I love you. |
I didn't let my DD start doing that until the end of 7th grade, and stressed NOT to get "the better deal" by upgrading to a bigger cup - to always get the small. And I give her very little money. |
My kid only goes occasionally. It’s part of discussing healthy food choices and budgeting. “If you go with your friends to Starbucks that’s $5 less you have to put toward that bike helmet you want. Is the delay worth it?”
And honestly I have more conversations with him about how to behave appropriately with his friends. Don’t be so loud! My son has an allowance and uses that. In high school I’ll get him a debit card as the next step up for money management. |
Lol you make your kid buy their own bike helmet? |
My 8th grade DD goes on Fridays. It’s walkable from her school. She has allowance, birthday money and an occasional $5 from me. I swear half the school is there. To me, it’s an age-appropriate level of independence. |
Op here and I’m giggling about caribou and bubble tea being gateway drugs ![]() The advice is very helpful! Thanks. |
It's part of living in the city. My DS walked to the bakery in elementary school and spent his allowance there. I try to explain why caffeine and sugar bombs are unhealthy, but we really can't control what they eat after school. So now that he's in MS, he buys Gatorade and crappy chips at 7-11. But with his money, not mine. |
+1 We joke that it's like the 21st century version of the soda shop/diner/ice cream parlor. It's just a place for them to hang out and feel a little bit independent. |
My son also started this type of thing in 7th. We live in a very walkable neighborhood and they will walk over for ice cream at the gelato shop or Dunkins once a month or so, usually not gone very long. Just 1 or 2 other really nice kids that all live within blocks. Sometimes they walk their dogs after school together. There was a different BIG crowd in 6th grade that used to stay late after MS which isn’t close to our house and the stories that got back to me were that the group wasn’t so innocent. I want comfortable with that in 6th at 11/12 years old. Luckily, my kid’s sport practices weren’t conducive to the meet up and it is too far without a ride. Op, I’d be worried about how often they were going for the calories alone—Frappuccino’s and all of those Starbucks snacks drinks are a big part of why young teens are so much heavier than their parents were at the same age. |
How do you manage what they spend?
It isn’t so hard to limit accesss to cash or demand accountability since the kid is tooo young for their own account. So you will have on-line access. If kid spends too much on drinks, say no to that cute shirt. |
I gave my 8th grader $5 each week. He quickly discovered that Starbucks was overpriced. Mission accomplished. |
When they want a “cooler” one than what I got him, yeah. He collects them like some kids collect sneakers. |
See I heard it was Tropical Smoothie that led to vaping and EDM. Sorry PO but I have it on good authority that bubble tea and teen pregnancy have a +90% correlation rate |
Like $5? |
My kids get an allowance. If they choose to spend it on Starbucks - that's their choice. My kid also got a debit card linked to a savings account going into 7th grade, so that's how he keeps track of allowance and whether he has $$ for Starbucks or otherwise going out with friends for a burger etc. Our agreement is that we only pay for Starbucks if we are there with him. |