A Baby Costs $785 a Month Lesson Plan

Introduction

During this lesson, students will be able to explain the responsibilities of being a parent and how important parental responsibility is in raising a child.

Taking care of a baby is hard for anyone, regardless of their age, but teen parents may have a more difficult time with finances, parenting skills, and future job and educational plans.

Additionally, studies show that fathers are important. The role of a father is so important that just by being involved in the lives of his children, a father can improve their health and well being:

  • The more involved a father is in the routine activities of his children, the fewer behavioral problems and better school performance those children will have (Child Trends Inc. What do father contribute to children’s well being? www.childtrends.org).
  • A father can still be a good dad and role model for his children even if he does not live in the same home. Over 16 million American children live in homes without their biological father (Arlene F. Saluter Marital Status and Living Arrangements: March 1994, US Bureau of Census).
  • Children that do not have their fathers in their lives are at greater risk for drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, teenage pregnancy and other risky behaviors (Ibid).
  • Seventy-six percent of teen births are to unmarried teens which means very few children of adolescent parents live in homes with both the biological mother and father (Annie E. Casey Foundation, A Kids Count Special Report, 1999).

Breakdown of Cost Activity-20 minutes

  1. Instruct students to take out a sheet of paper and write down all of the things that they do that requires money within a week. Some examples may be a magazine subscription, buying lunch while you’re at school, snacks before/after school, gas, or transportation money.
  2. Next add the numbers together to see how much you spend each week. Multiply that number by four to figure out approximately how much you spend each month.
    For example (USE CHALKBOARD): If you spend $15 a week $15 each week X 4 weeks = $60 each month.
  3. Next show the students the poster “A Baby Costs”. Ask the students if they would have enough money left over each month to also support a baby.
  4. Display or copy Attachment A and discuss with students.
  5. Ask students to calculate the total cost of raising a child in each age group per month and per week based on Attachment A. Students can also calculate the percentage of the amount spent from a parent’s annual income raising a child.
    Examples:
    A) Age 3-5: $5,770/12=$480.83 per month$5,770/52=$110.96 per week.
    B) The percentage of the annual income spent on a child age 3-5: $5,770/$15,400X100=7.5%.
    Have students calculate the amount of allowance or money from a job they make each year by multiplying the average allowance or salary they get each month by twelve. Moderator may use one students’ allowance as an example to work through on the chalkboard. After students have finished, ask the following questions and record some of the answers on the chalkboard.
    How many students have any money left over to raise a child?
    How much extra would you need to earn each month to raise a child?
    How would you get the money?
    What would you have to give up?

Note: The estimated cost for health care does not take into consideration any possible health problems or injuries the child may have. Teens are at a higher risk for having unhealthy infants that need a lot of medical care due to the lack of prenatal care. Many teen mothers either do not receive prenatal care or receive it too late in the pregnancy. Also, children of teen parents are more likely to suffer from accidental injuries such as a broken leg because of the lack of supervision.

Teaching Note: Single-parent families at this income level are used due to the fact that over 70% of teen births occur to women who are not married, and the income of many teen parents is below the poverty level. Make sure Students understand that the more money a family makes the more money they spend on their children. For example, according to the USDA report, in husband and wife families that make an average of $49,000 per year, the total amount spent on children between the ages of 0-2 is $8,450; the total amount spent on children between the ages of 3-5 is $8,660. Also note that parents are legally responsible for their children from 0-18 years. As the child ages, the amount of money spent per year increases. For instance, between the ages of 15-17, the estimated annual cost of raising a child for a single-parent family with an average income of $15,400 is $7,240.