Evening star., 1939-06-15
Teach Child
Right Way
ToSpend
Too Much Stress
On Saving May
Be Harmful
By ANGELO PATRl.

Children under 10 are more in
clined to spend than to save money.
Childhood is spending time and the
emphasis of instruction ought to be
on intelligent spending. AS the child
grows older he sees the need for
saving toward some difinite end,
such as buying baseball. an extra
like roller skates. He ought to be
helped to do that. 1t is the second
step in his experience with money.
The next one is earning-spending
and saving combined. Experiences
in the use and value and place of
money are essential to intelligent
living. This is not to be overlooked
by those who are rearing children.
In this, as in every other phase
Of child growth, there are variations
of behavior, some most unexpected.
One deals with them as they appear,
always considering the value of the
experience to the child in this re-
lation and knowing. too, that no
phase of growth is final There is
another growing out of it for better
or worse. Our interest lies in direct
ing it toward the better.
Simon was given a bank when
he was two and trained to put what
ever money came his way into the
bank. He was not told about spend
ing. Only saving was emphasized,
so he saved. 1t must have come
easy to him, by nature, for he did
not show any of the usual liking
for spending. BY the time he was
seven this phase of his growth began
TO worry his family. Simon showed
tendency to take and to, keep
what he got with no desire to give.
His mothers birthday was coming
1t is the custom in the family for
each to make little personal gift
to her on the morning of that day.
Father asked Simon what he was
going to do about it.
Il don't know. Helen and Michael
want me to chip in with them and
get her book she said she would
like, but I don't want to take my
money out of the bank. Must II"
NO." said father. mot unless you
want to-"
"I'll make something that won't
cost anything" said Simon, greatly
relieved, and he cut out a picture of
boat from a magazine and placed
it in frame he found in the store
room. 1t was pretty gift and
mother thanked him for it.
Soon Simon's birthday was at
hand. He showed the family a pic
ture of motor boat he had cut out
of catalogue and said, That's the
boat I'm going to have when I get
money enough. 1t costs $4,000. I'm
saving up for 1t"
Father nodded, his brother and
sister looked astonished and said
nothing. When Simon was out of
the room they talked about the boat
and Simon's birthday. mo money,
said father. We'll each make the
gift we are going to- give him with
our own hands. I think he needs
strong hint"
On the birthday morning Simon
was up early to see what was on
the table for him. After breakfast
he opened the packages. From
mother a knitted cap, from Helen q
pair of bedroom slippers, crocheted
from Michael a little copper tray
hammered, marked with his initials
from father q bookshelf--to keep his
schoolbooks off the library table.
IJnbelfef at first was what his
face expressed, then grief. "Ne
check?"
mo check" said father, "we
thought we would not spend any
money SO we made your things
ourselves"
Maybe that will help. Children
are strange bundles of mystery
Lucky that they have 20 years to
find their way to maturity.