The subject of
children and money has been a frequent topic on my site since the beginning of 2010. I think there are more products and books popping up about teaching children to be financially responsible than ever before. There are different approaches, but the goals are all the same . . . to teach children to save and donate at least a portion of their money.
Feeding Penny Pig is written by author, financial planner, and grandparent
Jeannine Fox. This book is about getting young children, who do not have a firm understanding of finances, to be excited about saving money by using a form of pretend play. The little girl in the story receives a special pig named Penny for her birthday from her grandmother. This pig needs to be fed coins daily so it will not be hungry. So the little girl is excited to put pennies in Penny Pig and is willing to do chores daily to earn these pennies.
This story is based on Fox's own experience with her granddaughters, who each have a Penny Pig. When the pigs' bellies get full, Fox helps them roll the coins to take to the bank, minus 10% which goes to charity. I think this concept would go hand-in-hand with the technique of spending only paper money and putting all one's coins in a jar (or in this case a pig). There is no reason why a child who has started earning his or her weekly allowance cannot adopt the Penny Pig way of saving money. As demonstrated in this storybook, children who have not yet begun to receive an allowance can easily earn coins by doing small chores around the house, such as feeding the family pet or sweeping.
Feeding Penny Pig would make an excellent gift for when a child receives his or her first piggy bank. Both the story and the illustrations by David Bamberg do an excellent job of making the whole experience of receiving a special piggy bank an exciting and magical one by bringing Penny Pig to life. I think this book is suitable for children ages 3 to 6. Children older than 6 may enjoy the book, but it depends on the child's ability to imagine that a piggy bank can feel happy, sad, and hungry.
This book is making me consider buying pigs for our 3yr old twins. They need some encouragement when it comes to responsibilities, such as cleaning up their toys. Perhaps having the chance to earn coins to feed their own pigs daily would be incentive to be more serious about this task?
Thank you to Phenix & Phenix for sending us a review copy of this book free of charge to base this article upon and for providing another book for our contest prize.
What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive hardcover copy of the picture storybook Feeding Penny Pig.
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.
How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment telling me at least one thing you think a young child can do around the house to earn coins to feed their piggy bank. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.
Extra Entries:
1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.
2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.
3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND MimisFunhouse.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.
4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.
5) For 2 extra entries, share the link to this contest post on Facebook. Then leave TWO separate comments with the link to your Facebook profile.
6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.
7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.
8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
11) Add my Blogoversary Celebration tag to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)
Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.
Good luck in the drawing!
The subject of children and money has been a frequent topic on my site since the beginning of 2010. I think there are more products and books popping up about teaching children to be financially responsible than ever before. There are different approaches, but the goals are all the same . . . to teach children to save and donate at least a portion of their money.
