Children's Allowance

Written by by Rexanne Mancini


Continued from page 1

A potential problem I see occurring when children don’t have their own money is a possible desire to steal, be it from their parent’s wallet or something cool they feel they have to have from a store. Withoutrepparttar ability to “earn” or makerepparttar 110724 money fairly, they might feelrepparttar 110725 only way to attain something they want is to take it. Naturally, we teach our children that stealing is wrong but when kids, or adults for that matter, feel helpless they tend to take morality into their own hands. Besides, kids need to learn fiscal responsibility. I thinkrepparttar 110726 earlier we allow them to experiencerepparttar 110727 rewards and triumphs of good spending habits,repparttar 110728 better judges of value they will become.

One controversy is paying children for doing chores. This is a tough call. I have just begun implementing mandatory chores in our home. Considering it’s never been one of my better parenting abilities, I’m still struggling throughrepparttar 110729 details. I have been known to threaten their allowance if they don’t do their chores but it doesn’t really workrepparttar 110730 way I want it to. My older daughter decides if it’s “worth” it at that point and that’s notrepparttar 110731 point at all, is it? So, I’m backtracking on this one and being firmer about chores just getting done and trying not to threaten their livelihood.

I think allowance is a great teaching tool when given inrepparttar 110732 spirit of generosity and practicality. It’s never too early to learn or teach responsibility and when we consider that allowance is a good math lesson, we’ve just added to our children’s knowledge base considerably.

Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters. She maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com – http://www.rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html


Helping Your Children Develop Their Self-Discipline *

Written by Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant/Trainer


Continued from page 1

6. For consequences to be effective, children involved must see them as logical.

7. The purpose of using natural and logical consequences is to motivate children to make responsible decisions, not to force their submission.

8. Applyrepparttar logical consequences approach inrepparttar 110723 proper sequence:

· Provide choices and acceptrepparttar 110724 child's decision while using a friendly tone of voice that communicates your good will.

· While following through, assurerepparttar 110725 child that he may try again later.

· Ifrepparttar 110726 misbehavior is repeated, extendrepparttar 110727 time that must elapse before he may try again.

9. Consequences are effective only if you do not userepparttar 110728 hidden motives of winning and controlling.

10. Be both firm and kind when correcting children's misbehavior. Firmness refers to your follow-through behavior; kindness refers torepparttar 110729 manner in which you present them with choices.

11. Talk less, listen and act more. Lead them intorepparttar 110730 proper behavior by settingrepparttar 110731 example.

12. When you do things for children that they could do for themselves, you are robbing them ofrepparttar 110732 opportunity for self-respect and responsibility.

13. Avoid fighting or quarreling; they indicate a lack of respect forrepparttar 110733 other person. Avoid giving in; it indicates disrespect for yourself.

14. Be patient! It takes time for natural and logical consequences to become effective.

Follow these principles and watch your relationship with your children and spouse improve,repparttar 110734 self-discipline of your children increase, and, perhaps most importantly, your patience and love for them return.

Remember: When you help your children to maximize their potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.

* Based onrepparttar 110735 principles of STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) developed by Don Dinkmeyer, Ph.D. and Gary D. McKay, Ph.D. © MMIV, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: "... helping you maximize your potential." Take a free health survey at http//eagibbs.usana.com.


    <Back to Page 1
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use