Starting your children off with a right view of finances is so important these days - especially when debt seems to be a common way of life for so many. Who knows if the young parents of today were ever taught such a vital lesson in life as being able to properly manage their finances. Perhaps their lives would have been so much different. We can never know - and can never change it. We can, however, change the way our own children look at money. Here are some important lessons to teach your children about such an important subject - their money.
1. Money Does Not Grow On Trees
Children do not understand, at least not at first, that there is not an unlimited supply of money at the bank, or on the credit card. If they see something they want to buy, you will often hear "Why don't you put it on the credit card?"; or, "Write a check!" To them, who only see you pay for your purchases in this way, they do not understand that you have to pay for it sometime. Explain to them the process that they can only buy what you have money to pay for - somewhere.
2. Saying "No" To Some Unnecessary Things
One of the most valuable lessons a child can learn is to willingly choose to say "No" to some purchases - even if they want it. One of the greatest incentives a child can be given to do this is because something better can be obtained if they will save a little longer for it - and wait. Do not give them money every time they want it - this teaches them that there is a bottomless supply - when there isn't.
3. It Is Important To Save
Besides saving for something that they really want, which is a good reason in itself, teach them to save for unexpected things. For instance, if they receive a regular allowance, or, are working after school and earning some money on their own, teach them to put aside a regular percentage - say 10-15%.
4. Comparison Shopping
Let your children know that there is a vast difference in the quality of similar products. There is also more than one place that sells most items, and somewhere there may be a better deal. Show them that by looking around, and waiting a little longer, they may be able to get the item they really wanted, and be able to have a little money left over.
5. Establish A Budget
Once your child is receiving a regular amount of money, you will want to show them how to plan for a wise use of that money. Help them to know how to set money aside for basically three different things: money to spend now, money for special purchases that require savings, and long-term savings.
6. Teach Them About Credit Cards
Credit cards and checking accounts are similar in that they provide ease of purchase, but without the necessity of carrying cash. Your children only see you handing over the plastic, or another piece of paper. But they never see that cash is involved - it is behind the scenes to them. Show them how that you must pay monthly for both and that you should never buy more than what you can afford - except for some larger purchases - because the bills for it will come!
7. Give Regularly To Good Causes
Probably one of the greatest joys that a child can have in the use of their own money is the joy that comes from willingly giving their money to causes greater than themselves. By learning to give some of their money often to causes such as their church, or a charity, they learn that their money can be a blessing to others, and it will prevent a stingy and selfish outlook on life and on their money.
My name is Scott Waring and I am an American teacher in Taiwan with a BA in Elementary Education and a MS in Counseling Education. I have learned a lot about teaching, but it wasnt until I met my Taiwanese wife at Idaho State University and we moved to Taiwan where we opened a school, that I learned teaching to children from three to six was not just possible, but beyond anything I ever expected. I have also published two novels for kids, "Georges Pond" and "Wests Time Machine" being sold at all on-line stores. My wife and I currently own a school that has 150 students, fifty of which are ages 3-6 years old.
Psychology and Education magazines often site that in every persons life, there is a time when the brain is more susceptible to learning, making learning easier and faster. The time that they are speaking of is between ages three and six years of age. A human will never learn as easily or as fast ever again past that age. This applies for everyone, and although I have not benefited from such early education myself, in six more months my son will, when he starts in our three year old class that teaches four solid hours of teaching a day, five days a week. In our school we have a motto; "Work Now, Play Later." But really they play in-between the classes. In this way we teach the students so much by age seven that when they start Elementary school, they find that everything is easy, while other students who have never benefited from learning before elementary, end up struggling along through the class, working much harder and not getting as far as the students that benefited from early learning. Now let me show you some easy steps that we use in our classes when they are age three to six.
1. Dont listen to other adults when they say students can only learn for ten to fifteen minutes! Thats wrong in so many ways, and yet right in one way. You should teach them a full 45-60 minutes without stop, but every 15 minutes you should change the style of your teaching and change what words, math games, or items that you want you child to learn. For example: 15 min teaching English Vocabulary, 15 minutes teaching numbers, 15 minutes teaching letters, 15 minutes teaching writing letters (harder and takes patience at age 3).
2. Be creative in your teaching! This means if you are teaching at home, then sit next to the toy box and begin teaching the child the name of each toy, but remember to repeat it, so that the child hears you say it two times. This is especially good at teaching words like (Bulldozer, Ambulance, Police car, fire engine, race car, motorcycle, animals, Colors (very fun), and much more. There is a world of learning within the toy box and those are things the child sees everyday and relates to a lot, so those words you teach will be very useful and constantly used. Keep this repetition up everyday until the child knows it in a few weeks, then move on to something more challenging, but dont forget to review a little everyday of the old lessons!
