Summer school money?

Question

Parents how do you handle the bonus money your kids get for attending summer school?

My 6 year old begged to summer school again this year because its so much fun, after perfect attendence they recieve a $100 bonus. My husband thinks our child should be able to spend it however (on a Nintendo) because the child earned it. I think we should use it towards school supplies and school clothes.

You're oppinion please!

Answer 1

wow.....you know if you keep paying them to go to summer school one of these days ur gonna say they dont need it and there just gonna fail themselves for the money

Answer 2

I would believe it's worthwhile to split the money up. I see where you're coming from on wanting to invest it back into school-related things. On the other hand, your child feels that he earned that money by not missing a single day of school.

I would say split it up and start teaching him the importance of saving his allowance to get what he wants. It should be that much easier for him to save too, since he is already half way there.

Answer 3

Wow!!!! Perfect attendance??????From a 6 year old???? Way to go!!!!! It's the child's perfect attendance, let him/her decide .

Answer 4

Be glad you have this problem,  

we had to pay $250.00 for my child to even go to summer school for 4 weeks at a public elementary school here in Phoenix, Arizona.

Your child earned it, I would let him pick out something for $50.00 at the toy store and use the rest for next years school clothes

or

Use the money to go do something fun for the whole family.

Answer 5

Definitely go towards school supplies/clothes!

Answer 6

Wow. That would have been motivation for me to have better attendance!

I see both your and your husband's side. Y'all both have good points. Unless your family is having major financial issues, I think this money should be split between school supplies and something fun.

You can give your son simple tasks that he can do around the house to earn the rest of the money for a Nintendo. My daughter is almost six. She loves to help with cleaning the toilet, mop and vacuum the floors, and doing dishes. (I never really wanted to let a little kid clean a toilet - but she really enjoys it!) Of course, you can't let a little kid do that stuff all by himself. And supervising it will probably be a little more work than doing it yourself in the first place. But it would be a good lesson for him to learn.

For the $50 or whatever is saved for school supplies ... Tell him that is still his money, but he should spend it on something like a cool backpack, lunchbox, folders, etc ... Then he is still buying something he wants with it, just not the Nintendo.

One more thing ... It could take him a long time to earn the rest of the money for a Nintendo. If you do go with the chores idea, perhaps this would also be a good time to teach him about loans. Say he gets $5 per week to do dishes, help with laundry, and mop the floor. You could tell him that if he wants his nintendo in tome to enjoy it this summer, you can loan him the other $60 or whatever he needs - but he is going to have to work it off. Then when you give him his $5, tell him that he has to give you 3 of it to pay back for the Nintendo and he can save or spend the other 2 on whatever he wants.

Answer 7

I don't believe in bribing children to go to school.  There won't be any "bonuses" when they reach college how are they going to cope with having to attend classes without being paid for it?

Answer 8

I also have never heard of getting money for summer school. Our budeget cuts barely allow for school's to do anything extra nevermind throw around hundreds of dollars for perfect attendance at a free summer school LOL that's crazy.

I would split the money up, give him about $25.00 to buy what he wants and use $75. for school supplies and clothes.

Answer 9

Two words: College fund.

Answer 10

What, I've never heard of getting $ for summer school. My 6yo is in summer school in san antonio, tx, are you telling me that we will get $$ for that?