There’s something more than mildly terrifying about a six-year-old running around with a Visa card . . . but apparently, that’s exactly what they SHOULD be doing.  Welcome to modern life.

Here are the big reasons why you should think about throwing out your kid’s piggy bank . . . and start putting their allowance on a debit card instead.

1.  It teaches kids the ACTUAL money management skills they need.  Money today is mostly just numbers on a screen, not cash.  So it makes more sense to prepare your kids for the future by having them use money now the way they’ll use it as adults.

2.  It helps teach kids to budget.  There are actually quite a few good debit cards for kids out there that help teach them budgeting and saving.  Plus when kids are in better control of their money, they naturally start making smarter spending decisions.

3.  It helps them make a stronger connection between work and money.  Most kids debit cards allow parents to reward kids for chores.  That helps kids make a connection between work and earning . . . and makes them appreciate the value of a dollar.

4.  It gets rid of the possibility of a kid spending thousands of your dollars in an online game.  When a kid has their own debit card tied to micropurchases in a game, suddenly they’re less inclined to buy a million Smurf berries.