One tooth out and hurray goes the child that lost it. Dashing to the parents, this child expects lots of money and gifts from the fairy. Well, that’s what some households call it. In my house though, it’s the house mouse that gives these kinds of goodies.
The one who lost their tooth has to dance for the mouse and attract its attention.
Daddy’s job is to look for the special drum (which we hung in one corner of the house) and ask everyone to tie funky clothes around their waists. We then make a circle and put the one who lost their tooth in the middle. And because we’ve learned this song by heart we jump into the ritual with excitement.
“Sir Mr. Mighty rat please wake up from your dream, retire from work, come back to your hole; I left something precious for you. I am expecting anything as equally precious in return,” we dance and sing over and over again. We place the tooth in that usual dark corner and walk out of the house (because we don’t want Mr. Mouse to get shy) when he brings money which he actually does in minutes. Hahaa!
Now, let’s ignore the other gifts that you deliver as if you were the mouse/ fairy. Let’s look at the cash.
Do you help your children make decisions on how to spend this money? How about when that generous visitor leaves your child with some change, when you sometimes carry your child to work and pay them some little money to motivate them for the services offered, do you follow up?
Is a piggy bank an existent item at your house? It is never too early to teach your children how to save and a piggy bank comes in handy because it is a fun way for them to save.
One way to teach children how to save is for them to have goals. Ask them what they want to buy, maybe a new toy. Instead of buying the toy, give them the money in bits or pay them for chores and this will teach them that you can save money for a particular goal.
Just like a bank will reward you with interest on your savings account, you can reward your children for saving. Give them money and ask them to save it for a particular period of time, if they don’t spend it on treats like ice cream and sweets, reward them and you will inculcate a saving culture in them.
Just like they expect money from Mr. Mouse or the tooth fairy whenever they lose a tooth, they can learn that not all money earned is to be spent immediately. That way, they will grow up with a culture of saving.