Originally Posted by Zoe:
Read to them the Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies. It pretty much repeats what everyone has already said. Sister and Brother get the gimmies wherever they go and have fits when they don't get something. So they come up with a plan that if they ever get that way, then they don't get anything.
Something I've also done with my own kids (they're 6 and 4) is I've given them each a piggy bank and at the end of the day if they've been obedient, kind, etc....then they get a dollar at the end of the day. They can use their dollars whenever they wish when we go out. It gave them the value of money. For instance, my DS4 has figured out that if he waits until he has 4 dollars then he can get a Disney Cars car. It's wonderful! So if they ask for something I tell them to save for it and tell them how much it is. They'll either do that or forget about it.
I love your idea for teaching your kids to save and how to spend wisely, not enough parents do that. I wonder though about your paying for good behavior....just curious about how you feel about this. We don't give our kids money for good behavior because we feel this is counter productive to teaching integrity. They should be doing the right thing because it is right, not because they will get anything out of it. We do give a small allowance that is based on extra things they can do around the house (above their regular chores). We are trying to reward (if thats the right word...) them going the extra mile and showing initiate in helping others. My kids are young but this seems to be the best fit for us. I just hate when kids do something behavior wise and immediately follow that up with some question to mom about what they get for being good....do you have that issue? Does anybody else want to chime in on thoughts about that aspect?