How to talk to kids about money

This should be taught in school, but for some reason they do not teach. Let's see how to explain to the children what kind of animal is - money.

Not so long ago I found myself in a completely new situation for themselves. Girl five years in education which I am involved, and approached very seriously asked:

Tamara, where does the money come?

I began happily explain (give money for the work, and so on), but after just a couple of days instead "Dad, buy an ice cream," she said, "Daddy, let you go to work, earn money and buy me ice cream". That is, the value of the labor of others as long as the girl did not understand, but what I told her, absorbed instantly. Personally, it shocked me.

Money - one of the fundamental things that we mostly learn "between times", but if this approach worked, no one would have read the article about Financial planning on our website, right? And many clever uncle and aunt every month would not ask: "Where did my salary?". The ability to handle money - one of the few skills that will be useful for everybody, so to fill this gap in the existing education system to be you.

two rules

1. Everything has its time. First, children of all ages need to tell different. Trohletke not need to know about taxes. Teenager and without you know that the money get to work. Secondly, the information from you must come in doses, with sufficient breaks to a child it fully absorbed. Otherwise, he will have a feeling the next school obyazalovka. Hence the second rule.
2. games - the best learning format. Or poluigrovoy. This works for all ages, but especially for children. Game - their natural state, so do not take your child from the interesting lessons and put in front to talk about money. The spontaneously and naturally will be your lessons better.

From 3 to 5 years

Lesson № 1. For the money to buy things

How to teach it:

• Ask your child to help you count the coins. Explain ratings. When will understand with coins, paper money, go on.
• In the store, buying something child (ice cream, juice, something small), ask him yourself gain the necessary amount.
• Children Shop Lay beautiful things, toys, pins, bumper cars (depending on gender child), print out the play money and ask them to stay by the seller initially, and then - buyer.
• When there is something good (for example, a girlfriend came to visit your daughter), note that it is a joy for which no fees. In other words, show that not all sold Pleasant.

Lesson № 2. Money earned on the job

How to teach it:

• When a child once again ask: "Dad, Dad, what are you doing?" While you are working for computer, tell him about his work: what are your duties, for which you get paid, why you valued and respected.
• On the street, passing by the men in uniform (waiters street cafes, police), point to them and ask who it is. "What do you think, what do they do?? Why is their job, "Tell my daughter stuck to the window of the beautiful, that all these puppets - own store hostess and she employed.
• In the road offer to play "I want to work (job title)." The winner is the one who will come up with more.

Lesson № 3. Sometimes you can not just buy what you want

How to teach it:

• When a child is waiting for something pleasant (holiday, free swing), remind them that sometimes you have to wait before you can get a welcome.
• Get a cute piggy bank and give the child a coin every time he manages something well or when he will somewhat help. Every month or two, open the piggy bank. Say, "Do you see how much had accumulated! I also have a piggy bank for large purchases. " And then let him buy his own money that he wants.

Lesson № 4. There is a difference between what you want, and what you need

How to teach it:

• Make cards with pictures of various shopping and ask your child to arrange them on the two piles: "I want" and "must".
• The store may ask, what is more important to buy: food (meat, cheese, fruit, and so on) or a chocolate bar. When a child (by itself) will choose chocolate, remind them that asked about the importance, not only about pleasant. Say what chocolates - it is for fun, but they can not eat alone.
• Draw together a chart that you are divided into sections by type of purchases. Food, household goods, entertainment and so on. Demonstrate that the money is not infinite and it is important to distribute properly.

From 6 to 10 years

Lesson № 1. Sometimes you need to think before you buy

How to teach it:

• If you have already decided to buy a child a toy, put it next to ( "I want to choose, where to buy, together with you") and together posorfite of online shopping for the best prices.
• In the store say that it is "our budget on fruits," and asked to choose what to buy.
• Show at a discount price tag and explain what it is.
• If your child wants something very expensive, show him the chart, which you have done, what piece of your budget this purchase "eat".

Lesson № 2. Buying something on the Internet is not worth it

How to teach it:

• When a child stumbles (and he will definitely stumble) to the locked content in any game on the tablet, explain that he asked for the money and that this money is quite real, even if they are not visible.
• Sign a contract that the child will not without your permission to enter any personal information on the Internet ( "Shh, do not tell their secrets to the Internet").
• Know what sites your child comes.

Lesson № 3. Electronic money stored in the bank, and they can multiply

How to teach it:

• Take your child with you to the bank is not very crowded day. Answer all questions.
• Show your plastic card and tell me what it brought.
• Tell us about the accumulation accounts. Get a free storage account for a child.

