Each week at church we have “children's church” for kids up through fifth grade. This gives the kids a church experience that's a little bit more suited for their age so that the grownups can concentrate on the message without constantly telling their young kids to be quiet.
And just like the parents' church, the children's church has an offering. Our four-year-old daughter asked for money to give in the offering.
When my wife told me this, it didn't take too long for me to ask if it was the right time for some kind of allowance. (Aside from the fact that I was very happy that my daughter thought to ask us. This is a good sign, I think!)
Now, I didn't receive an allowance until I was quite a bit older, but I'm wondering about what kind of message it sends to my daughter to give money to her to put into the offering without also instilling that it comes out of what we have (or, more precisely, what God has given us stewardship over). Hence the allowance: to keep the math easy, 50 cents a week, 5 of which goes to the offering, some of which goes into savings (or groceries?) and the rest that she can spend or save as she wants.
Maybe I'm overthinking this, and I should just be thankful that my daughter wants to give at church. Still though, part of me wonders if she wants to give mainly because everyone else around her is giving, and needs a little more appreciation of what she's doing.
Any thoughts?
I think you are overthinking it a bit. The kid wants to do a right thing, so just let her do it
Don’t just give her money to pass along. Either give her an allowance or it’s time for chores and she can earn it. Either way, a tithe comes from what your earn or gain. I think the sacrificial part is key. She should give from her increase, not yours.
I don’t think it is too early for children to learn about tithing or saving money.
You can give her an allowance for picking up her toys, and teach her to give 10% of that to the children’s church and put the rest in her piggy bank to save.
I agree with Jamie and Michele… it’s never too early to start. Let your daughter give part of her own money that she has earned herself. Simply giving her money to give at church doesn’t reinforce the idea that we are giving sacrificially from what we have earned. We give my 3 year old a reward when he successfully completes all 8 tasks on his “responsibility chart” (being nice, putting away toys, brushing teeth, etc). He is then allowed to give whatever he wants from his “money cup” at church.
@Jeff, I would like to know more about this responsiblity chart 🙂
My eight-year old son receives $5.00 each Monday. He puts $1.00 in each of 2 envelopes- “give to the church” and “save in the bank.” The other $3.00 is his to spend how he wants. With the money his grandparents float him 🙂 it doesn’t take him long to save up for something nice while tithing on his income.
My local church leaders often encourage parents to give their children a task which they will get paid for so they can pay tithing on it. Thus, I don’t think an allowance is necessary in order for her to have money to give, but I do think it should be money she has earned in some way.
I am so blessed to hear a dad as concerned as you are. I think you’re right on. I mean, I think when a child is old enough to ask for something at the store, they’re old enough to be taught to earn a little bit, and give back to God, learn to save, and then spend what’t left of their own money. We’ve done our generation of children a huge disservice by handing evertything over to them without teaching any principles or values. It sounds to me like you’re hearing from the Voice of Truth 🙂