The other day I was at the store with Ella and she saw a doll that she REALLY wants! Usually when she gets a case of the "gimmes", I just tell her she can always ask Santa and then she will have something to look forward to, and that usually ends the conversation and she moves on. But I realized with Christmas and her birthday being almost a year a way, it was a little cruel to expect her to patiently await her turn on Santa's lap for a chance at a la la loopsy doll! So I thought this might be a really good chance to teach her a lesson about the value of money and that sometimes when you really want something, you have to work hard to earn it, and that we don't always get what we want right away. I told her that if she really wanted the doll we could go home and we could come up with some jobs that she could do to earn this doll. Right away she got excited about coming up with a list of things she could do and as we walked out of the store she turned to me and said, "mom, I get it, we don't get what we want right away because we have to earn it. But if I work hard then I can get it later". I was so excited to see the wheels turning in her head, and I knew she was starting to understand the value of a dollar.
As soon as we walked in the door, Ella wanted to get this list made and she wanted to get to work! We came up with about 8 different little jobs Ella could do that were not already considered part of her daily chores (that would also take a few weeks to accomplish) and we were set. This last week Ella has been working really hard to complete her list and she is also frustrated that she can't do everything right now! (but thats life, right?)
Anyway if Ella continues with her determination and hard work, she will be the proud owner of one of these (the mini version):
And for me, the $5.99 that it will cost will be well worth the lesson!
How do you teach your kid's important life lessons? I would love more creative ideas!
4 comments:
heheheeh that is a cute doll and looks just like something Ella would want. Good lesson. I don't have anything to share/exchange because Z is only 4.75 old. I like this idea, I will add it to my Supernanny journal.
I think those dolls are strange but my girls want one too. We have a sticker chore chart and after about 30 stickers they get the toy I bought. So I watch for clearance toys they would want to earn, show them and then they workl to earn it. Works great for AJ, Brylee is still a little young to understand. And they can earn money to buy the toys they really want but I make them think about it for awhile first. Usually they change their mind.
A lesson that will last a lifetime. Definitely worth $5.99.
Ok, so I have to admit I’ve been totally terrible with blogs because like I said, my computer is acting up so much but it’s been fun to catch up on yours! First things first, such a cute family!! Love seeing all the pictures and hearing about all they do. Love your new top picture also! Loving the facepaint and Superman on the couch…brought back memories of driving around a snowcapped (ice-capped rather!) Rexburg, listening to Dixie Chicks, and yes PLANNING! life out and thinking we have it all figured out. Lily is doing so awesome with all her milestones!! I think she and Porter are doing the same stuff about the same time, and he is a couple months older, ha! Can’t believe it’s coming up on their birthdays in a few months, feels like we were just barely up there hanging out together and catching up on life! Hope it works out to get together again somehow this summer!
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