TOPIC:

Money in General—A Wise Consumer

RESOURCES NEEDED:

A copy of the skeleton graph listed below

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY:

Often children “lose sight of where their money goes.” They have earned some money and, before they know it, it is gone because they have spent it without giving due thought. It is important for these children to understand the importance of using their money wisely and, for that reason, this activity has them reflect on what it means to be a wise money manager.

THE ACTIVITY:

• Arrange to sit down with your child/children and ask what does the phrase “A fool and his money are soon parted.”
• Ensure that the idea that people need to handle their money carefully has been made.
• Ask them if they think they handle money carefully and with thought about its best use.
• Ask them what smart people do to make sure that they are “not parted” from their money.
• Tell them that you and they are going to play a little game by completing the skeleton chart below identifying traits that smart people show about money.
• Tell them that you and they will take turns completing a blank space and see if you can complete the entire skeleton. (As an example, in the blank that refers to the spine, one might put that a smart money person has the backbone to withstand pressure to buy something that really isn’t needed.)
• Take the time to complete the skeleton and then discuss with them what they learned or were reminded about by completing the chart.

TIPS:

• It is important to remember that there has to be a balanced approach when managing money. Becoming “a miser” and not allowing for some personal reward for wise money management will create an improper approach to money management.

FOLLOW UP IDEAS:

• They could keep a list of all the wise money moves they made during a two week period and you could discuss it with them at the end of that time. You could then discuss with them how “they are further ahead” or what they want to do with any money they might have saved as a result.

(Courtesy of The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education—www.cfee.org)