Brandi’s mom, Jean Savitt, said it best the other day, “Doing everything for children creates spoiled and unhappy people.” We’ve all met kids who have never heard the word “No” and not only are they not fun to be around – they don’t seem to be having that much fun themselves! Jean (who along with Steph’s mom Nancy comprises Fab & Fru’s “grammar and ethics department”) is a big believer is making the experience fun!  Whether it’s sticker charts for chores completed, or a hanging a big picture of the toy they are going to buy with their allowance money next to the chart – make it interactive as well as educational.  Jean points out that kids will enjoy any learning process more and participate to a greater extent if they are part of the plan! She also suggests that you take your child to the bank with you to open a bank account for their savings so they can actually watch it grow — I still remember having my own “bank book” and making deposits of dollar bills my grandparents would give me – it was such a thrill to feel like a grown up and watch the money add up!

I know the impulse is often there to buy our children whatever they want to “show” them how much we love them.  But I think the real way to show our children how much we love them is to give them the gifts of independence, self-esteem and security.  As Jean Savitt says, telling kids they are great is fine (although after my son’s preschool open house tonight they scared me to pieces about ‘overpraising’ children – sorry, but I still will tell my son he’s awesome when he poops in the potty – but I am digressing) but it is crucial for our children to feel they have really accomplished something themselves to feel secure and successful.  Financial acumen – yes, even for a 4 year old – is a fabulous gift that keeps on giving!

So, ok —  allowances and chores are great for your little one’s development on many levels and I don’t want to miss this opportunity to teach my children lessons they will have for a lifetime.  And  I can tell you first hand that you would never guess just how much fun a preschooler can have cleaning bird poop off swings and raking leaves – who would have thought there were such simple ways to make finance fun!

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