Money and Smart Parenting

As a parent we find ourselves always wanting to keep our children happy! We want to give them the things they want and buy them the things they ask for and take them to do the things they want to do. Many times this gets expensive. I also see parents that buy their children material items that they as the parent feel is important for their child to have. My favorite is when you see a baby with a brand name hoodie or brand name sneakers. We know that baby didn’t make that choice . Nope that is the parent creating an image that is acceptable to our society. “Look at my well dressed infant.” Again this can come with more money flowing from your bank account. 

How many parents that you know buy their child so many things that the child never even has the opportunity to completely enjoy each of these items because they are so overindulged. Does the child have a full playroom that is unorganized and messy? Does she have so many toys that often times much is thrown away with lost pieces or even in the package still new? Children will continue to want and will continue to ask for new items without ever fully appreciating what they already have if they are never taught the value of the dollar and the value of an item. There is massive marketing directed towards your children and advertising knows exactly how to make a child “NEED” something. 

Let me ask you now, what does this teach our children? What does your child learn when you buy them everything they want? What do they learn when they are never told “no”? What is it they will grow up to believe is important? Stuff!! They will grow up believing that material possessions are important and necessary and perhaps they won’t know how to get anything for themselves because their parents have done it all for them. 

Now take a moment and think about what you can teach your child about saving and spending and buying something that they truly value and love rather than countless items that mean nothing. Maybe you can set up some chores for them to earn an allowance.  Then teach them about saving.  

If you want to buy your child all they desire remember that someday that may come with an even bigger price. As they get older it may be hard for them to know how to be responsible with money. It may be difficult for them to realize they can’t have everything and cannot always be the best dressed and if that’s the life they want they need to learn that they need to get a really good job to pay for it all. Unless you are ok with taking care of them when they are into their 20’s and so on. 

So many parents forget to see the big picture. Our world isn’t soft and I understand we want to create a soft loving environment but our world is hard so get them ready for success by teaching them that sometimes we have disappointments and sometimes we just can’t have that new toy or new dress. Above all teach your child that sometimes those that have less are most often the happiest.