In this age we live, it is cheap and easy to discard things when they are soiled or slightly damaged.
 This is sending a message to our kids, this message says that we don't have to value our possessions, as they are easily disposable.
Besides, Daddy or Mummy can effortlessly snap up a new one.
  What's wrong with that? You ask, and rightly so.
 After all, isn't this just an extension of our prosperous life styles? But this throw away mentality doesn't end at material goods, it soon permeates all aspects of our lives and seep into friendships, education, and work.
 When we teach our kids that little things are worth our time, we can extend this to larger, more important issues, which will affect their attitude towards money in the long run.
  Help them to wash items of clothing or shoes - runners for example, instead of throwing them out when they are filthy.
 The simple action of renewal (of washing or repairing) sends a message that we are responsible for what we have.
 We don't worship our possessions, as in the wider scheme of things they are only material gains, but it's important to take care of them and realise that they were bought with hard earned money.
  During the school breaks, before you go away on holiday, spend a day helping them to clean runners, repairing school uniforms, sewing buttons etc.
 Soon, they can do these things on their own.
    The point of this exercise is not to save the items themselves, but to save our children from a mentality of total disregard of anything which is a little bothersome, things which will eventually graduate from the dirt on the cap, to homework at school, difficult college papers, the mundane, aggravating task of filling in job application forms, and ultimately, the difficulties which sometimes crop up in marriages.
  Our kids need to learn that it is okay to be patient and work things through, because lots of things in life could be worth saving, if only we could spare it a little attention.
 The first time I showed my kids how to fill up a bucket of warm water, pour some washing powder in, and use it a little brush to clean their runners, they were amazed at the result.
  This exercise was not about the runners at all.
We could easily afford to buy new ones when the old ones look shabby.
 It was to teach them a lesson about taking care of what you own, and how putting effort into things which look lost, can restore and rejuvenate them.
    This lesson needs to be taught, because later in life, when situations looks slightly wasted and dirty, they will not be so willing to throw in the towel.
As a result of our dedicated training, they will understand that under that layer of dirt, lies a lamp of sparkling value, if they could only take the time and effort to rub and polish it.