Age wise Financial Education for Children

When do we exactly introduce our kids to financial education? Is it when we let them keep the money they get from relatives? Or when they first plan to go out with their friends for dinner all by themselves?

It’s actually much before. The time they ask (cry…scream…yell) for a toy and we as parents have to then incentivize them to getting you do something more exciting for them. Also when they want to waste their food and we tell them it’s bought from the hard earned money and we shouldn’t waste. These small habits inculcate values since their childhood.

Ages 3 to 5

So, this is the time for you to first accept the fact that it’s about time for your child to get introduced to money matters. While this is the age where they are all cute and adorable, it is also the age when they understand the concept of “buying” and “money”. We need money to buy things, and we have to work to get money. This just becomes easy if you add some fun factor to this activity. Make a deal with them. They have to earn happy points with good behavior to get that big burger or that Disney princess dress. It could be 100 points for burger and 500 points for princess dress.

Money could be used to help them learn count.

Ages 6 to 12

They are already going to primary or secondary school. They need allowances. Their demands get bigger during this phase. Things around them will influence their choices too. The outrageous amount of pressure schools today put on parents to be ‘socially’ competitive to this will have its impact on the child as well. They might want branded clothes and expensive stationary. Make sure you take sensible decisions in their growing years by letting them understand the value of money.

Games like monopoly can make your task easy. Encourage such games and play with them.

This is a perfect time to open a bank account in your child’s name. Their own bank account will motivate them to save money.

Make them live a simple lifestyle. Remember success starts from humble beginnings. This will help them as adults, to manage their money better. Save more.

Ages 13 to 18

Teens!! This is the age where parents are either friends or foes for their kids. They are new to the world of fashion and gadgets and these are their best friends now. With such fancy hobbies, come significantly higher expenses. In order to make them financially wise, involve them when your family talks about finances. Ask them for their views.

At this age they are already preparing for their higher education. Discuss the finances with them. Explain cost of college fees, student loans and credit cards etc. This will bring awareness and make them financially vigilant.

This doesn’t end here. Going forward when they get their first pay cheque, a good investment advice from you will help them generate wealth for long term, even better, forever. Remember the quote - Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime, the man here is your CHILD.

Remember, starting early always helps, be it for investing or even educating your children about investing.

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The views expressed here in this article are for general information and reading purpose only and do not constitute any guidelines and recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader. Quantum AMC / Quantum Mutual Fund is not guaranteeing / offering / communicating any indicative yield on investments made in the scheme(s). The views are not meant to serve as a professional guide / investment advice / intended to be an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial product or instrument or mutual fund units for the reader. The article has been prepared on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other sources believed to be reliable. Whilst no action has been solicited based upon the information provided herein, due care has been taken to ensure that the facts are accurate and views given are fair and reasonable as on date. Readers of this article should rely on information/data arising out of their own investigations and advised to seek independent professional advice and arrive at an informed decision before making any investments.

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