regular chores that we were expected to do around the house for no $$. It was generally one main chore - one kid took out the garbage, one had to sweep the basement once a week, one put away the clean dishes after dinner, etc. (BTW - do you think it is a coincidence that I can't remember what the youngest had to do??  ) Anyway, if we wanted to earn $$, we could offer to do an extra chore and my mom would tell us what she would pay us for it. For example, when I was a little older, I would wash the car occasionally, or clean out the kitchen cabinets - take out all the stuff, wipe down the shelves and put it all back. Maybe you could think of some age appropriate chores that he could do each week and pay him $5 per week to do them?
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| Posted 3/12/09 12:06 PM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: Moms with elem. school age kids
Posted by Kelly9904
I don’t have a child this age but what about a 2 week period, starting this Saturday and then on the 28 or so you can go together and buy it (providing he has earned enough “points”)
Then set up a chart with some tasks and each task is 1 or 2 points, then once he earns 20-25 points he can get the game. The tasks can be helping to set the table, walking the dog, reading a book to his younger sibling, helping to fold the laundry, helping to take out the garbage, etc. When he completes a task you put a star/check next to it. He can re use some tasks such as folding laundry or setting the table on multiple nights.
And if he gets good reports from school for something special you can reward him with an extra 2 points or something...
IMO - I think this would be the best way to do it. It's easier for a DC to see how they are doing instead of it being "invisible" like an allowance sometimes can be. Also, it can be continued with other "prizes" when they are done earning this one !! You can find a chore chart in stores like Lakeshore and maybe even walmart or target. I am sure you can find something online too.
Also, my DD is 10, and sometimes I don't make her pay for sales tax. It's a concept they need to know obviously, but it's a bit confusing when they are young ! I am starting now by telling her that an easy way to figure it out is to add 10 cents for every dollar the item is (and telling her that it will be less by a little bit, but the whole 8.625% thing is not an easy thing to do when you are standing in the middle of the store!!)
Good luck !!
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| Posted 3/12/09 12:24 PM |
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ChrisDee
My Girls
Member since 11/06 9543 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Moms with elem. school age kids
My daughter is 8 and let me tell you, when they start paying for things like she does, they appreciate it and really think about whether or not it is worth spending her money on. DD always gets $ for her b-day(and giftcards) because it is right after xmas. She will also get tooth fairy $ and a few $ from my parents here and there. She hords the money. She will spend it a little at a time over the coarse of the year. She always has more $ than I do 
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| Posted 3/12/09 12:50 PM |
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FranM
And so it goes....
Member since 9/05 2217 total posts
Name:
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Re: Moms with elem. school age kids
We have used a points system for Jack. At six I think two weeks of working towards something is a good limit. It also helps if to keep the jobs consistant, I think it gives them a better line of sight.
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| Posted 3/12/09 2:38 PM |
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