How to talk to your kids about the economy

Posted to: Community News Education

Kids and the economy

Experts say now is the time to talk to your children about the financial crisis, but in a way that won't frighten or panic them. As parents look for ways to cut household costs, it's important to explain the decisions to children so they understand.

If children sense your stress about the economy, try the approach suggested by Catherine Solheim, a professor in the department of family social science at the University of Minnesota:

- For the youngest of children, Solheim suggests getting out some play money and setting up a shopping scenario. " 'What if you want to buy something and you don't have the money?' " she advises asking. "It's a real teachable moment."

- For older children and teenagers, you can discuss the financial downturn in greater detail, she says.

- But in all cases, you should involve your kids in finding solutions when money is tight. If your daughter needs a new soccer uniform, for example, encourage her to think of ways to find money in the budget to buy one. And when you do save money, be sure to set it aside in a jar or envelope to watch it add up.

- The Associated Press

More online resources

-Want Not
-The Dollar Stretcher
-KidsHealth

Associated Press
© October 7, 2008

By Heather Lalley

I F There's one bright side to this country's growing economic crisis, it might be that it's forcing parents to sit down and have the talk with their kids.

No, no - not that talk.

This conversation is about dollars and cents, not birds and bees, but it's no less important.

"The way you raise fiscally responsible children is by not making money this thing that's shrouded in mystery," says Mir Kamin, who runs the money-saving Web site WantNot.net. "If more people did that with their kids, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now."

Even before this financial meltdown, Kamin, a 37-year-old mother of two in Athens, Ga., taught her children to live frugally. At the grocery store, her 9- and 10-year-olds look for sale items and stock up on in-season produce, she says.

Each week the children must save and donate a portion of their allowances to charity. And, Kamin says, "If you ask my kids how credit cards work, they will explain it to you. They can also tell you never buy anything on a credit card you don't have the money for."

It's the kind of conversation experts say more parents should have in coming months. Even the youngest of children can sense their parents' stress about the economy and start to worry, says Catherine Solheim, a professor in the department of family social science at the University of Minnesota who teaches personal and family finance.

It's important for parents to discuss the financial crisis, especially with older children, says Mark Schug, a professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Education - but do so in a way that won't cause them to panic or lose sleep.

"It's good enough for young kids to know we may be in for a bit of an economic downturn, and they're not used to that," Schug says. "They would have no memory of a time when the American economy was in a little bit of a rough patch."

Debbie Moors' family in Berthoud, Colo., is already feeling the squeeze.

Moors, 44, mother of two elementary school-aged girls, stuck to basic school supplies this year and used last year's lunch boxes. The family camped close to home this summer instead of taking a big vacation. They're walking more now. And Moors says she's cutting in half this year how much she'd typically donate to school fundraisers.

"We're looking for ideas and ways to cut. Every once in a while, we'll talk about, 'Oh, that's not in our budget.' "

Gary Foreman, editor and publisher of the frugal-living Web site the Dollar Stretcher, says he's heard from some parents looking to cut child-related costs but not in great numbers.

"We have had a few people indicate that what they would've considered routine extracurriculars last year, this year they're giving it more thought than usual," says Foreman, who works in Bradenton, Fla. "I don't expect ballet classes and Little Leagues to be empty in the next couple of months.... Parents are more likely to cut out a couple of Starbucks."

That's not to say there aren't tough choices being made. For Kamin, a gas shortage in the Southeast is teaching the family to conserve every gallon.

"My son got braces and had a broken wire. The orthodontist is also across town. It was distressing to have to make this trip when gas is such a precious commodity right now."

But it did encourage the Kamin family to start planning meals and shopping once a week instead of dashing to the store every couple of days, she says.

The Dollar Stretcher recently posted an article about how to budget creatively to fund after-school activities.

Among the tips: Ask the child to donate some rarely used toys for a fundraising garage sale. Ask relatives to give to a "sports fund" instead of giving birthday or holiday gifts. Have kids hand over part of their allowances to pay for activities.

"In a way, this is good for the children," Foreman says. "It's good for kids to understand that their Little League or their piano lessons have a cost. These things are not free. Somebody has to pay for them. It's good for them to understand that expenses have to be put into context of the family budget, and when money is tight, something has to be cut."