Tag Archives: Teaching Kids About Finances

Teaching Kids About Entrepreneurship: Skills That Last a Lifetime

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In a rapidly changing world, giving children tools to succeed goes beyond traditional schooling. Introducing kids to the basics of starting and running a business is more than just teaching them how to set up a lemonade stand. It helps build a foundation of financial understanding, critical thinking, creativity, and confidence that can benefit them in school, work, and life.

Why Entrepreneurship Matters for Kids

At its core, entrepreneurship teaches children how to think, not just what to think. Kids who explore business concepts learn to identify problems, consider solutions, and make decisions based on real world feedback. These are skills that matter well beyond a simple business venture.

  • Problem Solving and Creativity: Working through a business idea encourages kids to think creatively and solve challenges, whether it’s deciding what to sell or how to market it.
  • Responsibility and Decision Making: Entrepreneurship involves choices, from pricing products to budgeting expenses. Making these decisions helps children gain a sense of responsibility and ownership.
  • Confidence and Initiative: Seeing an idea come to life can boost a child’s confidence and reinforce the value of perseverance.
  • Real World Financial Awareness: Starting a mini business teaches fundamental financial concepts like earning, saving, costs, and profits in a hands-on way that complements traditional financial literacy education.

Simple Ways to Introduce Entrepreneurship

Introducing children to entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are several approachable ways to get started:

  1. Start with their Interests: Choose business ideas that align with what your child already enjoys – including hobbies, crafts, games, or services they’re excited about. This keeps motivation high and learning natural.
  2. Hands On Projects: Encourage small-scale projects like a neighborhood lemonade stand, craft sales, or selling handmade cards. These activities let kids experience the full cycle of planning, producing, and selling.
  3. Talk Through the Big Concepts: Use everyday opportunities to discuss basic entrepreneurial concepts, such as what it means to take a risk, how pricing works, and why saving matters. These conversations build foundational knowledge over time.
  4. Learn through Play and Games: Games, stories, and simulations – whether it’s managing a pretend shop or budgeting with play money, can reinforce entrepreneurial thinking in age-appropriate ways.
  5. Reflect on the Experience: After each activity, ask your child what they learned, what worked well, and what they might do differently next time. These reflections help them internalize lessons and build critical thinking skills.

Life Skills Beyond Business

Even if your child never runs a full-fledged business, entrepreneurial experiences teach versatile life skills. Children can develop adaptability, communication, leadership, and resilience – which are qualities that will help them navigate school challenges and future careers.

Entrepreneurship also reinforces financial literacy and understanding money in tangible ways rather than abstract terms. Concepts like earning, saving, spending, and reinvesting become real when children manage their own small ventures. Learn more about the benefits of early entrepreneurship here. By combining experiential learning with supportive financial tools, parents can equip their children with skills that will benefit them for years to come.

Start Early with Financial Tools that Support Learning

One practical step that families can take to reinforce financial learning, is helping children open their first savings account (like a First Financial First Step Kids Account). Designed for young savers, this account gives kids a place to make deposits, learn about saving goals, and watch their money grow in a safe and guided way. To get started, stop into your local branch or call 732-312-1500.

*As of 7/2/2020, the First Step Kids Account has an annual percentage yield of 0.03% on balances of $100.00 and more. The dividend rate may change after the account is opened. Parent or guardian must bring both the child’s birth certificate and social security card when opening a First Step Kids Account at any branch location. Parent or guardian will be a joint owner and must also bring their identification. A First Financial Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties.

4 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money

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Mother’s Day is this upcoming weekend (Happy Mother’s Day to all our First Scoop reading Moms!), and in thinking about this important holiday and all you’ve taught your children in life up to this point – here are a few significant pointers you can teach them about their future finances.

  1. Let your kids earn some money. It’s rather difficult to teach your children about money if they don’t physically have any. Though just giving it to them without explaining the value of earning money based on hard work, won’t teach them anything either. Instead, give them some responsibilities around the house (taking out or walking the dog, age appropriate chores, etc.) and provide them with a weekly or bi-weekly allowance so they will know that money needs to be earned through consistent work.
  2. Teach your kids to save money. If your kids just spend their allowance on whatever they want, whenever they want – this isn’t helping them or teaching them about the importance of savings. Talk to your children about saving for a rainy day, retirement savings, and compound interest. You can even try setting savings goals for your kids and reward them for saving by giving them a little bit extra when they meet the goal.
  3. Allow your kids to spend some money too. Instead of just buying your children whatever they ask for, teach them the significance of making responsible purchases and to really think about their purchase before buying something. This will show them that they can get an item of their choice, but in order to do so they are also learning about saving, budgeting, and spending money too.
  4. Show your kids it’s okay to be frugal. One of the most important lessons you can instill in your children is the value of saving their money for things that really matter. Teach them to comparison shop, use coupons whenever possible, and not to buy things for the sake of just buying something.

The best way to teach your children to be financially responsible is to be an example for them. Don’t be afraid to talk to your kids about your own personal money experiences too!

Article Source: CUInsight.com

3 Things Kids Should Know About Money

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With another school year about to get into full swing, money management is an important lesson your children can be taught right at home.

Your kids probably don’t have a deep knowledge about money and how to manage it. What they do know, they’ve probably learned from watching you. Here are some basics that all kids should learn about finances.

It has to be earned: As you were probably told when you were young (and possibly in a snarky tone), “money doesn’t grow on trees.”  While that’s only partially true (cash is made from paper and paper is actually made from trees), money is not free.  An allowance in exchange for doing chores is a great way to teach your kids about earning money.

It must be saved: An easy way to get your kids to learn how to save is to give them a goal. Whether it’s a video game system or a new toy they have been asking for, don’t just give your kids whatever they want. Have them save up for the item, and for something more expensive like a video game system – give them a savings goal and have them pay for at least a good portion of it.

It should be spent: While it’s important to save your money, it’s also important for kids to understand that money is meant to be spent. You have to spend money in order to live your life. But when learning to spend, they should learn how to spend wisely. Teach your kids about coupons, sales, and generics brand items. Saving and spending may seem like opposites, but spending wisely is also a great way to save!

Need a great way to teach your children to save? Open a First Step Kids Savings Account! Available for kids up to age 18, there are no minimum balance fees, and dividends are posted quarterly on balances of $100 or greater.* Get your kids on the path to savings today, we’re here to help!

*As of 7/2/2020, the First Step Kids Account has an annual percentage yield of 0.03% on balances of $100.00 and more. The dividend rate may change after the account is opened. Parent or guardian must bring both the child’s birth certificate and social security card when opening a First Step Kids Account at any branch location. Parent or guardian will be a joint owner and must also bring their identification. A First Financial Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties.

Article Source: John Pettit for CUInsight.com