Not in this Mini-Economy

Last summer, we did a refresher post on Chores and Teaching Money Management. In mine and Mary’s households, we wanted to build in some type of money management structure because how money is handled now is vastly different than it was 30 years ago.

First, we don’t carry cash. I’m not actually sure how my kids think paying by card works. Any cash they directly receive comes from gifts and goes into a piggybank.

Second, I rarely give my kids the opportunity to spend money. That means, they don’t come with me running errands or stopping at Target. Whenever we do go shopping, or if we’re on vacation and they have the option to get a souvenir, they want EVERYTHING!!!

Obviously, how kids learn about money is going to be different from family to family. Learning about money management in school is also generally reserved for older kids. I remember a field trip we took in 8th grade about picking a job with a set salary and you had to make it through the month watching your budget and balancing your checkbook.

Through my work email, I got a Substack invite from Dr. Stephen Day, a Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and Director of the VCU Center for Economic Education. He was hosting a webinar on how to use Bluey to teach kids economics. I loved this approach and his writing topics, so signed up for another webinar on Mini-Economy at Home.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2024: Things Mary Would Love

As the holiday season approaches, my friends and family inevitably ask, “What do you want for Christmas?”
Honestly, I never know how to respond. Since I usually buy what I need or want as part of the never-ending Mom To-Do list, it’s hard to come up with thoughtful gift ideas. But this year, social media has definitely given me some inspiration. So call me influenced.

Here are the things I (would) love this holiday season:

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Holiday Gift Guide 2024: Child(ish) Reads

We’re ending the week with books for kids 0-10. Publishing categories fairly closely match up with age groups, so we’re listing books by type this time. It also should go without saying that these should be physical books. We would hold off with eBooks until middle school, or when your kid can read on a device without it affecting their vision or attention.

Here are our book picks for 2024:

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Holiday Gift Guide 2024: Middle Grades 8+

This category is new for us but TBH, the toys and games in this age range have upped their game in the last couple of years.

Around ages 8-12, kids make big strides in many areas of development. Their skill refinement allows for:

  • Improved attention, problem solving, and critical thinking
  • The ability to strengthen friendships and resolve conflicts more efficiently
  • Participation in skill-based activities requiring refined motor movements
  • The ability to express themselves more clearly
  • Increased independence and thought

Here are our recommendations for kids 8+:

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Holiday Gift Guide 2024: Preschool and Early Elementary

This has got to be the largest list we’ve put together to date, but not just because we love toys.

Kids at this age are achieving key developmental milestones and improving their executive functions, allowing for better focus and memory. As they continue to refine their skills, they enjoy social play, seek friendly competition, pursue independence by testing limits, try new things, and make new friends.

Not only did we pick a ton of toys and games geared towards these age-range skills, but we also chose practical items to encourage independence, and bigger, family-friendly gifts that include your littlest.

Here are our gift picks for kids 3-7:

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