Giving money to a child at Christmas: good or bad idea? For Vincent Joly, psychologist and psychotherapist, there are not only disadvantages. However, if you’re planning on getting this Christmas gift, here’s what you should check beforehand.
Offer cash or check to a child as a Christmas present is quite common, especially if you want to please teenagers. For Vincent Joly, psychologist and psychotherapist, this is neither a good nor a bad idea. Generally, “Children are overwhelmed by the amount of gifts they receive and often cannot name them all. For this reason, it is not so crazy to give a child money.” the psychologist explains to us. Furthermore, behind this gift, there is an educational dimension in the relationship with money. The child can better understand the value of money. On the other hand, with this type of gift, we lose a little “this symbolic dimension of the gift and the idea that we have thought of the other, of what could please them, there is something less materialistic in money.” Disappointment can also be present, particularly in younger children for whom money is more abstract. In this case, the magic of Christmas can lose its splendor among the youngest.
So, at what age should you give money at Christmas? In general, from the moment when the child has a more or less concrete relationship with money, when he begins to make purchases for himself with his parents, offering him money is coherent. There is no general rule, nor a precise age, it can be during adolescence, just like around 9-10 years old, as long as the child is aware of what money is.
Think about this detail before giving money at Christmas
Also, before giving money to a child as a gift, consider asking what the parents think. “You have to be careful and know beforehand if the child’s parents agree to offer this type of gift. Because it can be a little annoying to give money to children when their parents are going to see it as a very materialistic gesture”, explains the specialist. On the other hand, you can accompany the envelope containing the money or the check with a note intended for the child to explain the reasons for this gift. Example : “We’re giving you this money so you can buy the guitar you’ve always dreamed of…”
Furthermore, to prevent the child from spending his money without thinking, we can give him some kind advice. “You can take your child into a project, for example, ask him what he wants to do with this money, show him what he can have, this automatically shifts towards a more educational dimension. L“child becomes a little more aware of the value of money.” He may also feel a little more responsible and taken into consideration. Depending on the education desired by the parents, they can control or not how their offspring spends the money they receive. What matters is that it has been thought out in advance with the child. And if the child spends his money in an unreasonable way, he will also learn from his mistakes…
How much money to give a child for Christmas?
As for how much to donate, there isn’t really a specific amount. According to the specialist, “the value of the gift depends enormously on the families and their income, as well as their budget allocated for Christmas”. The question of the amount of money can be complex when there are competitive issues, particularly between separated parents. To avoid discord and repercussions that may indirectly affect the child, it is recommended that adults agree on the amount of money to offer them. The key is that the amount is consistent with the social environment of the family, but also with what the child was used to receiving in previous Christmases.
Thank you to psychologist Vincent Joly for answering our questions.