How To Raise Kids Who Understand and Respect Money

If you want your children to grow up knowing how to be financially wise, here are some tips to raise kids who respect and understand money.

Psychologists say that our very first introduction to money as children becomes the lens for how we view money in the future as adults.

As a parent, if you want to raise future successful, wealthy people – then you must set up a positive money lens for your kids.

Early on in their life, you make sure your child views money as something they should save and invest – and not just use for spending on cool stuff.

How do you talk to your kids about understanding and respecting money?

Use fun language – so you keep the child engaged.

For example…

Let your children know that money can “grow”  – even if it doesn’t grow on trees!

Money can “grow” if it is “planted properly.”

Talk to your child about planting “investment trees.”

Describe how to water and nurture these “investment trees” – how to feed these “investment trees” properly – and not starve them.

Give your children the opportunity to watch their “investment trees” grow – and grow – via the magic growth formula of “compounding.”

Here are steps to help kids understand how invested money can “compound.”

Give your kid an allowance — and/or even better – create opportunities they can earn money for their allowance via chores around the house.

Sit them down. Draw a fake check on a piece of paper – then fill in the date for 50+ years from now, (aka June 9 2081).

Next, put your kid’s name in the “payable to” space. Fill in the sum so it reads $1,000,0000.00.

Chances are you’ll now have your kid’s full, rapt attention — making this the perfect time to explain to them the process of how their earnings can begin to earn more earnings — with the magic of compounding interest.

Next, here are steps to help kids understand how to save and keep track of money.

Talk with your child about setting up both a checking account and savings account  – where they can keep track of their money.

Together decide how much they want to put aside each month from their allowance — and where they want to plant it.

Saving account? Roth IRA? Family 401(k)?

Or if some of that is far too complicated to explain to the child…consider giving them 3 at home banks:

• one for saving
• another for spending
• the third for giving money to charity

Finally…celebrate you child’s respect for money

Get them excited about what they will do with the extra money that their investment tree will begin to start growing….and growing.

Brainstorm with them some reasonable splurges.

Maybe even make a fun poster which lists various reward type gifts they can get themselves when they reach specific money milestones.

Celebrate the growth of their money by showing your excitement that they are being financially wise.

Cheer them on and express respect and appreciation for their financial intelligence.

Plus let them know that sometimes money takes time to grow… but it’s worth the wait.

If you want more support to help your kids to become smart about money, my site offers many more parenting articles and financial articles – here.