Is It Time to Talk Money with Your Child?

Meet John, a father of two young children. John had always been interested in personal finance and wanted to instill good money habits in his kids from a young age. However, he wasn't sure when the right time was to start talking to them about money. His children were only four and six years old, and he didn't want to overwhelm them with information that they might not be ready to understand.

John remembers a time when his child, Cindy, asked for a toy while they were shopping at the store. John responded that they couldn't afford it right now, to which Cindy replied, "Why not? Do we not have enough money?" This question caught John off guard, and he realized that he had not yet started talking to his children about money. He decided to start researching the best ways to introduce his children to financial education.

After reading up on the subject, John realized that it's never too early to start teaching your children about money. He decided to start by introducing the concept of savings to his children. He started by giving them piggy banks and teaching them how to save their allowance. John also began involving his children in family budgeting discussions, such as planning for their vacation and deciding on a monthly budget for groceries.

John found that by involving his children in financial discussions and decision-making, it made them more conscious of the value of money. They started to understand that money is a limited resource and that they need to be mindful of how they spend it. John’s children also began to see the benefits of saving their money and delaying gratification.

If you're wondering when the right time is to start talking to your child about money, the answer is now. Start small by introducing the concept of saving to your child. Encourage them to set financial goals and save towards them. Involve them in family budgeting discussions and let them make some of the decisions. By doing this, you'll be setting your child up for a lifetime of financial success.

Financial education is a critical skill that every child should learn. By starting early, you'll be giving your child a head start in financial literacy. Don't be afraid to start small and involve your children in family financial decisions. With time, your child will develop healthy financial habits that will last a lifetime.

Send us any money questions or stories that you have, and we’ll feature you. If you found John’s story helpful, share it with other parents.

Love,

Todlr