Joy of the dance
I've said it before, but there are few things as great as little kids dancing.
And this was last Monday evening, outside the mall.
Edith recently expressed interest in an allowance. Since we'd previously expressed interest in her assuming responsibility for some of her daily tasks, it seemed like a good time to negotiate. Starting this week, Edith is supposed to be getting herself dressed in the morning, putting her clothes in the laundry or the closet at night, and (her addition) buckling the top part of her carseat buckle. In exchange she'll receive 25 cents per week. Considering how big a set of challenges this is for her, she could have argued that this was a lopsided deal. (Not that the parent prompting her to stay on task through these chores has it especially easy.) However, Edith has little conception of the value of money or the length of a week, and for now she's fully motivated.
One of the side effects of this arrangement is that Edith's outfits now reflect her aesthetic sense. (And hey, when random passersby at the mall compliment me on her handmade socks, how can I object?)
We still dress Alice, but she often adds an outer layer of yogurt herself.
8 comments:
Looks like a cross between belly dancing and capoeira! Love it - it's great seeing a kid still in the "dance like nobody's watching" stage of enjoyment of life!
Those passers-by at the mall have good taste! Love the socks! (And the dancing!)
A quarter? Makes me want to send the kid a dollar - there are child labor laws you know! :) Such sweet, sweet girls!
Crystal
Can I get a quarter for putting away my clothes? ;) Handmade socks? When do you have time to make handmade socks?? Jealous... very jealous, Ms. Professor... :)
OH funny-- Sam just started getting an allowance at 5 too (in fact, I was just about to blog about it!). He gets 4 quarters, and has to divvy it up between save/donate/spend (I read about this somewhere). It's not tied to chores or other responsibility for us, though...
Funny that Crystal mentioned a dollar and A. mentioned her son Sam's getting the same: When we were at our regular Sunday lunch diner, Edith went to say hello to her favorite waitress and was given a dollar after showing off her quarter. Guess the waitress was shocked by our parsimony, too! I actually had thought about a dollar at first, but Tom thought that that was too much for a kid who doesn't understand what any of it is worth.
Edith actually is getting two quarters but will put one in the collection basket in Sunday school...so I guess she has the donate/keep split, too. I like the idea of encouraging her to think about other places she might want to donate. She seems to have no concept of spending yet...
I like A's concept and we did that with our kids as well. When they were in middle school we did Christmas baskets for the school. They would save all year - part of their allowance - to buy a child in need a Barbie or something like that. At the time they were not too happy with the idea but now that they are adults they remember it fondly. Quarters for church collection was something we did as well - they loved feeling they were contributing. Good lessons. You are doing great Gretchen - was just joking - you could have said a dollar and I would have said five. :)
Crystal
We also do the allowance thing...5 quarters a week (since he is 5). Works well for us and he has to divide it up between save, spend and give.
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