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That’s what motivated Alisa Weinstein to write “Earn it, Learn It: Teach Your Child the Value of Money, Work, and Time Well Spent.” As The Washington Post puts it, the concept of the book is that “Instead of paying her daughter an allowance to do chores around the house, she would pay her to test-drive real careers.” Weinstein’s goal was for her 4-year-old daughter, Mia, to start understanding more about different jobs and know how to manage her money. Plus, she could use the money she earned to buy herself the lip gloss she always begged her mom for and no doubt use the fun activities to explore different interests and careers as she grows up.
If your kids are bored at home this summer, or you want to help them find new things to explore and learn, you can quite literally take a page from Weinstein’s book. She offers over a thousand fun and engaging activities for kids ages 4–12, which can also help instill a lifelong love of learning. I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up, I had no idea about the sheer breadth of job possibilities out there. I saw what my parents did and knew some of my friends’ parents had cool jobs, but learning about different kinds of vocations at a young age would have been beneficial. Weinstein also says it helps to address issues of entitlement that can crop up with kids. Having jobs as a young person — whether you’re working for someone else or for your parents — is a vital part of learning important values for the future. If this seems too early to start your kiddos thinking about jobs and work, just remember one of the most common questions kids hear: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Chores and summer jobs are a great place to start helping them think about the future, but Weinstein’s book also broadens our perspectives about encouraging kids to be self- sufficient and responsible. Whether you’re the one out mowing the lawn, or you’re able to kick your feet up while the kids push the mower around, I hope your summer is off to a great start.
What do your kids know about the Fourth of July? Do they know it’s a day when you have a barbecue, spend time with friends and neighbors, and watch a fireworks show? These hallmarks of the holiday certainly do make it fun and memorable, but they don’t really exemplify why we celebrate the Fourth of July, the anniversary of when the United States declared its independence from Britain. So, along with the sparklers and hot dogs, here are a few fun facts about Independence Day you can share with your kids to help them understand the significance of the holiday. The Fourth of July marks our country’s independence because it’s when the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. This fact might seem like a no-brainer, but it contextualizes the holiday for kids. It’s a great jumping off point to talk about why the United States wanted to be its own country, what the Continental Congress was, what the Declaration of Independence said, and what it means to “ratify” something. Fun Facts About the Fourth of July You Can Share With Your Kids
Two future presidents signed the Declaration of Independence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They both died exactly 50 years later, on July 4, 1826. This fact is an interesting coincidence sure to fascinate both kids and adults. It’s also a great way to introduce kids to some of the Founding Fathers and share how they helped shape the United States today. In 1776, the year the United States was founded, only 2.5 million people lived here. Today, the U.S. population is 331 million. Lots of people have been born in the United States since it was founded, and millions more came here from other places, hoping to find a better life. Many succeeded, too. Many people want to call this country home! On the Fourth of July, around 155 million hot dogs are eaten in the United States. Okay, so this fact might not have anything to do with American history, but it’s still pretty funny! If anything, the fact that we have so many hot dogs to eat on that day is evidence of the prosperity so many people enjoy in the United States of America.
2 • www.lawyersreadytofight.com
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