Allowance for Kindergarteners?

Many parents wonder when they should be giving their kids an allowance. An allowance is a great way to teach your child independence. It can also be a great way to teach them at an early age that good behavior will be rewarded.

Allowance and Young Children

Children of preschool and kindergarten age really don't need to learn how to manage money quite yet, but they do need a reward for a job well done. Still, rather than rewarding your child with money, consider using a reward system using points instead. The problem with monetary rewards is that they can teach children greed and how to be tuned into money over intrinsic values.

At this age, it's better to teach kids that it feels good to participate and get things done without involving money. Chore charts are a great way to encourage children to participate in the needs of the family while also teaching them the good feeling that goes along with a job well done. A chore chart and sticker chart reward system can serve as a reminder of what needs to be done (and when), how often it needs to be done, and what has already been done. When your child has filled in, say, a week's worth of stickers, reward him with a trip to the park, a small toy, or some other small treat. Non-monetary allowances teach kids to work toward a goal that doesn't involve cash. She'll have the benefit of feeling as if she is working toward something, the visual representation and reinforcement of watching the chart fill up with stickers, the satisfaction of reaching the goal, and the feeling of success that comes along with a job well done.

Eventually, non-monetary allowances aren't going to have much of an impression on your child, but take advantage of this type of system while you can. Reserve a monetary allowance for when your child gets older, then implement a small allowance.