From Cookies To College: Teach Your Child A Sweet Work Ethic
By Ellie Kay
Spring 2008
I had to bake six dozen cookies for the annual
About halfway through the job, I made a surprising discovery: Before Jonathan and Joshua dropped the cookie dough into the sugar bag, they were taking little bites! I groaned and looked at the three dozen, already-baked cookies cooling by the oven and thought what any other mom would think: “Hey! A 350-degree oven will bake out any germs!”
Despite the little glitch, simple activities such as this helped pave the way for a strong work ethic. We should teach our children to help in little ways while they’re young so they can provide substantive help when they’re older. Today, as young teenagers, both boys know how to prepare a pan of brownies, mix and frost a cake, make their own sandwiches for lunch and even cook a three-course meal.
When my sons are bachelors, they won’t have to spend an exorbitant part of their paychecks going out to eat every night. They will be able to eat well in their own homes and by their own hands. Best of all, the work ethic they learned also has helped them mature and develop the discipline to earn good grades and future scholarships.
Even though the development of this work ethic “costs” you in the short term in time, energy and attention, your child may reap enormous benefits in the long term. Consider these suggestions for the kind of work your kids should be able to accomplish at various ages:
Age 2 to 4
- Picks up toys cheerfully
- “Helps” bake cookies and performs other simple chores
- Follows a schedule for sleep, play and work (or school)
Age 4 to 6
- Makes bed in a basic way (not necessarily neat)
- Picks up room regularly
- Places dirty clothes to hamper
- Hangs up clean clothes and places them in drawers
- Knows how to set and clear the table
- Knows how to take out the trash
Age 7 to 10
- Acts as master bed maker
- Knows how to sort laundry into whites, coloreds and darks
- Knows how to fold laundry and put it in everyone's room
- Knows how to load and clear the dishwasher
- Knows how to vacuum and dust
- Responsibly handles an allowance
- Keeps a savings account at home and at a bank
Age 11 to 12
- Knows how to clean a bathroom
- Begins to complete additional "jobs" for hire within the home and occasionally for friends or family
- Maintains a savings account totaling $200-$250
- Saves money toward half of one larger-ticket item – bike, skates, video game, etc.
- Understands how many hours it takes to work or save for goods and services
- Knows how to read a savings account statement
Age 13 to 15
- Knows how to manage and balance his or her own checkbook with supervision
- Accumulates enough savings to use $200-$300 to start a mutual fund
- Performs outside jobs for hire among approved "employers" in the neighborhood and regular summer jobs (appropriate to age and ability)
- Regularly pays for half of larger-ticket items
- Begins saving toward a car purchase
- Understands that high school grades will impact the ability to get into college and earn scholarships; understand that the top priority in school is to work hard and earn the best grades possible
Age 16 to 18
- Balances a checkbook without supervision
- Maintains a mutual fund and contributes monthly to the fund
- Owns a debit card and can use it responsibly (follow-up supervision required)
- Owns a prepaid credit card (close supervision required; minimal prepaid limits on the card come from the child's savings account or earnings – parents do not prepay the card)
- Regularly works inside and outside the home during breaks from school
- Keeps a neat room and car
- Pays for half to one-third of the cost of a car
- Maintains the highest possible grade-point average
- Maintains a regular volunteer position (hospital, coaching, church involvement, etc.)
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Ellie Kay is an author, radio/TV commentator and motivational speaker at military events. Her newest book is “A Tip a Day with Ellie Kay: Twelve Months’ Worth of Money Savings Ideas” (Moody Press, 2008). She is the wife of an Air Force pilot and mother of seven children. To receive Ellie’s free newsletter, browse money-saving tips or invite her to speak at your military base, visit www.elliekay.com.