From 11 to 13 years

Lesson № 1. For every ruble, Set of 10 cents, and the sooner, the better

How to teach it:

• Suggest child delay (in the same or piggy outdoor count) 10% allowance. And praise when he does.
• Make mudbord (mood board - «mood board") with pictures and price inexpensive things that a child wants to buy himself. Have once a month to choose a new goal and a mudborda save on it.
• Supports nested child: relatively speaking, for every ruble in the treasury or to the account of his Report to 25 kopecks from himself.
• Show your account statements or fail the balance of piggy bank that the child had seen the amount is growing.
• Sit down together and figure (the practice of mathematics, by the way), but your son or daughter Skopje to 50 years, if it is set aside each year a certain amount.

Lesson № 2. To have a credit card is like to borrow

How to teach it:

• Illustrate how a credit card and how it differs from the usual "plastic" ( "You take my 50, it returns 10, but in the end you pay not 50, but ...").
• Give examples of when you used a credit card (or taken out a loan), and tell us why it was justified.

Lesson № 3. Be careful with online shopping, and personal information

How to teach it:

• Play with your child in an online game model Free-to-play and in the right moment, explain how to construct built-buying, why they are so attractive and why they should be avoided.
• If your child already has your email, tell us about spam and are trained not to open emails from unknown person.
• Tell us about SMS-scammers who urgently asked to send money for the phone, and so on.
• Explain the concept of personal data (from my father's credit card number to the e-mail address, or physical address) and tell them that someone else they are not intended.

From 14 to 18 years

Lesson № 1. detailing costs

How to teach it:

• Show concrete figures (with illustrative diagrams and infographics), how much you earn and where the money goes. How much is your accommodation in the city, how much is spent on food per day and per month, how much clothes, Transportation, entertainment, school supplies.
• Encourage your child to write (at least in the notebook, at least in attachment), Where his pocket money is going. You can offer an extra reward for it, but it's better non-monetary. For example, the right to take a walk with friends late at night once a week. Keep in mind that even with the award are the chances that the child will really burn the costs are minimal, if you yourself do not.

Lesson № 2. First job

How to teach it:

• Encourage your child to receive a "salary" for housework, help with shopping, paying bills (even taste the delights of the queue in the Savings Bank) or Pet Care. And it is paid once a month, not fast pocket for every day.
• Look with a summer job. If you find something interesting, discuss how your child will get to it: porepetiruyte interview, write each letter of motivation and compare your options.
• Tell us about remote workingAbout its pros and cons.

Lesson № 3. The first "plastic"

How to teach it:

• Now card is necessary to all: it makes life easier. do not be afraid of it. The earlier a child it appears, the faster he will learn to use it wisely. Get an additional card to your account, place for her comfort you limit (not more than X rubles a day, for example) and hand the child. Tell me that this is just his thing, personal, and there is money - his money, very real. All you talked about the personal data and the value of paper money, applies here.
• Illustrate some of the planned purchase, how to use the card online, at an ATM in the store. If you pay your child for work or just gives pocket, give a choice, he can receive them: cash or card. Or break in half. Teach him to replenish their own card in a suitable terminal or ATM.
• Keep track of expenses of the child so that you are not caught. You are giving your child money, so he learned to use them responsibly. If he feels your lack of confidence (even reasonable), the effect will be counterproductive. Either you learn responsibility, but also offers reasonable freedom or freedom do not give, but do not expect independence. Otherwise it does not happen.

What's next

With 18 years of age (for someone before) you can talk about such a thing as taxes (VAT on the price tags, personal income tax, deductions from wages) and pensions, of the basic forms of business and their device. If you have gaps themselves in this area, it's time to fill them.

And remember that the meaning of all these lessons not only training. Many adults are afraid of money, feel to them disgust and disbelief. These say: "Money can not buy happiness" - and like to blame society for the pressure to be "rich" that it supposedly has on them. On the other hand there are those who make money out of the cult. They say: "Money can not buy happiness, but their number," - and go fly... I do not know. Tenth yacht.

You do lessons, games and, more importantly, by example can show your son or daughter that money - a tool for a good life. What are they given the opportunity to choose (Turkey and the Carpathians, a taxi or the subway, train or book) and to please themselves, provide protection and stability. Money must be respected and multiply. Even love, but without fanaticism. As a friend, not as a deity.

And there is no happiness on some money not to build, but this would be much easier if money is no problem. Do you want this for your child? Start today.

Or maybe you've already talked to your child about money? How it was? Did you notice progress after such conversations? If you want to show off what you have smart kids, now is the time. :)