Evening star., 1935-11-28
Allowances
BY ARTHUR DEAN. Sc. d.

BY ARTHUR DEAENs SCs H.
"DEAR DR.. DEAN: Can you help
~ me with this problem? We have
a son. a big, husky boy Of 13. He is
allowed so cents week spending
money 25 Of which he is supposed to
earn by keeping our car clean. He
usually Just doesn't get around TO
doing the car or else he has TO De
prodded. I hold out his spending
money. and it is accumulating fast.
Should he be given so or 25 cents
week without any strings, or am
right in trying to develop a little re-
sponsibility and give him the oppor-
tunity to earn his money? He does
other chores for which he is not paid
and for which he is equally irrespon-
sible. He is a good boy. but just un-
reliable. Please don't think he has
too many tasks. His chores are very
light and he has plenty Of playtime.
"A WORRIED PARENT"
Personally, I am absolutely COM
mitted to the idea Of regular allow
ance, because it is only in this way
that a child can learn to keep within
his income, and I do not know OF any
more important financial training for
the average citizen than to train him
to spend a little less than he earns.
Furthermore, I believe in having
children earn money through home
chores, and perhaps simple tasks OUT
side of the home. as a part OF their
allowance, because know of no other
way for children to learn how to earn
money. The schools do not teach one
to earn money, rather they teach one
how to handle the figures in spend
ing it.
Nothing irritates me more than to
visit a home and hear the children
tease for a penny. a nickel, dime or
a quarter. First it is stick of gum,
then an ice cream cone, then ticket
to the movies, then some toy, and
finally it all ends up in tears and .
general family rumpus.
It may be that I am radical in my
recommendation. There are those who
would disagree with me on the fol-
lowing point. would 60 so far as to
pay children practically for about
everything they did in the home in
the way of shoveling snow, cutting
grass. washing dishes, making beds.
getting breakfast. running errands,
etc. Of course you say, and rightly,
Are the children to get the idea that
they do nothing unless they get paid
for it?"
Nevertheless, how can children earn
money? They must earn money in
some way in order to learn how TO
earn it, and then learn how to spend
their money, not your money. A lit
tie girl who dries dishes twice a day
for seven days in the week and gets
10 cents for it is going to think twice
before she spends half of it for pack
age of chewing gum. Or again, how
pleased you would be at Christmas If
your little boy surprised you with
Christmas present costing, say, so
cents-money he had saved up in
stead of getting a couple of dollars
from you to buy you q Christmas
present.
cannot state definitely how much
Of an allowance children should have.
can tell definitely when the exact
conditions are outlined to me. For
little boy and girl I think q quarter
a week earned by simple home duties,
and which they can spend rather
freely, is sufficient. For school chill
dren, between the ages of 10 and "A.
the allowance should be greater and
the home duties more strenuous. OF
course, keep in mind that when you
pay them more, they are expected to
buy such things as Scout equipment,
bathing suits, base ball bats, etc.
For the high school boy and girl
one must think of the amount neces-
sary for car fare, school lunches,
school supplies, dues to school clubs,
admission to athletic games and, Of
course, the extras in the way Of meet
ing some of the social demands.