As most parents are, I’m constantly fretting over all the life lessons I need to pass on to my children, so they’ll become compassionate, empathetic, responsible, big-picture-yet-detail-oriented, lead-by-example, “Golden Rule”-type of adults.
And, as most families are, we’re so busy that sometimes the life lessons get pushed to the back burner in lieu of soccer practice, piano lessons, spelling tests and just plain relaxing.
An upcoming event, though, will help us take the time to focus on the all-important ideas of sharing, saving and spending.
Teach Your Kids to Share Day is presented by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, an MCF member.
On Friday, April 24, at more than 50 kid-friendly venues across the nation, Teach Your Kids to Share Day features educational activities designed to give families the opportunity to learn about sharing, saving and spending in a fun, interactive environment.
Locally, you can join in at the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul (5:30 – 9 p.m.) and at the Landscape Arboretum in Chaska (5 – 9 p.m.)
In advance of that day, Thrivent offers these six tips on teaching children to share, save and spend.
- Discuss and demonstrate how you share, save and spend money. For example: Explain to your children how you share money by supporting your place of worship or a charitable cause; how you save money by depositing it in the bank; and how you spend money on groceries and the home.
- Work together on establishing a guideline on how they’ll manage their money. For example: If you set “share 10 percent, save 10 percent and spend 80 percent” as a guideline, the next ime your child gets $20 as a birthday gift, the child should divide the money to meet the guideline.
- When older children want to buy something immediately, ask them to “stop, think and choose.” Stop to consider whether they really want or need the item, think how the money spent could be used more resourcefully, and choose whether the item is really more important than other wants and needs.
- Make it visual. For example: Label three clear jars to serve as share, save and spend piggy banks allowing the child to see their contributions add up. Each child at Teach Your Kids to Share Day will receive a 3-slot piggy bank to encourage sharing, saving and spending.
- Make it fun. For example: Initiate activities such as making ice cream sundaes at home rather than spending money on them at a fast food restaurant. Set up a lemonade stand and agree to donate the proceeds to a local charity.
- Most importantly, make sharing, saving and spending an ongoing conversation. Talking to your child is one of the best ways to build a financial foundation for the whole family.
We all know that sharing is important, but teaching how and why in terms that make sense to children is sometimes the hurdle. I’m interested to learn about other ideas and resources on teaching children why sharing matters and how they can make a difference by choosing to share.
- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF Commmunications Associate
Posted by Chris Noonan 
