Sharon Moms Topic: Giving Kids The Credit (Card)

Moms Talk is a new feature on Sharon Patch that is part of a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to moms and families.

Sharon Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Sharon Patch.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How can we help our children's schools weather their budget cutbacks?

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with this question:

How old should children be before they are allowed to shop for their own clothes with your money or charge card?

Sharon Patch Moms Council member Abigail Marsters writes:

We never let our children shop for their own clothes with our money or credit cards.

If we were paying, we were there, not to give opinions or advice but to do the paying and keep them within the budget. They both chose their own clothes from early on.

Both of our kids had jobs by 14 and had started earning their own spending money. If they wanted something I would not afford for them, they could buy it themselves. This went for new clothes as well as "toys" - iPods, Playstation, etc. We always bought all the basic clothing and other necessities and they afforded their own extras.

They learned how to budget their money and make the most of it. It has served them well as they moved away from home and had to figure out how to pay rent, heat and electricity as well as gym memberships, clothing and a social life.

Sharon Patch Moms Council member Susan Cetlin writes:

I would be reluctant to allow my children to borrow my credit card under any circumstances at any age. Being responsible for someone else's credit card is too much responsibility and a set up for problems.

However, providing my middle school or older child a limited amount of cash for shopping is good experience  so they can find out for themselves what things costand they can make their own decisions.