Are You Teaching Your Kids To Be Pan-handlers?

Nobody wants to think of their kids as bums. But might yours be?

Before you blurt out “of course not!” just pause for a moment and ask yourself this question.

“Do my kids have any way to get money apart from asking someone else for it?”

If not, then you are really teaching them that the only way to get what they want is to beg for it.

I’ll bet they are pretty darn good at it by now. If you have a kid who is 10 or so, and their only reward comes from begging, they will be four-star bums already. I guarantee it. They will know every emotional button on every nearby adult who can possibly be induced to buy something for them.

Most will have learned to be subtle bums – rather than asking for gifts, they will just talk about the things they “wish they had”. They may move up into “fear of loss” tactics, you know, the one where “everyone else has one and people will think I am a loser if I don’t …”

Status. We parents often fall for that one.

If not status, they might be playing the guilt card on you. Or the “fairness” card. Believe you me, by the time they get to double digits they will be playing with a full deck of emotional manipulation cards!

Kids have a massive amount of creative energy, and they will put that energy into whatever avenues they have for getting what they want.

It is up to you, the parent, to make sure being bums is not their only avenue.

It takes a bit of thought in the beginning to set up earning opportunities for kids too young to have regular jobs, but the time and effort are very well worth it.

The moment kids get a whiff of the notion that they can get money from outside the family through their own efforts, by providing something of value, they will be off and running on the road to being fair traders!

Make begging a losing proposition for your kids, by resolving never again to give in to it. Instead, help your child to develop a plan for earning the money to buy the things they want. You won’t believe the difference this simple shift can make.

If you have any doubts remaining, check out one of the fair traders who has entered the Cash-Smart Kids video competition recently.

Not only does this girl earn her own money, she gives to charity and buys her own school uniforms. It just does to show that raising fair traders can pay off even earlier than you expect!

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 and is filed under Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
«
»

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Best Spy Cameras In The Market:


-->

Importance Of Creating And Updating First Aid Kit

Every Athletic Trainer carries a bag with him or her in the event that an athlete is in need of some medical treatment. Each and every certified Athletic Trainer is familiar withcardiac science and consequently the kit must contain the necessaryCPR supplies . Their bag will also contain everything which may be needed to treat an on the field injury, such as a broken bone or a concussion. Splints, bandages, and ice packs are sure to be in every bag. While you might not have the skills or certifications that an Athletic Trainer has, and would never attempt complex life saving procedures, administering basic first aid, whether at home, your neighborhood football game, the playground, or around the office is something you can do. Assisting with the most basic first aid treatments is something every mom, dad, co-worker, or spectator can do. It is no more complicated than having the right tools available. Every office, car, home, and school sporting event should have first aid kits available in case they are needed. First aid kits vary in materials, depending on who the kit is primarily going to be used by. Professionals often have kits with extensive materials covering a variety of emergencies. For example, a first respondents kit may contain materials that a home first aid kit may not. There are a few items, however, which are generally accepted for all first aid kits. The following is a list of common first aid items which you may consider including in your assembled first aid kits.

• A well stocked kit should contain band aids of all sizes and shapes

• A well planned bag should contain bandages and bandage pins or tape

• A well stocked kit should contain antiseptic ointment or hand wipes

• A well stocked kit should contain a pair of tweezers

• A well stocked kit should contain an instant ice pack

• A well stocked kit should contain a clean cloth

• A well stocked kit should contain burn ointment

• A well stocked kit should contain smelling salts

• A well stocked kit should provide latex gloves

Anyone choosing to keep a first aid kit should remember to check it periodically, even if it has not been put to use. In particular, if you carry any pain reliever or analgesic, checking expiration dates may be a good idea. It is so imperative that first aid kits are updated periodically to make sure they are well stocked with the essentials. How awful it would be to be looking at a situation; where someone was in need of help and the kit was lacking helpful first aid supplies. Whether you are preparing a kit to keep in your kitchen at home, or for the glove compartment of your car, or for the break room at the office, make sure to include these useful and necessary materials. Accidents are often unavoidable. Typically, most injuries around the home or office are small and can be readily attended to with a simple antiseptic application and a band aid. Make sure that in addition to a well stocked kit, you have all emergency numbers at the ready, just in case there are calls to be made.