Should parents continue to finance their children after the children are 18?

Certainly by 18 a transition should start, and probably before that. Young people need to be planning for when they can support themselves. College students will probably need some help from the parents, but even college students should be trying to earn money on breaks. For a young person that is not going to continue their schooling, I would say they have not option to get a job and work hard. In reality, given the energy of youth, they might want to take on a second job. Otherwise, they will just spend everything they make. If a young person can get a good job with a future (not flippin' burgers), then they are at an advantage. Rather than accumulating debt from school loans, they can be stashing money in the bank.

I think that should depend on the situation...Many children are still in college and universities at their 18 and it is not always be possible for them to live on themselves, so it may not always be bad thing if parents continue to finace their children. But if the children are doing nothing, they should not be financed in case they will become ones who eat their head off. I think the most important thing is to teach them to treasure their youth.

In my family there were five siblings. Children are definately growing up differently today. I have heard children tell their parents today that since they did not choose to be born, it was the parents responsibility to support them. that was unheard of when I was a child. Children need to be allowed to spread their wings and parents oftentimes do not allow them to do it by financing them after they are 18. As parents one of the most important things we need to do it to provide environments where children can learn and grow. We need to prepare them so that they can make age appropriate decisions when the time comes. If a child decides that he/she will not continue their education after high school, the child should already know that they have to work to support themselves. If a parent has the money and chooses to pay for a child's post secondary education that is fine although in my opinion the child should already start looking for part time work to begin developing a positive sense of responsibility for their actions. But if a child decides they want to continue their education after high school and the parents cannot afford it, the child should also understand and be ready to work for their dream.

Parents duty is to provide for their children, now the question is until when a parent should provide for their children? I don't think there's age limitation. As long as the children couldn't provide for themselves, like in case of physical or mental handicap,it's the duty of parents to take care of them. A parent don't ceases to be a parent even if all of the children can provide for themselves, but it's also part of good parenting to teach their children to be independent. A parent should not tolerate children ' s dependency but encourage them to stand on their own and give advise on how to achieve independency!

I am 25 years old, i have only older brothers, i am sure that kids are different this days.. Today kids are more: spoiled, Impertinent, and not naives, but they smarter I think we should teach them how to Behave first, like "The Virtue" To let them play out side and not to sit in front of the PC all day long.. Parents should supper their children financially every time they can, but they need to think when it is very important and when it is just Pampering

As an 18 year old, I need the financial aid of my mother. I would prefer it if it were different, though. I would be totally comfortable with having a job where I made my own money, through college, and took out all the loans in my name. However, the FAFSA makes it very hard unless you've claimed yourself as an independent (which has to go through the court) to be financially independent. My student loan amounts are all based on my mothers finances, which I think is totally unfair. Sure, in most cases, parents are going to be willing and supportive of their children. But the FAFSA is based off of both parents, and the only money going to me is coming from my mother. In addition, she has two other children who are going to college in about a year. I really do think that the laws should allow financial independence to 18 year olds, especially considering that we can do almost anything else, expect drink, when we're 18. They consider us old enough to drive, own a house, take out loans, get a credit card, get jobs... why not hold our own when it comes to money?

I still ask my dad for financial help from time to time, but it actually bothers me to have to do so. I am at the age now that I should be taking care of him. Unfortunately, my financial position is really screwed up right now, and it is likely going to be a couple of years before I start to see any real improvement. Maybe by then I will be in a position to repay my dad all the money he has sent me over the years.

As our laws specifically categories what is the age of old people. Most of the countries of the world. They consider 18 as old enough and never threat as young or kid... But we need to understand that we have different culture being uphold. Parents in different countries still support their children even if they are old enough. The reason is that no jobs for them to live alone or being independent...

In our country, here in the Philippines, children aged 18-25 are still living with their parent. We do have close family ties and that's what keep our bonds together. That's the reason most parents do still finance their children not in accordance with the age but with their status.

Up to now I'm still financing my son's college education; this is his second course since his last course is only a two-year course. I felt it is still my obligation. Fortunately I have only two children. Yes the children today are very different compared to the children before. For me the most important thing that we need to teach our children is honesty.

