Typically, the best time to start teaching our kids about money and budgeting is when they reach school age and start getting their allowance. Since our girls do not go to a conventional school, we don’t really need to give them money. All their meals are provided for, and they can eat their snacks anytime, without having to go to the store to buy some. There’s really no point in giving them their regular allowance. However, we do realize that our children need to be able to handle their own money — no matter how small the amount– for them to start learning about finances. If we just give them whatever they want at the time that they wanted it, they would most likely grow up thinking that’s how the world works– relax and have fun, and when you find something you like, just ask mom and dad– no sweat! I know this is how I grew up. If I needed something, all I had to do was ask. I didn’t really appreciate the value of working to get money, because there was no need to. I didn’t see the need to budget  because in the first place, it didn’t matter how much money I’ve managed to save up… I’d still end up “buying” whatever it was that I liked. Fortunately for my parents (or so I’d like to think), I am, by nature, not so fond of shopping. Fortunately, I was born thrifty, and so I grew up somehow responsible with whatever I was given. Still, I wish I could have learned about the value of work and money earlier.

And so we go back to my responsibility now as a parent to teach my own kids….

Like I said, we don’t really give them a regular allowance since there is no need to. Instead, we have them do some age-appropriate jobs for which they get paid. When I talk about paid jobs, I am not referring to the chores that they have to do as responsible members of the family. Chores like packing away after playing do not count as paid jobs. These are expected of them as members of the family.

Here are some age-appropriate chores that your four- to six-year olds can do ( Though I realize I would soon be adding to this list, since Alyanna just turned seven this month!). It is up to you to decide which category you would like to put them under– the paid work, or the “I’m a responsible family member and I love my family and so I would do my part” expected work.

• Setting the table
• Putting away the dishes after eating
• Helping cut/tear vegetables or slice some soft fruits
• Giving the pets a bath (if applicable)
• Making the bed
• Helping to put away the groceries
• Putting/sorting dirty clothes into the hamper
• Sweeping the floor using a child-sized broom
• Sharpening their pencils
• Dusting and wiping their toys
• Arranging their toys back in their rightful place– beautifully and properly
• Sorting their books and categorizing accordingly
• Wiping their tables clean (wiping off the paint and accidental marks)
• Helping change the linens
• Checking homeschool work (or the siblings’ homework)
• Arranging the shoes
• Arranging their accessories and bags
• Give their little brother/sister a bath
• Be mom/dad’s personal assistant (Help with whatever mom/dad is doing)
• Give mom/dad a massage (my personal favorite!)

There! That’s twenty! Help me add to this list, will you?