Mom: I charge my five-year-old 'rent' to teach her a life lesson

If you're a parent, you would know that other than teaching your child the basics, there are many important life lessons you need to impart. Those include; 'the birds and the bees', getting your heart broken, and, yes, paying bills. 

Read: Are parents spoiling their kids too much?

This is the case for Essence Evans, who took to her Facebook page recently admitting to charging her five-year-old daughter rent in an effort to teach her about money and the real world. Every week she gives her $7 (about R85) and deducts money off for rent, water, electricity, TV, and even food.

It's only once the 'bills' are paid that her daughter can enjoy what is left as her own to spend on whatever she chooses to.

While the original post was met with mixed reaction, Essence's strategy is to help her daughter save by storing her daughter's 'rent' money away for her future. She sees it as her helping her child understand the real world, even at such a young age.

Some have praised her for her smart-thinking approach and her choice to teach her daughter about real life lessons from the beginning. 

However, others have called her out on her strategy - some even going on to say that it's absurd that she would do something like this.

What do you make of Essence's strategy - genius or just absurd? Parents, would you consider implementing this in your household? Share your thoughts with Bongani and Mags! 

Also read: Parents, here's why your kids should never cross behind a bus!