Why Should Kids Get Allowances - The Top 7 Reasons
by Rachel Incoll

The question of whether allowances are right or wrong, is one that has been argued for many generations. Now it's your turn, as a parent, to decide whether or not an allowance is the best way to educate your child about financial responsibility. There are many reasons given on why a regular payment of money to a child should or shouldn't be done – ultimately I believe there is no right answer, it is up to each individual family to decide what is the best option for them. Through many years of working with parents and educators, these are the top seven reasons I keep hearing on the question of why should kids get allowances.

1. They learn to be wise with how they spend their money. It may help to teach them how to prioritise their spending, & learn from an early age what things are a waste of money.

2. They learn how to save money. Having a regular amount of money, may make it easier for them to establish good saving habits, as a certain percentage of the money from each payment can be placed into a savings account/piggy bank. Without an allowance, any money they receive, may simply be spent, with nothing going to savings.

3. They learn how to donate their money. A certain percentage of their money can also be allocated to donations to the needy, hopefully encouraging your child to be more thoughtful of others, & not greedy with their money.

4. They will learn how to budget their money so it lasts between payments. Eventually, most children will learn to be careful how they spend what limited money they have, so they don't run out of money. This will only happen, if the parent doesn't give in to the initial whining for more money when the mistake is first made!

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No Cell Phones for Pre-Teens
by A Dude's Guide on Nov 20th

My youngest little dude hates me forever. Again. This time it’s because I won’t get him a cell phone of his very own. “But, Daaaaaadd, all my friends have one!” I don’t even bother with the cliff response. I just told him no. Repeatedly. While it’s true that several of his friends do have cell phones (at nine years old?!?), I think that’s far too young. Let me tell you why.

First off, as all my little dudes will tell you, I’m mean, cruel and capricious (look it up). Or, at least that’s what I tell them when I’m too tired to go into an actual explanation or I just don’t want to explain.

Secondly, in this hooked-in, wirelessly connected world, I understand the need to be in contact with little dudes and little dudes in contact with their parents. As my dad was telling me the other day, when I was in school, I was pretty much in charge of myself. I walked to school and from school or caught a ride when I could. My little dudes, however, don’t have that luxury. They have to take a bus or car to school and, if they stay after for some event or club, they need a ride home. So, yeah, for that sort of thing, I understand the need for getting them a cell phone. That way I’ll be able to contact them if I need to, or they can call me to tell me they’ll be late to the pick spot or whatever.

However. I don’t think there’s any cause for that sort of thing with a kid younger than, say, 13. Until then, they’re in the throes of middle school or elementary school. Because they’re so much younger, all of their activities start out from home anyway. There’s no need for remote coordination. Also, if they want to call their friends, they can easily, at any age, use the home phone.

Finally, I think there should be some sort of ceremony or special event marking certain significant birthdays. For instance, when a kid turns 13 and becomes a teenager in fact, rather than just in attitude. That’s another reason why, in our family, we wait until the little dudes are at least that old before considering a cell phone.

So, yeah. It looks like I’ll have to survive my little dude hating me forever one more time. For at least then next four years.

– Richard

Tags: A Dude's Guide to Kids, A Dude's Guide to Life, age, Array, art, Attitude, Befor, birthday, Birthdays, Cell Phone, Cell Phones, Coordination, dad, dude, Dude's, Ears, friend, Friends, kid, little dudes, Nine Years, parents, Pre Teens, school, teenager, teens, Throes, young

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