allowance

Ben received the Toy Story trilogy for Christmas and it's been all Woody and Buzz since.  A few weeks ago he discovered Grace and Sara's Woody, Buzz, and Jessie dolls and he hasn't been the same since.  When he had re-named Jelly, Woody, upon waking up one morning, I added a surprise stop to our mall errands that day.  

This is the progression of him kissing him and saying he loves him and 

"don't worry Woody, you're going to a much better place."

Life was great with Woody in the Heimer haus but leaving Buzz behind at the store really effected Ben.  ("Lightbulb!" said in Gru voice.)  On that day, Ben's allowance was born and by the next Friday, we had a plan in place.

When I was growing up, allowance was separate from chores and was always received except when the most egregious sins had been committed.  It was given as a tool to learn money management and chores were done because they are part of being a family.  This makes sense to Ryan and I as parents and as Ben grows, if he wants to earn extra money, he can do above and beyond chores or tasks.  After polling other parents and talking a lot about time before reward, etc., we settled on $4 a week.  Ben must save $1, give $1 to charity and may keep the last two.  This is the first time Ben's really asked for something and continued to ask for many days, so I think it was the perfect time to strike.

I labeled envelopes so he can keep his eye on the prize.

When it all began, I didn't even think about the fine motor opportunities and I've already been shocked at Ben's tracking and math skills.  As of today he has one more week to save for Buzz and he's already decided he's going to save for a light saber next.  While lots of the concept of money is lost on him, the fact that wanted objects don't just appear and the really tough concept of delayed gratification are sinking in.  I'll be sure and capture Buzz's arrival and in the meantime, here's Ben professing his love to an envelope.