Kids are spoiled and parents know it, and the lessons learned at home could help shape-or lead to misshapen-attitudes toward money in youngsters' later years.
A poll done by Cookie magazine and AOL Money & Finance found that 94% of parents believe American children are spoiled, and 55% think their own kids are part of the problem.
Poll results from more than 1,500 respondents indicate that nearly 20% of parents give their children weekly cash allowance without them earning it through regular chores or other responsibilities. Almost 40% said they reward a huge accomplishment-such as straight A's in school-with money, while only 4% of parents polled made their children give part of their allowance to charity.
On the plus side, 69% of parents insist that half of any money a child gets goes into a savings account. That could add up, considering the poll found that 13% of kids earn $15 or more a week in allowance.
"With parents having children later in life, there is more disposable income floating around," said Pilar Guzman, editor-in-chief of Cookie, a family lifestyle magazine published by Conde Nast Publications. "It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children the value of a dollar, as well as the importance of giving to those less fortunate.
In the spirit of fiscal responsibility, just 11% of surveyed parents have given their children ATM cards, and 59% do not plan on doing so until they turn 16 years old.