Yes, more and more in the future, you can call 18 year olds a KID. I have a one year old nephew - all he know is just play, sleep, eat, be entertained. Well, having perspectives from a developed country like US, there seems to be a culture here: When you're 18, you're out. It means 18 year olds are expected to move out of their parent's house, go to college/university, and possibly start earning money. Not necessarily all of those above need to happen, but it is expected that 18 year olds would move out of the house. Nowadays, with the struggling economy affecting more and more 18 year olds are staying at home, possibly with the condition that they need to start providing themselves. As far as financing children over 18, it depends on many parents. Especially nowadays, parents who are struggling financially may just have to tell their grown-ups: "Son/Daughter, you're gonna have to get yourself some dough" (something like that). Parents would probably help daughters more than sons (not sure about this). I'm not a parent, but I think things should go back to basics. Some parents may not be teaching their kids some manners, probably because they don't have manners themselves. It's like they don't have respect for some authority figures (I'm not talking cops). Also, teaching responsibility covers many things like cleaning up your plate, rather than wasting food in the garbage disposal. Well, there are plenty of other things to discuss about teaching children to be responsible. ....

The most important things for me to teach my children are independently, morality, hardworking and faithful to their parents. In my opinion, the parents should continue to finance their children if the parents are afford to do so. Financial support to our children after their 18 should be done at the beginning for them to get the most basic to survive. For instance, I shall buy a car, a home and provide some money to my children when they are just after 18 years old so that they can have a good start in their career. Later, I should ask them to work independently and never expect to get the support from the parents anymore. The parents can not accompany and support them for the whole life.

There are 5 kids in my family of which I am the youngest. I think parents should continue to finance their kids after their children turn 18. I feel like they should contribute to their children's college funds and see them through until they get a good paying job. I saw on change.org a story of a homeless 18 year old who got kicked out of his mom's house on his 18th birthday. That just really saddens me. I don't think kids are that much different from when I was a kid. We need to teach our kids right and wrong and general morality and rules of conduct.

I only have one sibling and it is my sister. I do think children are different today then they were when I was younger because they are used to having more things now because of technology changing so much, like cell phones and video games. I think it depends on the situation if the parent should still support a child that is 18 or over if they are still in school maybe the parents need to still finance the child so they have more time with school or college. Have a good day!

For me if there son and daughter don't have a job then they support for it if not then they don't gave money.

we need to teach our children independence and not to use credit card if they want something it means alot more if they earn the money there self instead of handing everything to them

Parents still support their children after 18 in India, they support their child till the time s/he is independent and got a job. This is a common culture in India that childrens stay with the parents even if they are earning and age is not a concern but sometime parents are not staying together just because son/daughter is not employed or doing business in the same city. As a Parent I would like to see my son/daughter being able to live a standard life with honesty. Would like to teach honest as the best policy Thank You for sharing.

This is depend on many circumstances. Children are from different background and financial backgrounds. Also, their general condition is basically depend on the family environment and many would be in colleges or in the edge of higher education. Only few are able to do some kind of part time job or studies. Also, it all depend on the country or the areas they belongs. If in developed countries or people from city areas, they may be easily find out any kind of jobs as part time or evening jobs and while studying they can manage and their miscellaneous expenses can be maintained through their small income. But it is not sure and practically impossible for all. Especially girls and if they are pursuing the studies, they may find difficulties to make money and parents should help for them and treat them as their young children only. Once they are out of education and obtained a job, then this question has importance. Otherwise, as long as they don't have a job, the parents should help them and try to get a job also for them and it is the part of their job to place them to a better of conditions. Thank-s

As a 20-year-old girl, I still get financial help from my parents. But not all the time, I work to pay my rent, buy food. They sometimes come to my city to visit and give me some money to ask me for taking some training class. As a pride girl i am, i can accept that.

It depends, every situation is different. If the kid is a lazy bum who doesn't try to do anything on his own, then no, he needs a wake up call. However, if the kid is going to college, but barely making it by with his bills, then sure a little help here and there wouldn't hurt. The most important thing, which sounds cliche, is teaching kids the importance of a dollar.