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 GIVE THEM PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE |
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Ask your child to compare the contents and the price of one package or
can of goods with another. Talk about how the shape and size of the
package relate to the amount in the package. Talk about how to compare
what you're getting for what you're paying.
Let older children (10+) organize your coupons each month. When it's
time to make the grocery list, involve your child and ask him to decide
which coupons to use. In the store, let your child gather the coupon items
for the shopping cart. Share the savings with your child.
If your child takes lunch to school, have her plan her lunch menu for
a couple of days (or for the whole week) and make a shopping list. Give
her a set amount of money for each day (e.g., $2.00 for each day) and let
her buy the items on her list during the next shopping expedition.
On short-list shops, ask your child to guess how much the total bill
will be. Another version of this is to give your child a calculator and
have him keep a running total of your shopping bill.
As you shop, discuss the things your child needs to consider. For
example, when buying clothes, she needs to look at the fit, whether there
is any room to grow, how well constructed the item is, the washing
instructions, and the style (will it stand the test of time?).
The next time your family intends to order in dinner, give your child
a budget and ask him to manage the ordering of the meal using the takeout
menu as a price guide. Each person should have an opportunity to choose at
least one dish. Talk about ways to save, such as sharing an order or
buying the special.
The next time you're shopping for magazines, ask your child to decide
whether it is less expensive to buy at the news stand or by subscription.
What would happen if she subscribed but then didn't bother to read the
magazine every month? Are there times when it makes more sense to buy a
single copy rather than a subscription?
The next time you're shopping for a household item, ask your child to
help you select the item. Talk about the quality of the item in relation
to its price. Is there a less expensive item that would do just as good a
job? If you bought a less expensive item, would it last as long as the
more expensive item?
Excerpted from The Money Tree Myth: A Parents' Guide To Helping Kids
Unravel the Mysteries of Money by Gail Vaz-Oxlade (Stoddart).Shop
for this book here
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