Ways for my 3 yr old son to earn money?

Question

My 3 yr old son and I are going to Disney world in October 2008 with his Grandma and other family members (cousins, aunts,and uncles) for a week. Its a big family vacation. I am trying to find ways for him to earn money for his trip (his own spending money). So far we are collecting aluminum cans and he loves to squish them and he has fun. He enjoys earning money for his piggy bank knowing its going towards disney world. Any ideas of things he can do?

First off Kristy, its funny you are you going to tell me how to raise my 3 yr old but yet you can't spell, and you use profantiy in a thread regarding a child. Second, Yes, He is 3 yrs old. He likes the idea of doing things to earn money for his trip. Like squshing aluminum cans. He has a blast and he tells me all the things he is going to do and get with the money he earned. I am helping him find ways and things to do to earn money. I am not going to give him everything his heart desires. What is that teaching him? To be a spoiled brat? No thanks! I'd rather teach him that if he does things, there are consequences or He gets rewarded for good things he does and disciplined for bad things. For example, during potty training he earned .50-1.00 or just random pocket change everytime he went. This taught him "If I got potty I get a reward." Now he just enjoys flushing the toilet, he thinks its funny...thats a reward for him its self. Thanks to everyone for the great ideas!

Answer 1

First of all, good for you for instilling responsibility and hard work in him. You're right that the ignorant parents who don't do this are just raising a generation of spoiled brats. That said, maybe you can do something like match whatever he saves, so he gets double. After all, he is quite young, and it's for a special family trip. My three - year - old son loves to do little chores and things around the house for money. He doesn't expect money for his chores, but he is delighted when I give him a few quarters or something. It teaches responsibility, hard work and how to manage money - things that, unfortunately, many parents don't teach until a child is older if they even teach it at all. I will sometimes give my son some money (usually between $.50 and a dollar) for doing such things as helping me put away groceries, helping me fold and put away laundry, washing dishes, or helping me with yard work. The key is to remember that they are young, and that we can only expect so much from them. A three - year - old might not be capable of folding and putting away the laundry alone, but he can do it with some help. I hope your family has fun at Disney!

Answer 2

I wouldn't go much beyond what you're doing now, and only reward him with a small amount that he can see, but set aside extra for him that you can hold onto. Other little jobs he could help with would be setting the table; maybe helping you sort through the laundry after it's dried- sorting by family member, etc.

My family has a greenhouse business and in the spring they plant seeds for plants. DD"s grandfather paid her a penny a seedling that went into pots (this is incredibly fast work, so he really wasn't being that frugal) and she made 10 bucks in a matter of a few hours. She also insisted on being paid in pennies, so she had to count them all out afterwards.

Three is so incredibly young, and just starting small like you are will be helpful later on in life when he realises the importance of saving money.

Answer 3

I am a Disney junkie with a 7-year old so I understand about money for the trip! The first thing we do before our trips is make a unique bank to save our money in. He loves getting the bank ready (usually an empty plastic container I would have recycled, like coffee or those huge animal cracker ones), we cut out disney photos from magazines and glue them on. Of course with a 3yo, you'd cut...he'd do the gluing! We use stickers, whatever he'd like to decorate it with. Another Mom I know has a garage sale to earn money for vacations. She let her son choose what toys he wanted to sell, (lots of happy meal toys!) and then they made a sign that said all of his garage sale money would be his Disney money. People would chip in change and not even buy anything, it was so sweet! It gives you a chance too to unload some junk!

Answer 4

I did the same thing with my son. I made him do things to earn money to buy the extras he wanted. Didn't start him at 3 but it sounds like you have a really smart your guy.

One thing I might mention though. Is be careful how you handle this strategy because you don't want him to think he has to be paid for every thing he does. My son had duties that were his to do simply because he was a member of the family and everyone had things that had to be done and we did not get paid for them. They were simply his duties. Then he earned money for special projects. Don't teach him something at 3 that you will regret when he is 10. One project we did was make a hanger for rolls of trash bags, that you nailed up in the garage. Back then all trash bags were in the big heavy rolls. He sold them for $3 and it cost him about 75 cents to make.

Answer 5

I think its a good idea! Im sure he loves the idea of earning money for his trip. He will probably like the idea of being able to buy his own things.

Here are some ideas of what you can do, you can have him do little chores around the house. LIke helping with dinner or helping set the table, or any type of cleanin or helping you put clothes in the washer and dryer. Anything little like that. Just make sure you are there with him to help him!
You can also make crafts and try to sell them. Im sure family members and friends will love them and buy them!
Find things for him to do around the house. I think its great idea, it teaches your son responsibility and it teaches him hes not going to get everything handed to him. He is young, but he can still help around the house with little chores with your help!
Good luck and have fun!

Answer 6

have him help you with things around the house

maybe this is a good to time to start chores

my daughter is also 3 and she gets an allowance if all her chores get done during the week

her chores are putting away the silverware while i'm putting up dishes,brushing her own teeth,keeping her toys picked up,feeding the dogs,putting her dishes in the sink and making sure her juice boxes are thrown away

she earns a quarter for each chore she does during the day and it goes into a piggy bank for her
and she loves it to

Answer 7

Have him do things around the house to help you and give him a set amount for each thing he does. Like, if he picks up all of his toys without having to be constantly reminded, give him 50 cents. You can get other family members involved. Get him to help clean up the yard, rake leaves, pick up pine cones, etc. He (and you) could even get neighbors to help. He could get a set amount to help neighbors bring in their mail, help feed an animal or other small things he is capable of doing. Of course, he would need you to supervise but you would be teaching him responsibility and showing him that you get rewards for doing good things and being a good helper. And he gets to feel the pride of helping others and of making his own money. He will get to see the results of all of his good actions in the reward of going to Disney and being able to say that he helped raise his own spending money.

Answer 8

he can
set the table (teach him to carry the knives point to the floor, but if concerned stick to forks and spoons and placemats)
put the rubbish in the outside bin (with supervision)
feed the cat/dog
put dirty clothes in the machine
clean up
sweep the floor(didn't say it would be a good job but my kids loved this at that age)
wash the windows (mine loved to help do this, the did the inside I did the outside)
hand you pegs whole hanging out washing
help fold the undies and singlets
wash the plastic utensils in the sink (be prepared to wash the floor after LOL)

at 3 nothing will be a great job but he will have fun. Kids this age love helping and it teaches him to be a part of the family and to respect and understand money.

Answer 9

First, it's a good idea, but I think he's a bit young. It's a cute learning technique tho, but don't expect him to know the value of money and what he could buy in his price range.

I would start by having him help mommy with chores, and pay him coins for it. Like, cleaning up his own toys, helping you do the laundry, eating everything on his plate... it sounds like fun!

Hope you have a blast at DisneyWorld. I'm jealous... that's a long time for a young kid to wait to go (1 year away)

Answer 10

Give him little chores and reward him by it, or if he's currenlty at the stage were he's learning animals, shapes numbers...sit with him, play educational games, for each answer he gets correct reward him with money for his piggy bank. It both gets him excited and educates =]