Children's Spending Money.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2063, 26 September 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Children's Spending Money.

Sensible advioe from one who hat an o;e to the yonngsters' pocket-books. One of the difficult problems with nil parents is that of oconsfcosum? children tn the use of mont*y in a way to toash them iis value, ond how to apond it properly. It h<wi been laid down aa a rale that where mousy is not earned its value is not appreciated ; unJ while this may b& gensrally tru^, it Till not do, even for a rale. Tbeie are diflprrofw in ohildren, in their eitimatea o! the va'u« of money, whish are inherent in their cb&r&cter lome are selfish and penurious while others are generous and liberal. Nor does it make much difference how they get money, whether by gift or by labour, theso natural propensities will be Riven offeot. Ssilora earn tkeir money by hardships that are often extreme, and yet are open handed when a chance oomes to enjoy it. Tnus no rule can lie given to govern this. The proper use of money is a matter of education. And neceeaarily this branch of education belongs to parents. Jnist how it shall be conducted depends on oiranrnitano^t Somn parents adopt the plan of giving their ohilarcn money for rpecial purposes, ana not at regular intervals. Uador Ihia aystem they know Josfc what the roonoy U to go for and can judge ol the wliiom of the nic proposed to ba rand*. Othere jiv« a oortain amoa&t weekly or monthly, but require no aooonnt&bllitT from Ik* «lUd uto how it ia u.iad. Still others direct) how ft ■h&ll go— lo inuoh into Bavinps aid a ocrtain amount into pleasnrt, or artaelea for nie. And in other o&eoi parents devolve early on children the purohase of portion* of their outfit and le*v* thorn to czereiae their judgment under a general parential supervision. All these and still ether plans have their merits and defect*. Much fo every ease depends on the oharaoter and hakits of the child. We know a wealthy, clear-headed German who lent his son to Heidelberg to be cduoated. He granted him an allowance of money to be uted as he might chooee, but rq aired a minute, itemised aoeonnt of every oent expended. He thus kept run of tho habits of tke lad, and the sense of soconntakility made the boy careful. He bsoame in after years an able banker. Parents, in order to secure eorroct aooount&bility, must not b« too rigid in eritioism nor lo3e the oonfidenco of the ohild, eloe they dooeive, and ell the benefit of supervision 1b lost. Children should be allowed the privileges of their age if we wish to retain their confidence. Nor should proper privacy or privilege be too closely inquired alter. Tke object is not to secure servile aooountability, but only to teach them the value aad proper use of money. And care should be taken, also to gratify tke natural tendencies of children, or to allow tfeem to realise thoir own wishes. Some have tastes that lead in one direction and others in very different Unas. Oue boy is fond of machinery, or tools, or meohanioa, or books. A girl is inclined to drawing art, laoe work, or to books. In so far as these teadenoies are legitimate and right it is well to give them play, bat to guide and direot. This may be so done that they will learn to choose between what has value and a mere toy, and will learn to know valuea. All this oan be pleasantly and readily done by cultivating friendly relations with ohildren. A Yankee onoo said that he began to trade when five years old, and that his father encouraged it, and at times would bargain and trade with him when a boy. When sixteen he had started on his own aooount, and became wealthy at twenty-five. The mere acquisition of wealth, ohildren should be taught, is cot the whole aim of life ; but a fair degree of care for money is, nevertheless, well.