Economic Kids

Guest post author Karen Ocean examines a concept of economic kids, and asks for thoughts on broadening children’s social and economic environments

It’s fantastic to make your young children feel secure.  It builds confidence.

How then do you broaden and protect your children at the same time?  And when?

What would it feel like if you grew up in the same house, town/city, school, had all the same friends - naturally - you all had the same circle.  It’s secure, they’re filled with hope, then what!?  If you did this, what happens when the go off to college and find themselves roommate with the child who is on an academic scholarship but from the “inner city” with a totally different background and upbringing?

What about the city next door, isn’t it great too?  What about all those possibilities?  What about other cultures and different views?  Maybe they spend their income on their food or on their entertainment, not sports or school activities.

Do you still give allowance?  Do you think kids think $5, or $20 or $50 is a lot?  What is the right amount to give for allowance?  Even more important, when do you start giving it to a child, age 10, 12, 5?  What works for you?  Does giving allowance really work?

My thought on allowance is, it doesn’t work.  They learn when they get their first job and make choices about how to spend their money.

Is it a good idea to give your child the latest toy, best age appropriate gadgets, best new books?  Or are you the parent who thinks children are best connected to the social, school and sport environment without all the extras?

When my children were younger than age 10, I realize they didn’t know anything besides the warm safe home, the choices within our economic budget and what they saw on TV in addition to what their school told them about other children’s economic climate.    I think it was up to me to expose them to different social/economic climates.  Was it right that I took my children to the poorest or poor areas of our state to the local fast food joint to realize the experience of a VERY POOR HUNGRY MAN?  Was it right that I was at a Children’s museum and my son was pushed out of the way by a mom wanting her son to go first?  Where do these people come from?  What about those poor countries the school adopted as a project, was that enough for them to learn other countries may or may not be as fortunate as the US? 

So with children ranging from 7 to 20 I am still seeking ideas of how to broaden their ideas of the social and economic environment we all live in. 

Please share your ideas with me and other readers!