Posted by Cindy on April 14, 2008
For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been having Question Box Topic days at co-op. Here’s #1 of the four topics we covered this week:
Kids and Money – Teaching Biblical Stewardship and Allowances
This topic can go so many different ways based on the preferences of the parents, so I’ve tried to give just a brief overview of what we do.
God tells us to give – to Him and to others. Biblical stewardship can come in the form of money, things and time. That’s something we try to teach our children. When they were little, we bought the tithing bank. They would put their little bits of money in the tithe, save and spend sections and it gave them a good picture of one Biblically sound way to organize their money. We would transfer the same idea over to time, for instance, too. “Make sure your time is being spent on God, others and yourself – not necessarily in the same percentages as the money bank, though.”
As time has gone on, chores and allowance have been added to the mix. We, personally, use allowance as “pay” for chores. The amount is set. Chores aren’t an option, so they get paid the full amount each week. The older you are, the more you make. (You also do a few more chores.) Our children are expected to tithe and save part of their allowance. They are responsible for purchasing all their “wants”. Of course “wants” can be placed on a birthday or Christmas list, but the rest of the year, the “wants” are their responsibility. No money may be removed from tithing or savings to purchase a “want”.
We do not give loans. Brother or sister may choose to make a loan to the other, but nothing else can be purchased by the borrower until the original loan has been paid off. A fair interest on the loan is acceptable if the loaner wants to charge the borrower. 
If a big-ticket item is on the “want” list, our children may offer to do extra big-time chores and negotiate a fair wage for the chores. They are also free to offer house cleaning, baking, pet-sitting, etc. to grandparents and neighbors if they’d like to try to earn even more money.
That’s our plan. I’d love to hear what you do!
Here are some resources that were mentioned in co-op:
Allowance Game
Financial Parenting
Stewardship Street
Here are some fun and helpful websites:
CBD Money Resources
Dave Ramsey’s Kid’s Kit
US Government’s Online Money Games for Kids
Practical Money Skills for Life Online Games
Money Matters For Kids
Posted by Cindy on November 19, 2007
Debbie teaches the Contenders of the Faith class for our little boys at co-op. She’s doing a fantastic job!! So far, they’ve learned things like fire safety, camping skills and how to use various tools. She sent an email out not too long ago encouraging the parents to build something with their boys. So, for you, Mrs. Debbie, Caleb and his Dad made from scratch this bike ramp. (It’s only fallen apart twice!)
Next project….a tree house!! Hopefully, it won’t fall apart even once!
Posted by Cindy on May 16, 2007
One goal I have for my children is that they will be prepared to take care of their own homes someday. I want both my boys and girl to at least know how to do everything from cooking to laundry to basic sewing to mowing the lawn to gardening to changing the car oil. My hubby takes care of checking the oil in the cars, but it sure is helpful that I know how to do it if I need to, you know what I mean? (Thanks, Daddy!)
Chores are great way to teach them these skills in a slow and systematic manner. Around the age of two or three, my daughter started helping in the kitchen. Her first chores were to put forks on the table before supper and throw napkins away after supper. By four or five, she was setting the table, helping to unload the dishwasher and getting ingredients for me when needed. At six or seven, she was clearing the dishes from the table, wiping down counter tops, being “in charge” of very easy dishes and helping to sweep the floor. Now, at ten – believe it or not – she has her own cooking night where she’s responsible for the planning and preparing of dinner. We only help her as she needs us! She begged for this night of cooking and I happily obliged her!!
Around here, chores start early, but are short, sweet and usually done along side Mom or Dad. As our children get older, the chores get a little harder and they are done with less guidance from Mom and Dad. That’s the plan anyway! When chores aren’t being done like they’re supposed to or when they’re supposed to, it just takes a few days of Mom or Dad’s presence to get them back on track.
Everyday each child is responsible for helping with the laundry, tidying their room, feeding animals and general straightening. Each weekday also adds another chore or two. For instance, my six year old empties small trash cans on Mondays, sweeps porches on Tuesdays, vacuums his bedroom on Wednesdays, cleans a small powder room on Thursdays and dusts the office on Fridays. (I secretly redo some of his work sometimes. He’s not the most thorough cleaner yet!)
I’ve used all sorts of chore charts, chore cards, checklists and incentives. Right now, though, we are just using a weekly checklist. They do the chore, check it off and I check to see that it was really done. There is one website I found recently, though, that looks really good. I’ll probably revamp my chore lists with some things from this site over the summer.
My ten year old amazes me. Because we’ve exposed her to many things, expected her to do certain things and allowed her to take responsibility, I believe she’s going to be ready to run her own house in a year or two. Needless to say, I’m not giving her up to her own house quite yet!!!
Related Tags: chores, homeschool
Posted by Cindy on May 4, 2007
Today will be short and sweet. Give your children the chance to grow a garden.
Even if you can only spare a 2×2’ plot of land, it will be worth it to your children! Let them do the entire garden from start to finish. Tilling the land, choosing the seeds, planting, watering, weeding and harvesting. They will make mistakes that will be so valuable. They will also reap rewards that will be even more valuable. And you will have taught them a skill that will always come in handy. Not to mention the fresh air and exercise!
Don’t have any land? Buy a few big pots to place on the porch or even in the window.
For some reason, I never feel closer to the Lord than when I’m working in my garden. Silly? Maybe. I hope your children feel the same way!
Related Tags: gardening, children
