After all that festive excitement is over, the novelty of new toys have worn out. K started going through the Playmobile catalogue and asked for new sets for his birthday. I realised that when toys come so easily for him, he will not appreciate the value of gifts and will start to take these things for granted.
Thus dh came up with this idea to help K learn the value of money, as well as make sure he finishes his food at every meal; 50 cents will be given to K each time he finishes the food on his plate. He eats way too little for a child his age and he has acquired a bad habit of leaving food on his plate at every meal. I am also hoping this works so that I don't have to raise my voice / threaten punishment for not finishing his food each time.
I wasn't too thrilled with this idea initially, as I felt that it was not good to be 'paid' for finishing food. Afterall, it is something that has to be done without being offered a reward at the end of it. Dh's argument was that since it was so difficult for him to finish food, this was an effective way to help him learn the value of money, as well as, give him the experience of 'raising' his own funds for his toys.
Once the funds have been 'raised' for his new toy, we hope that he would have gotten used to finishing all his meals (I hope it works and not come to a stage where no 50 cents = no finishing food on his plate). And we will move on to getting him to do specific chores around the house for 50 cents at each time, to help him raise funds for another toy that he has set his eyes on. He has to share the money that he raised by buying an item for his friend, so as to discourage any form of being totally self-serving in his efforts.
Dh and I don't believe in denying our child toys, as he may possibily fall victim to excessive consumerism when he is older. Denying your child toys (not excessively) is similar to denying your child junk food or sweets when there are pre-schoolers. I may be stereotyping with my example but I have heard of some friends who were denied sweets and potato chips when they were younger, and subsquently went on a junk food binge when they were in pre-teens/ adolescent age.
This method has worked quite well the last few days, as K has repeatedly finished all his food at every meal. Although I have to work doubly hard to ensure that he does not acquire a love of money or a constant desire for material things.
Looks like I have to step up his exposure to hungry, starving children from youtube videos, more empathy building stories and a visit to Cambodia to help build something for orphanages when he is of age.
Sigh… It's really tough being a parent.
I totally agree with your post! So many ‘what if’… to consider as a parent. I guess we just have to try out the method sometime to know its effect. Perhaps putting it to prayer before implementing might be more fruitful
Hope to hear more good news on K’s eating habit.
So much about parenting that I am still learning, every other day there will be new challenges. I suppose it does takes quite a bit of trial and error in parenting. Without God, it really does make that journey of parenting so much harder doesn’t it?
Ya, it’s really tough. I realize there are decisions and what ifs for everything you do. Simple things like whether to let my 2 month old baby sleep in the baby swing (yao lan) can make parents like myself be wrecked with fear and indecision. I’m sure your child will turn out alright in the end!
Congrats on entering stage of ‘mommy-dom’…sleeping issues are all but a small challenge of bringing up a little one 😛 (I still have that problem with my pre-schooler). Every once in a while, I need to remind myself take it in my stride and do let nature take it own course. The good news is that our kids will eventually grow out of these things…however challenges really do not end being a parent.