Teaching Our Children With Reality

Have you ever experienced taking your children to the toy store for buying their friend's birthday gift? Most of their reaction is demand for a toy also. The chance is 100% happened. So, almost adult will not do such a silly action, because we do not want ruin their mood before the party. It will be embarrassed us if they keep screaming for the toy if we do not fulfill their demand. At the end, they will win because we do not want to hear any longer screaming.

I have deal with the situation once with Attar. His friend's birthday party was held in the fast food restaurant at the mall, so for saving my time, I looked for the gift before the party with him at that mall. I have anticipated if Attar also asked for a toy. Actually I can afford if he asked for it but I have a commitment with my husband, not easy to agree of what our children demands, especially for secondary demands like toys. But what happened then? Attar even did not asked anything! He just picked one for his friend's birthday gift to wrap without much words.

On the other time, my parents came to Jakarta for holidays and take Attar to a toy store. They allowed him to pick anything he wanted, but he thanked them and refused the offer politely. Attar said he already has a lot of toys. My parents wondered how could he reacted like it. Most of children could not hold the temptation buying toys. He already has a lot of toys so does not need the newest one. It is better for him to save the money for something else in his "yellow-piggy bank".

It does not mean we are stingy of buying our children toys. That is not the point. We want they learn that we will not fulfill their demand easily. Must have reason, is it worth it to buy or not. There are some occasional time we will be happy to buy them toys, like on their birthday or as a reward for their achievement. We realize Attar and Puan are still young, but there is no reason not to educated them the value of money earlier. We want them learn in the simple way.

We also educate them to respect people whom are poor. Do not ever labeled poor people because of their condition. They wear used clothing  and live in the dirty place not because they want it, but they have to. We even take them to the orphanage and eat lunch together with all the children over there. We want to show them not everyone in this world live in comfort as they are. Some of them does not  even have parents to support their life. So they have to grateful and live in frugal way. Thank to God, they can take the value. Age 1 to 6 years old is the golden period of the children, we have to educate them properly for the future.

Attar, Puan and some of the orphanage children after lunch.

Frugal Down Under is my new blogger friend who has the same value as mine. How about yours, my friends?

- Amelia -