I can’t believe we’ve finally reached the age when my children are asking for iPads. We homeschool our kids, and we see the educational potential. All of their cousins have them, and they want to join in on the fun.
We’ve weighed our options, and the biggest problem we’re seeing is the lack of value and appreciation they have for the things they already have.
They’ve been saving their gift money for a while and have accumulated a decent amount. But how can we teach them to truly appreciate and care for the items they have and not take things for granted? (A great start on the subject is this article).
Getting a job has entered the chat. My husband and I have decided that they will have to work and save the entire amount of money they need to purchase the iPads. Mind you, my boys are 7 and 9. They cannot go out to work in a grocery store or anywhere else. They also will not be getting an allowance for the tasks they are expected to complete daily, like making beds and cleaning up messes.
This summer will be a summer of hard work. They will sell our backyard eggs (chicken and quail) at farmers’ markets for an hourly wage. They will tend to the animals and help with bigger tasks around the house to earn money.
I cannot say that our stipulations weren’t met without disappointment and frustration.
