How to make children value things

girl with money

Your child may be coming home from school and missing things, like pencils for example. Or that he has no problem throwing his lunch away without trying it, or that he smashes his toys or other belongings with no regrets. If any of these things happen, or all of them, then it is very likely that your son or daughter does not know the value of things. This is because does not know the value of money because he gets what he wants, and takes things for granted. Therefore, to make children value things, you have to make them understand this.

Obviously, children do not know about money since it does not make any sense to them. But nevertheless, can more easily learn that time has its value. Offering them something they want in exchange for a simple task, such as picking up toys from their room, can help them understand the connection. This connection can be a good start to make children appreciate things better.

Strategies for children to value things

Making children understand that everything has its value can be complicated. Nevertheless, there are strategies we can use so that they begin to understand it.

boy playing with Lego

Pay in cash whenever possible

Today it is increasingly difficult to find someone who carries cash. If your son or daughter accompanies you to do the shopping, it is good that you see that to obtain goods you need money. Paying in cash will make you associate “things” with money, since without it it would not be possible to get what you are looking for. 

Seeing the actual exchange is an unmistakable picture. This has been lost with card payment, in what there is less and less awareness that money is "real". If your children see you giving money to other people to be able to take what you want to buy, it will make the two concepts of money and goods associate. They will better understand the purpose of the trade and begin to take care of your things better knowing that it costs to get them.

Teach them to save so that they value things

It is common for children when they enter a store want to take everything, as when they see the catalog of Christmas toys. If this happens it is evident that they do not relate the objects to a specific value. Thus, it may be a good idea to give them a piggy bank. Explaining what it is for and what its objective is, they will begin to think about money, and about buying.

Once they have the piggy bank they can set the goal of obtaining something they want, a toy they want, for example. By doing small tasks and getting a small pay for it, they will begin to understand what it costs get what you want. From that moment, instead of asking, they can start saving every time they want something a lot and don't want to wait for their birthday or Christmas to ask for it from others.

Don't build a bubble for them

It is inevitable to want your children to grow up in an environment of safety and with the greatest possible happiness. But if you are in financial straits at home, it is not a good idea to exclude your children. It's okay and it's fair for them to know the family's financial situation. It is always better to be realistic than to set or nurture false expectations. Give one responsible education economically it is very important for children.

Thus, they will feel more integrated into the family unit, a family in which they help each other to maintain a balance, also financial. If they know that there are financial problems, it is easier for them to realize that it is not a good idea to ask for things that they do not really need. In addition, when they are older and of working age, they will have more initiative to get a job and thus help at home.

girls selling lemonade


Family vacations for children to value things

Planning a vacation is complicated, and expensive. Setting a budget and finding a viable destination with your children can be a fun adventure. Probably, with the budget they think that you are rich and that you can go around the world, but once you start thinking about the expenses of hotels, transport, food, etc., you will understand that money is not only difficult to get, but which is also very easy to use.

Make donations or volunteer activities

What usually impacts the little ones the most is knowing that not all people live the same reality. Facing the reality of the most disadvantaged people without a doubt will make them value everything they have. Participating in family volunteering, or donating money or food to associations in the same city, will make children understand how lucky they are to have the life they have and will take much better care of their belongings.


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