When we realized Neko thought we could just go to the store and get anything, we concluded it was time to start talking about money. Especially when it came to the Ariel doll she was coveting.
Now, this isn’t a doll I would ever normally approve of. The thing is virtually a Barbie, which I swore would never set foot in our house. But I’m trying to tell myself she will be so obsessed with the sparkly, glowing tail that she won’t notice her impossibly small waist and clamshell-covered bosom. This is all rationalization, I know. Be kind. I’m in the last few weeks of pregnancy. My resolve is not what it used to be. We said if she could save the money, she could buy Ariel.
So we instituted an allowance. But how much do you give a three-year-old? We wanted to give her enough that she could actually purchase things after a few weeks of saving, but not give her too much and make it all meaningless. We also wanted to introduce the concepts of saving and donating.
We settled on $9 a week. $2 into savings (for the long haul), $2 to donate to others, and $5 to spend. We made a big chart where she could tape up her dollars as she saved. And you know what? We think she’s actually getting the concept!
This Saturday she had enough money to purchase THE DOLL. It has been the focus of everything all day, every minute, and seriously, have you seen how her sparkly tail lights up?