When you ask yourself what you want to teach your children about money, your answer is likely to be "a lot.”
Clarifying your own thinking about money and what you specifically want to teach your children can be very helpful.
Below is a short exercise designed to help bring focus to this complicated subject. If you don’t show them the lessons about money, how will they learn? It is not covered deeply in school. ACTION IDEAS: • Think about and write down a summary of what you want your children to know about money now and before they are on “their own.” Consider practical matters and also include you and your partner's values. For example, is it important to you that your kids save money? • Think about how you view and use money. What are your values? Taking some short notes on this should also prove helpful. Ask yourself if how you act compares well with what you want to teach your children. Many people find out that their actions don't match up with what they want to teach. If you are teaching your daughter that your values include helping those less fortunate, are you backing your words by allowing them to see you donating at church, or in others ways? Do you talk about it? • After discussions with your significant other, make adjustments needed to accomplish your goals. Be specific and clear.
The local fathering effort, in cooperation with the National Center for Fathering, provides bi-weekly action ideas to stimulate conversation between fathers and parents.
For more information, or to join local conversations, contact
Mick Trombley at mick@apartmentstore.com
David Eggebeen at e5x@psu.edu
Robert Orndorff at rmo104@psu.edu
Marc McCann at 237-1719 or marc@thesecondmile.org
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