What age do you let your kids charge?

[H20Babie]

I'm thinking of not bringing so much cash/traveller's cheques this year for my son (he's been saving up allowance), and rather set up his KTTW card in order for him to charge. What age did you start letting your kids "charge"?

Or, do you think ordering a Disney Gift Card is a better option?

Thanks :wave:

 

[tigsmom]

Our kids always had their own money that they could use for the goodies they wanted, but at about age 10 we gave them charging privileges for food. That way they could head to the snack bar for something and we didn't have to be with them. My oldest is 20 and will still call and ask to charge something to the room ( if she doesn't have the cash with her) and will pay us back later. Princess #2 is 13 and will do the same, but we usually have to wait longer to be repaid.

 

[Monty]

DS has had charge privileges on his KTTW card since we've been going. First trip he was six. He was never separated from me for even a moment and never used the card until he was 12. I gave him instructions if he was lost to find a CM and tell them he was lost and then while they tried to contact me, he could get himself something to eat if he wanted.

I think he's only ever charged snacks. :lol:

 

[Bug715]

I think I've always been able to charge. When I was little I was always with my parents so they knew what I was buying. It was a fun thing to be able to charge it. When I got older (when we started staying at the boardwalk) my parents would let me go to the gift shop without her. They would just make sure that I paid them back for whatever I charged. I really don't think I bought a lot back then. Now that I go by myself I never make it an option because spending my cash is my way to know how much I've spent.

 

[smk]

I feel bad about saying this but the first time I gave charging privledges to my kids was when we took them as teens (late teens, like junior/senoir age). We were always together before that and if they needed anything, we were there. I never thought to give them a charge card for anything at home so it never crossed my mind to give them a card on vacation. :shrug:

 

[H20Babie]

No, my son has never used a charge card; however, he has received and used gift cards on occasion. My mom and best friend are coming with us (along with my friend's two children), and should we go separate ways for whatever reason (bathroom, food, etc.), I don't want them to have to use their own money and have to pay them back/square up/track purchases.

 

[disneygirl76]

Even I can't be trusted with the ability to charge inside the walls of WDW! And i'm the one that does the budget! ha ha I think although a good lesson and an important lesson for all kids to learn - the temptations may be too great at WDW - even for the stongest! I would go with a gift card. Maybe take his allowance and put it on a gift card. He will feel like he is charging but can't do too much damage. And if you can, maybe match what he saved or throw in $20 on top of it just to show how great it is the he is learning to save before a vaca. We actually do the gift cards - b/c we don't like all those travelers checks either.

 

[Philo]

Only you can know the answer to this. I would never give a child a KTTW card unless they fully understood the concept of money and were aware they couldn't just buy everything.

That said, if you never plan on being seperated from your kids during the trip then I don't see the harm and it might help them learn about money etc.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Gift Card all the way! you can get insurance on it so if it's lost it will be replaced.

 

[H20Babie]

Gift Card all the way! you can get insurance on it so if it's lost it will be replaced.

I didn't know that, thanks. Is that with a Disney gift card or a Visa/MC type gift card?

 

[kstella]

I would go with gift cards. If they were to loose the KTTW card, who knows what kind of hassle you could end up with? Gift card limits any possible loss and would minimize lost card hassle. You could buy Disney gift cards to make it more fun than a regular plain old gift card.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

I didn't know that, thanks. Is that with a Disney gift card or a Visa/MC type gift card?

I'm not sure about the Disney gift cards, but I'm pretty sure Visa/MC both have the insurance option. You may want to check with your bank first I am apprehensive about buying the Giftcards in the grocery store.

 

[shoppingnut]

I gave my nephew the kttw card the very first trip we were down when he as 8. I also don't put alot of credit on the kttw card either, usually $100-$200. We were never separated, but if he wanted to walk up to a stand and get a water or whatever while I was relaxing on a bench he could without me having to stand there with him. It really made things easier.

This experience helped him understand about money.