"earning" a big purchase?

[ijack]

We'd like to buy DD a big girl bike, but she's already had her bday and Christmas is months away. Any ideas on how to help her earn it instead of it just being something we buy her? I feel like she gets stuff all the time and doesn't really understand that we shouldn't buy everything we want. I don't know if I want her to help her pay for it (I mean she's 4) or "earn" it through her actions.
Thoughts?

[anna7602]

At that age, it's hard. I would probably try to tie it into some special event. Does she have a preschool graduation coming up? Or has she been trying to master some other major skill you can celebrate (writing her own name, etc.)?

[vanillacourage]

I've seen stuff on Pintrest where kids get a certain number of "coins" throughout the day for chores, doing what you ask the first time, not whining, etc - and have the same coins taken away for bad stuff. At the end of the day the number of coins they have left is added up - they bank coins throughout the week or month and at a certain point cash them in for a special activity, new toy, etc.

[madringal]

How about having her gather up some toys to donate in exchange for a bike?

[Deleted]

Maybe do it in conjunction with a behavior chart? Points earned for no whining, ect.?

[definitelyO]

for things like a big girl bike we would just buy it and not have DS earn it. I see that more as a right of passage vs. just a toy. But - for other things like legos, trucks, stickers, games - we would have him "earn" it. I think at that age we would work on eating dinners, not getting up from the table, using his manners, stuff that we try to enforce anyway. we started an allowance just after DS turned 6 and so now with some stuff he does have to pay for it.

[CloudBee]

Doing a task like helping you load the non-sharp silverware into the dishwasher every day for a week? Or helping to empty bathroom trash cans or something, while you follow her?

Carry her laundry to the drop off point every day for a week or two, if she doesn't already?

She could use a Swiffer mop.

My dad used to make me sit on the walkway and pick weeds from the cracks. Then I would get dimes. Maybe do something like that and pay her, then have her give you the money back to go towards the bike?

What about dusting? Low areas, and safe areas like bookshelves w/no breakables?

Be responsible for putting recyclables (not sharp cans) into their spot in the garage or bin, etc., at the end of each day for a week or two?

I would pick something slightly out of her comfort zone. I don't have kids, but nannied, and having them help in areas they weren't accustomed to, was the best way to increase their willingness to help when I needed them to at the drop of a hat. They never felt like a request was outside of their responsibility "zone".

[ijack]

Jun 11, 2012 16:21:19 GMT -5 definitelyO said:

for things like a big girl bike we would just buy it and not have DS earn it. I see that more as a right of passage vs. just a toy. But - for other things like legos, trucks, stickers, games - we would have him "earn" it. I think at that age we would work on eating dinners, not getting up from the table, using his manners, stuff that we try to enforce anyway. we started an allowance just after DS turned 6 and so now with some stuff he does have to pay for it.

I generally agree with this, but for some reason I don't want to just out right buy it. I feel like she has no concept of earning things (which is largely our fault) and since I'm not very good at waiting for gratification she isn't either.

[cjeanette]

We do sticker charts. It could be tied to a behavior that needs work or a chore...or both.