Fun with Money
Author: Arleen M. Kaptur
Ah, a child's world - full of magic and fun. As
parents, grandparents, and other assorted
relatives, a child's conception, understanding,
and knowledge of money comes in many forms.
There are birthday and holiday gifts, going
shopping with grandma, and even helping a
small child select a gift for mom and dad.
While on the surface all this is just fine and
good, have you ever stopped to think exactly
what you are teaching this small person about
finances and money - knowledge that will last
them a lifetime and either make life easier to
handle or more difficult.
Money sure doesn't grow on trees - but to
today's small children, it does come out of
machines. Mom or Dad just press some
magic keys and a whole bunch of money
comes out -
In a store, a small plastic fit-in-your-hand card
will get you anything from candy to a new outfit.
Kids have a lot of fun playing grown-up and
using credit cards and taking cash from ATM's -
but do they know that the credit card bill has to
be paid, or that the money from the machine is
really your money - first placed in an account,
then being able to be taken out.
Even the smallest of children can understand
some basic facts about money. A lost glove or
shoe will result in a trip to the store and money
paid out for shoes or gloves.
School lunches cost money and the teacher will
collect that evelope before the child gets a meal.
The friendly person behind the counter at
McDonald's will not give you your food until
you give them some pieces of paper and some
metal coins.
You are not taking the fun out of an outing if you
do visit an ATM or use a credit card with a child.
Just a few words - explained as simply as you can -
that no the machine is not actually giving you the
machine's money - and that that plastic card is not
actually buying the toy or the lunch.
Letting a child have some money and then spend
it on whatever they choose is a great way to teach
a bit of finances. They will soon realize that if they
buy something, they will have less to spend some-
where else or on something else.
Children are great imitators - whether we act the
way we want them to see us or not. If you show
very little concern for money - so will the child.
If you let the child in on family discussions about
sacrifices that will have to be made in order to
buy a new car, etc. that child may not understand
the full ramifications of the family project, but
will begin to see a pattern forming. You must do
something in order to get something. "Let's not
go to dinner tonight - instead we'll stay home and
watch movies so that we can go to the carnival
tomorrow."
Give up something in order to get something -
simple, and yet this simple message will leave
an imprint that will equate thought before
spending, and wanting to know more about
the wonderful world of money.
Money is here to stay and will be an integral
part of a child's future. They are never too young
to begin forming good impressions of money and
how to use it properly to enhance your life or
bring pleasure to others through gifts and
through charity.
Whatever you do with money while you are
with a child, take a moment to explain a bit -
just a few short sentences to let the child know
what you are doing and why.
The magical world of money will not be
something to fear, or to use without responsi-
bility - a few moments for a life-long lesson
of value. Seems fair - so
ENJOY!
®Arleen M. Kaptur 2003 September
Arleen has written books and articles on
simple rustic living.
http://www.arleenssite.com for a free newsletter
and some tips and ideas.
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