How
can parents draw the line for their children in our materialistic culture, and
teach them the values of thrift and common sense?
There
are several good approaches.
One
mother makes her children use their own money, from allowance or chores, to buy
the toys or goods that they pressure her to buy.
She
said: “I find my children don’t always
want it if they have to pay for it.”
Another
good idea is to involve children at an early age in the family’s charitable
acts.
When
it comes to school items, it sometimes helps to set a budget and let children
get what they want within that budget.
Even
if they would rather have one pair of jeans with a big brand-name label and
stick with their frayed T-shirts, they’re learning to make choices about what
money can buy.
It’s
also important for parents to be flexible. Maybe you can give in to your
children on one less expensive fashion item — such as colorful mechanical pencils,
which cost a little more than the basic No. 2 variety of pencil.
But
in return, you could remain firm if you are being lobbied for expensive
designer shoes.
There
are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to teaching values.
The
best advice, always, is to live by the values you want your children to have.
