Teaching Children Money Habits for Life

The life-long benefits of teaching children good money habits make it well worth the effort. Children who are not taught these lessons pay the consequences for a life-time. Some parents don't teach children about money because they think they shouldn't talk about money with children, don't have the time, or think they don't have enough money. Parents should take the time to teach children about money regardless of their income and should start when children are young.

Most people have strong feelings and opinions about money, based on childhood experiences and the values and beliefs of their families. Most often, these experiences, values, and beliefs are different for each parent. It is vital for the healthy development of children that parents talk about these feelings and opinions and establish a consistent approach to teaching children about money.

Here are some guidelines parents can keep in mind as they begin the financial socialization of their children:

Guide and advise rather than direct and dictate¹ how the child's money should be used.

Encourage and praise the child rather than criticize and rebuke² actions taken.

Allow children to learn by mistakes and by successes.

Be consistent while taking children's differences into account.

Include all family members in money management discussions, decision making, and activities as appropriate for their age.

Explain to children what they can and cannot do and the consequences of violating the limits.

As children get older increasingly include them in discussions of limits and consequences.

Expect all family members to perform unpaid³, routine household chores based on their abilities.

Express your desire to have things you can't afford. Children need to know that parents say “no” to themselves, too. 

　　中文：

　　花些力气教会孩子们良好的花钱习惯是非常值得的，因其带来的好处是使他们受益一生的。没有受过这些金钱教育的孩子们将一辈子为此付出代价。有些父母不和子女谈论金钱，因为他们觉得不应该和小孩子谈论金钱，觉得没有时间，或者是认为他们没有足够的钱。作为父母，不论他们的收入如何都应该花时间教导子女有关钱的问题。

　　大部分人对金钱所持有的固有的感受和看法都是基于儿时的经历以及家庭的价值观和信念。多数情况下，每个父母的这些经历、价值观和信念都是不同的。父母谈论这些感受和看法并建立起一条前后一致的树立子女金钱观的途径对于孩子的健康成长非常重要。

　　父母在同子女进行金钱交流时应该记住以下几点：

　　引导和建议而不是指挥和命令孩子如何花钱。

　　鼓励和表扬孩子而不是批评和指责孩子的行为。

　　允许孩子们通过失败和成功来学习。

　　在考虑每个孩子的不同特点的情况下，保持（观点和方法的）前后一致。

　　让每个家庭成员都参加与其年龄相适应的金钱管理的讨论、决定等活动。

　　向孩子们说明什么能做，什么不能做以及超出限制带来的后果。

　　随着子女的成长，更多地让他们参与关于限制及后果的讨论。

　　期待每个家庭成员都无偿地做一些与他们能力相符的家务劳动。

　　表达你对买不起的东西的渴望。子女需要知道，父母也要对自己（的需要）说“不”。

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