Wednesday, April 16, 2014

April is National Financial Literacy Month - 10 Tips for Helping Children Develop Healthy Financial Habits

Financial Family Fun:  Tips for Helping Children Develop Healthy Financial Habits
From Carolyn Stone Enenstein, Founder and CEO of BizainyTM
 
Make money management fun for your preschoolers through teens with fun activities to kick-start financial habits.  At Bizainy, we encourage children to explore how to spend, save, invest and donate as the foundation to healthy money management.

1.     SET A GOOD EXAMPLE - Find time to pay the bills, balance accounts and make household purchases when the kids are nearby, to help them realize that money management tasks are a necessary part of everyone’s lives.
2.     GO TO THE MOVIES - Enjoy a day at the movies (or live sporting or entertainment event) and highlight the price for the same snacks and beverages purchased from the concession stand versus alternative options.  Empower kids with the knowledge that they can manage their spending by choosing where and when to make purchases.
3.     OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT - Help your child open and manage a bank account.  Inquire in advance about a special vault tour and children’s giveaways/bank kits to applaud your child for taking an important financial step. (be sure to select an account with an age-appropriate balance minimum and interest rate)
4.     HIT THE STORE - Take your kids to the store with a shopping list and help them shop within a specific budget.  Favorite trips include grocery store (they can scan their items), back-to-school shopping and holiday gift-giving.  Help your children appreciate the difference between wants and needs, brand names versus private label, and that how we spend our money is a personal choice!
5.     TV TIME - Enjoy the many entertaining TV programs that highlight the cost of goods, savvy shopping, how to run a business and more. 
6.     TAKE A TRIP TO THE TOY/CORNER STORE – Take a percentage of your child’s earnings to the store so they can reward themselves for their hard work.  In our world of credit, let your kids complete their entire transaction with their own coins and bills. 
7.     WORK FOR IT – Create self-reliant kids and teens by letting them work to earn that toy or gadget they really want.  Have your children present why they should get the item and what jobs they will complete to help pay for it.  Consider matching their earnings to reinforce their work effort.  They will likely appreciate the item more if they worked for it, too. 
8.     PLAY STOCK EXCHANGE ONLINE GAMES - Simulated stock exchange games provide a risk-free way to understand the risks and rewards of the stock market.
9.     PURCHASE ONE SHARE - Purchasing and following even a single share of a stock provides a personalized and exciting investing experience.
10.  BUILD APPRECIATION - Instill appreciation for your good fortunes by supporting those in need.  Help your children donate gently used items or hold a charity bake sale or lemonade stand to raise funds for a cause that is meaningful to them.

Bizainy ‘s mission is to create engaging educational toys and experiences to help kids and teens gain business and financial life skills for everyday success.  Bizainy’s latest products are “Lemonade Stand,” “Charity Bake Sale” and “Babysitting” Activity Kits, which can be purchased at www.bizainy.com and www.amazon.com.

 
Copyright © Bizainy, LLC, 2014.  Do not reprint or distribute without permission from Bizainy, LLC.

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