Docking Kids' Allowance as a Strategy for Behavior Management
Many parents give their children an allowance as a way to get them to do chores or to teach them fiscal responsibility. Experts disagree about how to dole out money to your child, but before you start handing out the cash, decide how you'll handle it. This includes whether you'll revoke your child's allowance to control or manage his behavior.
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Expert Insight
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Kaitlyn Laurie, child and adult psychotherapist, recommends against giving children an allowance for doing chores or behaving because kids should learn that doing work around the house and engaging in good behavior is an expected part of being part of the family. Instead, allowance should be given as a way to teach children responsible money management, according to the Get Rich Slowly website. Taking his allowance away when he gets into trouble takes away this opportunity and is essentially a bribe for behaving himself. However, in some situations, it might be warranted.
When It's Appropriate
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Successful behavior modification involves a system of rewards and consequences that teach your child how you want him to behave versus how you don't want him to behave. The reinforcement you choose to teach plays a powerful role in how well it works. If your teen is making poor and reckless decisions with his allowance, it might modify his behavior to remove it. For example, if he spends his weekly cash on beer to share with his friends or spends it all on candy when you asked him not to, it might make sense to revoke his allowance for the following week or two. This helps teach him that it's important to use his money in appropriate ways and that if he doesn't, he loses the privilege.
When It Won't Work
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When getting an allowance is contingent on good behavior, money turns into a power struggle between you and your child, according to the University of Nevada. Over time, you child may start to think that money is the only reason why he should get good grades, behave himself and avoid getting into trouble. Getting an allowance that isn't linked to any type of behavior increases the chance that your child will understand the different aspects of managing his money responsibly.
Tips
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Before beginning to pay an allowance, parents should tell their child the rules regarding the money, according to the University of Nevada. This includes how much the allowance is, acceptable ways to use it and what results in losing allowance. Clear guidelines help your child know what to expect so that if an infraction occurs you both know what happens. Helping your child decide how much goes toward saving and giving is also important so he can make plans based on items he wants to spend the money on.
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