Many lessons to be learned from chores or a casual job in youth

Sure at that point they are completely dependent on others for feeding, bathing, comforting and caring. But as parents we are working toward developing routines, socialising, and honing the basic skills - walking and talking - of our children.

Every thing they learn is a step towards their greater independence.

Of course the ability to earn money and budget will be a key to that independence. And even that skill can come early in a child's development.

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I can remember when I was a child of about five or six, I would beg my mum to let me do some ironing.

I also remember her response. "It might be fun for a bit, but when I really want you to do it you won't be interested." Of course her prediction was surprisingly accurate and I still don't like ironing.

When my children were at about the same age they also wanted to do the ironing. Of course my mum's words blurted out of my mouth like she had taken over my body. It was at that point that I realised the true reasoning behind those words. It became clear that handing over a steaming hot electrical appliance to a young child was not a good idea.

Of course, just like me in my youth, when the time came that it was deemed that my children were old enough to do the ironing, they were no longer interested.

However, earning pocket money soon became an incentive for my children to tackle household chores. It most definitely was not about the chores, but it was about that cash reward for a job well done.

As was the case with both myself as a child, and my children in turn, that hard earned cash was the first taste of financial independence and a valuable lesson for adulthood.

Apart from waiting for a good payment from the Tooth Fairy or the next birthday, pocket money for chores was the best way to get those special things that we really wanted even if they weren't a part of the parental budget. It was a lesson I learnt early in life and one that I was happy to pass onto my children.

The funds were generally stashed safely away to buy something special - for me it was often vinyl records which had a price tag of $1.99 at the time when I first started earning pocket money. I know this because I still have some of those records with the price stickers on them.

My children had similar purchase ideas in mind except they usually saved their hard earned cash to buy the latest CD.

Of course in both instance a real sense of feeling "cashed up" and more financially independent didn't come until the teenage years. This was a time when the capacity to earn better pay from baby sitting, mowing the neighbour's lawns or getting a casual job at the local take away or supermarket became a possibility.

I can remember initially telling my children early in their teen years that I felt they could wait a little longer before they secured a casual job. My reasoning to them was that their time would be better focused on their school work and enjoying their youth. I would point out to them that before long they would be adults and working would dominate much of their adult life.

But their determination to earn some financial independence was strong and each one of them initially found ways to earn some money for that independence in their chosen extra-curricula interests. Refereeing basketball, umpiring at netball, the opportunity to assist their teacher at dance classes became great job opportunities early in their teen years. My oldest daughter even had a job walking dogs for a while.

It was during this time that they each established a greater appreciation of financial freedom, a work ethic and the understanding of commitment and responsibility. They also knew they had to keep up with their school work, which helped them to develop better organisational and planning skills.

Before I realised each of my children were old enough to take on greater job responsibilities in either local food outlets, or a clothing store as was the case for my youngest daughter. And as they proved themselves in their respective employment, their responsibilities expanded, they were offered more work and their bank balances grew. This in turn enabled them to set larger savings targets such as buying their first car.

Without a doubt those early years of working could be somewhat chaotic for my husband and I as we were kept busy transporting each of our children to and from their respective jobs.

But in retrospect it is clear that allowing them to earn pocket money and then progress to casual jobs was invaluable in the move towards adulthood. So many lessons were learned including a work ethic, a greater sense of responsibility, value for money, the ability to save and appreciation of what those savings can achieve.

The development of such qualities have made the transition to adulthood far easier for all three children. I am constantly impressed by how they continue to reap reward as independent and successful adults.

Mumma Jak has three children and is familiar with the challenges of parenthood. She is well aware that every child is different, every day can be different and a parent's approach needs to be different according to the situation at hand. She is happy to say she fumbled through, motivated from the perfect starting point - unconditional love. The good news is that all three of her children have become normal functioning adults.

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