Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-07-10
Problems
With the Children
Issued - Tie National KinderEar-
tn Association, West 10th St.
New York City
The Child
and His Money
BY RUTH PECK Mcleod

A child will learn the value Of
money only by managing his own
budget. In most cases, even 7-year-
old should be given a small allowance.
At this age, self-interest should al
ready have become somewhat tenn
pered with both sense Of fairness
and a desire to share Parents should
continue to help the child to develop
attitudes Of uncompromising honesty
and sincere altruism. The amount,
which Is to be given to child reg
ularly. should be decided upon in ad-
vance by both parents. It should be
in proportion to the income Of the
family, the age Of the child and the
responsibilities he is to undertake
with 1t. It should not be made so
misery that he will feel he Is not
being given fair amount, and not
so liberal that he will have an in
clination to spend too freely. Today,
the desire to purchase war stamps Is
helpful check on a tendency to
extravaganza.
The youngster will be proud to have
regular income" and the amount
will at first usually sound so big that
he will feel he can get everything he
wants with 1t. However. he will learn
that even so cents q week will not 60
very far If, for instance, 20 cents Is
spent for picture show, 10 cents for
a notebook, 10 cents for q sundae, 5
cents for candy and cents for Sum-
day school. A so cent football ticket
will take all of his allowance for that
week unless he has set aside a small
amount for several preceding weeks
to meet this special pleasure.
An allowance Of so cents a week
sounds liberal to child but often he
will find it inadequate and as a re-
suit the desire to earn money will
soon become evident. Selling maya
zines is an excellent way for a boy
or even a girl to secure extra change.
My son sold magazines at one time
and he exercised considerable fore
thought before he spent the money
he had earned in that manner. When
he did use his magazine profits for
tickets, ball bat, and similar ex-
penditures, he seemed to derive great
deal Of satisfaction and pride from
buying these things with the money
he himself had made.
Children of or 10 should begin to
be taught to purchase their clothes
Only few Of the less expensive items
should be undertaken at first. Then
additional responsibilities can be add
ed from time to time as the shoppers
become more experienced and acquire
rather definite ideas as to values. But
parents should give suggestions with
regard to shopping and allow the
child to aid in making purchases long
before he undertakes the full respon-
sibility for himself. II suggestions
have been given in . tactful. compan-
ionable manner the child will natural
ly turn to the parents Later when In
q quandry. But after the responsibility
for the purchase of any particular
garment has been given over to the
child, the parent should not try to
influence the selection. At times It viii
be hard to let the children make mis-
takes In their choices, but 1t win be
necessary for them to make . few
mistakes in order to secure experience
It win be interesting to see how sur
prised the boy or girl win Be when
first undertaking to arrange . cloth
ing budget. It Il IN excellent plan
to let children work first ca the fam
lily budget. Dads salary sounds as
tonishinSH large to them umtil they
discover the long List Of expenses thai
must b taken care Of, such ~ HI
insurance, repair work. rent or pay.