% my BS heats

DOING THEIR PART in the Boundary elementary school production of “Music in

the Air", were these two enthusiastic kindergarten students In the midst of thelr
square dancing. (Terry Peters photo)

Tel. 985-2131

VALUABLE LESSON

Teach your children
money management

How many times have you witnessed this scene:
A mother, her arms full of groceries, argues with
her children who want some gum or a ride on the
mechanical horse at the shopping plaza?

The kids keep whining and
tugging on her coat until,
exasperated, mother plunks
down her groceries, fumbles
in her purse for some change
to give them and off they go
— anything to keep them
quiet!

Sound familiar? You bet it
does.

Children have been
practising this little dodge
ever since they invented
parents. Ironically, they
didn’t learn it from other
children, they learned it
from their very own parents.
Without realizing it, some
parents have taught their
children how to manipulate
them simply because they
lack the courage to say.
“No.”

But Lon Robson, mother
of three, says this need not
happen.

Instead, she uses a weekly
allowance and a few ground
rules to teach her children a
very different lesson. How to
handle their own money.

She started when her
eldest was three years old by
giving ber two dimes and a
nickel each week to cover
such things as a mde on the
horse, a chocolate bar, and
perhaps, some gum. When
that was gone, her daughter
realized that was all! the
moncy she was going to get.
There was no sense in trying
to put the touch on Mommy
for more

-Lon’'s

daughter learned

“Beewestly

Don’t miss the
Easter Bunny
giving out Free

Easter Eggs.
Sat. April 10th at 11 a.m

a nlee place lo shop

Lyre Vatley Read arnt Mtewi nin Mwy MV

By ISABEL WEGG

just how far her money
wogld go and, even at the
age of three, she learned
how to budget. Walking past
the variety store was no
longer a problem.

The needs of a three-year-
ald child are easy to fill. But,
as Lori’s chidren grew, so did
their allowances.

There were other
siderations besides the
children’s needs though:
Lori told me, “I don’t think
the allowance should be so
generous that it’s a strain on

con-

the family budget.”
Saving should be a part of
anyone’s personal budget

and Lori’s children are no
exception. She told me she
encourages her children to
bank part of their allowance.
She said, “If they're old
enough to sign or print their
name, they're old enough to
have a bank account.”

SECTION

WOMEN - FOOD
TRAVEL

What about extra money
for special events they've
been invited to?

Lori says if the child knew
in advance and failed to
budget, she wouldn't give
him extra money. But, if the
child had no advance notice,
she'd make an exception and
help out.

I asked Loni if she uses an
allowance to reward her
children for doing chores
around the house.

“I don’t,” she said. “An
allowance is a method of
teaching children how to
handle money.“My kids ...
would choose not to do the
housework and do without
the allowance. And then
they wouldn't learn how to
handle money.”

Not only that, but her kids
regard doing their share of
the housework as part of
their responsibility instead of
taking a “What’s in it for
me?” attitude.

Lori Robson's foresight in
giving her children
allowances and thus an early
financial education, seems
to have paid off — in what
must be one of the better
bargains money can buy.

—————
. =>
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