3. Teach With Enthusiasm. Start with using your voice and then work up to cute mannerisms (acting). If you sound excited about teaching it, then the child will be excited to learn. The child is the reflection of the teacher, they reflect back what they see before them, so be cautious of what you say, you could be teaching things that you never intended or wanted too. It was Dr. Norman Peale that said "Enthusiasm sharpens a students mind and improves their problem solving abilities."
4. Make Sure The Child Follows Along: Teaching reading without teaching sounding words out is possible and Ive been teaching that way to students for over ten years. Age three to four will have to start leaning words written on flash cards, hand made is fine. Find an easy story book you like and take 50-100 words starting out. You dont need a picture on the back, it wastes your time and doesnt make them learn faster, but like earlier you have to hold the card up and repeat the word two times, but will all you repetition, the child must always repeat two times (you say "Them", student says "Them". You say "Them" again, students says "Them" again.). Use this repetition for all teaching starting out for first year or more. New words you may teach might be (this, that, those, to, a, an, apple, banana, run, Jack, Jane, grass, house, tree, kite, toys and so on). When teaching vocabulary, find a good picture dictionary for small kids, use it and use the repetition while you teach it, also have the child follow with one finger on the picture at all times. Dont teach phonics for the first 6-12 months, this way they feel less scared of it and it comes much easier.
5. Make Sure They Speak: If you are teaching vocabulary words on cards, then hold one up (the word "Flowers") and ask, "Okay, what color are the flowers?" or "Where are the flowers?" and see where the child goes with it, it reinforces the memory of the word flowers in their thoughts, but keep them focused on the task at hand, no wandering.
6. Teach numbers, addition, and subtraction: This is the easiest thing of all to teach. Go to the crayon box and take it to use in this lesson. Sit down on the floor; (all my students learn best there) face the student and take ten crayons out of any color. Then hold them in your hand, placing three on the floor. Say, "Lets count them! Ready? One...Two...Three!" sound excited and do it slowly! Then see if the student wants to try, if not, you do a different number. Keep doing math this way using crayons, toys, balls, candy (yum-yum) or other items, until its too easy and they want more. You can teach them up to 100, really its true! But only if you believe in them as a teacher and believe in yourself. Move off to putting five crayons down and counting them, then take two away and count them again. Let the student try. Also, if your child likes drawing, instead of items, use paper and draw the number 4, then make four circles (or apples and so on). Do this for all numbers and let the child use a finger to point at them one by one as the student counts them. Great for teaching addition and subtraction.
7. Make Teaching A Routine: Kids fall into a routine much easier than adults and so you need to use the same time every day to teach them. Here is our class schedule for teaching three to six year olds.
9-10:00 AM: English speaking 10-10:30: Break and play 10:30-11:30: Math 11:30-12:30: Lunch and play 2:00-3:00: Writing/letters for 3 year olds, words for 4, but one page diaries for 6 year olds. 3:30-4:30: Reading/Vocabulary
Making a routine is detrimental to learning! Without this key element, you will not succeed in teaching the student for long. If at home, you must discipline yourself to teaching at certain hour everyday. This allows you and your child to fall into a comfortable routine, without chaos.
What have my students learned you ask? Well by the time they reach the age of 6-7 years old, they have been taking classes in my school for about 3 years. That means they have gained a vocabulary of over 3000+ English words (Remember they are Taiwanese so they start with not knowing any English at all), using a 1000 word picture dictionary series. Also they can add and subtract without using their fingers, but instead look at the board and answer quickly. They also start at six years old at learning writing and vocabulary in Chinese. By six, the students must write a one page diary everyday, with beautiful writing (about 50-70 words). Also they are capable of reading at a second graders level and use phonics to sound out words that they dont know.
By taking the time to teach you child early on, it will create a positive study habit for the student and make future learning easier by already having experienced learning in a structured environment. We teach and we learn along the way, both student and teacher. Its a wonderful process of personal growth for all involved!
Both Joe Kenny & Scott Waring are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Joe Kenny has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage, Credit Cards and Life Insurance. Joe Kenny writes for CardGuide.co.uk, offering , visit them today for more. Joe Kenny's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
Scott Waring has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances. My novel "Georges Pond; Created In The Beloved Tradition of Charlottes Web." novel at Amazon.com at :. Scott Waring's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.