What do I do with a child who wants money all the time? (She seems to be money hungry and is only 6 years old)

Question

My daughter is only six years old, but she seems to be money hungry. I know that sounds harsh, but it's like her world revolves around money. She is constantly wanting change. She has been known to take it from her daddy's pockets. You give her 50 cents and if can sneak more she will. Her eyes really light up with dollars. I know that she doesn't understand the concept of how much money is worth, but I don't know what to do. I have tried to explain to her that mommy and daddy have to work for their money and she can't have money all the time. Today, her daddy left twenty dollars laid out for me for when I get off work to run an errand. When I got in the house I couldn't find it and assumed that the ceiling fans blowed it somewhere. After searching for a little while and almost giving up, she brings it to me and says that she found it. I don't know how it could have ended up there. But, my point is I think that maybe she picked it up before I could get to it? How do I handle this?Thanks

Answer 1

Who taught her to be money hungry?  Her being so had to be taught to her.  Children aren't born thinking the world revolves around money, it has to be taught.  Why is she allowed to take money from her father's pockets?  Stop lecturing her and give her actual consquences when she steals money.  In my house if a child were to steal money from either me or their father they would be limted to meals only, no television, not video games, no computer, no snacks, no desserts.  No getting to go to the book store, no going to the grocery store with mom...etc because stealing is against the law doesn't matter WHOM one steals from.

Answer 2

Picked it up?  I hate to break it to you, but she STOLE it.  You say she constantly takes things from daddy's pockets.  Does she do it while he's aware?  If he's not and you are you are enabling stealing in a six year old unintentionally.  Your daughter needs to learn that money isn't everything.  Have her participate in events that don't cost money and teach ehr to not be greedy.  Don't have her father leave money out where she can reach it.  She will eventually keep the money and not tell you.  Don't give her money on a regular basis.  If anything have her work hard so that she must learn to appreciate earned items.  Say no to her.

Answer 3

You are not alone.  My son whom will be six in July has loved money since he learned to walk and talk.  He knows that you need money to buy things.  He has stolen money out of my purse, my mother's purse, and if anyone leaves it hanging around it is gone.  It is wonderful that your daughter brought the money to you and let you know she "Found it" even though she had it for a little while.  Some kids would not have done that.  At six years old she is old enough to do some chores around the house.  This would help you and she would earn some money.  My son helps clean his room, feeds the cats and gives them water, brushes the cats, cleans the table, outside of the fridge, outside of the stove, and the washing machine.  He is always looking to do his little jobs.  He does not always expect money.... he likes to help sometimes.  Giving chores teaches children that they need to earn money... just like you have to work when you are older.  For his chores because he can not read yet I made a picture chart.  For example for brushing the cat I google images a picture of a cat and a picture of a brush.  This makes it easy for him to know what to do.  I would not leave money around anymore... and watch your purse closely.  With two children that have sticky fingers in my house I keep mostly all of my cash in the bank.  The checkcard has become my friend... The next time you know that she has stolen money I would put her in time out for five minutes....

Answer 4

That's a serious problem if she's trying to steal money from you.  Try making her earn her money.  There's not really much that a 6-year-old can do for chores, but you can tell her to keep her room clean, clean up her plates after dinner, put away her toys, simple stuff like that.  Pay her a dollar per week or something.  If she doesn't do her work, she doesn't get paid.  

Oh, and make sure you don't leave any money lying around, especially if she's already gotten into the habit of taking any money she finds without asking about it.

Answer 5

let her work.  do chores.

Answer 6

Funny how we do not have to teach our children not to lie, steal, and be naughty. We are born sinners from the womb.

Tell her firmly that taking anything that does not belong to her is stealing and will not be tolerated that you love her to much to let her be naughty. After that is firmly established tell her the consequence of her disobedience if she chooses to keep stealing.

I think a good firm spanking is in order. You do what you feel comfortable with but I would really nip this in the bud.

Do not act like it is cute or like you do not know what she is doing. She is smart and already has got your number. Be a good parent and discipline her, that is all she needs. That is loving of your daughter.

Answer 7

Sounds like he is acting out what you inadvertently have been teaching him. Most parents make the mistake of talking about money issues in front of the kids. This makes it seem that money takes presidents over everything else. There is a time and place for everything and handling money is included in the category.

Answer 8

maybe give her a chore list and an allowance.  Kepp $$ and change out of view and reach.

and teach her the cost of things so she knows what money is worth

ask why she wants the money

Answer 9

Stop giving her any more money. The only time she should be getting any money from anybody is when she does chores such as clean her room, clean the bathroom (not use the cleaners), help you with laundry, etc. Other-wise, money on birthdays and holidays is acceptable. She needs to learn that money isn't free.

We always give our kids our spare change (they're 5 & 7). The change goes right into their piggy banks though, or they can set it aside to spend at the store. My girls have actually taken money out of my pockets too (only the change~~they hand the dollar bills right to me). I can't fault them for it since I always give them the change anyway. But they give me the dollar bills which it sounds as though your daughter isn't doing. It may be that she just saw it and picked it up and it was innocent enough~~I don't call what she did stealing at all. Kids will usually pick up money that is lying out in the open like that....the fact that she came to you with it shows that it wasn't stealing in my eyes. Now my niece~~she's 11~~STOLE $100 out of her mom's purse when she wasnt in the room and thought she wasn't going to notice! Like any kid needs that much money!

Last summer my girls started selling veggies out of the garden and they got to keep the money they made from picking the veggies. It helped them to see that making money requires work. They get an allowance for work that they do around the house. Just make a chore chart and at the end of the week pay your daughter accordingly to the work she has done. Pay very little, if any, on the weeks where she doesn't complete her chores. Always keep it to change...maybe that will help her. And if she picks your pockets, hold out your hand and insist that she gives it back to you. She needs to understand that she can not take money from you whenever she feels like it.

I hope my rambling somehow helps!!

Answer 10

Well give her little jobs and tell her when she does them she will get payed like mommy and daddy. Make sure she understands that she only gets that amount no more no less.

Answer 11

make her work hard for the money. If she wants something from the shops then she has to buy it herself. Make her realise what it means to make and spend money. As for sneaking money. I would take all her money away for that

Answer 12

Tell her to work for Goldman Sachs or for a shady Law Firm.

Answer 13

Do not give her pocket money unless she earns it by doing chores or other things. Tell her she has to earn money like mommy and daddy do. Tell her if she wants that shiny new toy that she is going to have to save her money for it. Keep any loose change away from her reach and she has to get in trouble if she "finds" change anymore. (Best punishment for this situation I can think of is to take away her pocket money for that day or week.)