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Teaching kids financial management: the fundamentals

Teaching kids finances

The task of teaching your child about money and finances may seem quite daunting, and you may wonder how you should even start, or why it is even necessary. As Forbes magazine points out, $845 billion in credit card debt in the US shows that even adults don’t know much about the essentials of money. By teaching kids about the importance of saving money while they are young, hopefully they can avoid some of the mistakes of their elders.

Why teach kids financial management?

It is important to teach kids financial management while they are young so they will have a good foundation of financial skills that can be built upon as they get older. For example, while a teenager will need to start thinking about getting a job, saving up for college, and learning to manage expenses, a younger child just needs to learn about the importance of money, how to use it and how to save it. Although the concepts that a younger child should learn may seem simple, they will need them to be able to expand them later as a teenager.

What to teach them?

Kids don’t need to make a life plan or get a job quite yet. Therefore, it is good to start with simple money-related concepts that will help them when they do need to make significant financial decisions later on. Once kids know what money is and why it is used, you can teach them how to spend money. Teaching kids about wants versus needs, and value versus cost will help them learn what to spend their money on, and what are good purchases to make.

Once your child knows how to use money, you should teach them why they should not spend all their money as soon as they get it, but save some of it for the future. Explain to them that if they save up some money, they could be able to buy a more expensive superhero mask instead of just blowing their money right away on several five cent candies. When you have introduced the importance of saving money, take them to the bank to open up a savings account, and take them there regularly so they become familiar with depositing money. This will help them build a healthy habit of saving up money that will hopefully continue on into their adult years. They should also learn to track their interest earnings in their savings account by doing this, and learn how to read bank statements.

How to begin to teach kids financial management

You can start introducing kids to money as soon as they learn to count, and especially once they have started learning addition and subtraction. Money can actually be a great way for kids to learn addition and subtraction. Take them to a store and have them pay for a snack by themselves, or bring them grocery shopping with you and have them help you estimate the cost.

As they get older, don’t be afraid to go into more complicated matters about money. For example, teaching them about the stock market and investments. You can explore the concepts of money growth and percentages used in interest. Also explain things like, “where does interest come from”? Or “why are there different types of savings accounts?” These are things that may not be taught at school or in mathematics. Instead of being merely theoretical, they have practical life applications, which makes math more relevant to kids.

You’d be surprised how much kids can understand about finances. When they can learn the concept of an investment, they can start looking at money as more than a way to just make a one-time purchase (such as for a toy or candy). They can start exploring ideas of how to make their money grow. For example, the idea here is that they may start to think of ways to make more money. Why not invest in materials to build a lemonade stand, so they can sell a product to earn more? Or buy a lawn mower and start offering lawn-mowing services in their community during the summer?

Tools to help teach kids about money

There are also some great games out there to teach kids about finances. From online games to apps for your phone, there are plenty of technological resources. For example, there is an app called Save! The Game, that teaches kids about wants versus needs. Another great online game that teaches kids various financial lessons is The Great Piggy Bank Adventure. Even board games like Life can teach your child about different expenses that will be encountered from college until retirement.

No matter what approach you want to take, it is important to start teaching your kids financial management from a young age. By learning simple saving and spending methods while they are young, they will be able to build upon these when they get older. So start teaching your kids how to manage their money today!

Get kids excited about math skills by showing them cool jobs that use it everyday

A common question that we’ve all heard at some point in our schooling, whether in elementary school, high school, or beyond, is “why do I need to know this?” Sometimes, as a teacher or parent, it may be hard to think of an answer with specific examples. Here are some ideas of real-life applications to help your child see how math can be useful in the real world.

kids excited about math skills

Math skills used in iconic architecture

Some of the largest and most incredible examples of math in the real world are well-known monuments and buildings around the world. For example, the Taj Mahal has very impressive and perfect symmetry. Meanwhile, the Great Pyramid of Giza has some really cool hidden math concepts in it. In the measurements of the king’s chamber pyramids you can clearly see the Pythagorean Triangle, and the perimeter of the pyramid divided by its height is equal to Pi (3.14159…). By teaching your child about an iconic piece of architecture like these ones, you can have both a history lesson and a math lesson at the same time. You can also point out how the architects and construction workers who design and build these utilize their math skills in a very practical way.

Find math in nature with the Fibonacci Sequence and golden ratio

Another amazing example of math can be found right in your backyard and everywhere in nature. For example, the Fibonacci Sequence (1,2,3,5,8…) can be found all throughout botany, from sunflower seeds to pinecones and flower petals. These are also good examples of the golden ratio, as these two concepts are closely related. Even looking at symmetry in the human body can be intriguing, and can be combined into a science lesson for aspiring physiotherapists, chiropractors, doctors, and disciplines of anatomy. If you are looking for a way to tie science and math together, you can look up more examples of math in nature and go for a hike to see how many things you can find that use the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence.

Math skills in everyday tasks

Teaching math through everyday tasks is also a great idea, because no matter what your child’s math level is, there is sure to be something they are going to need math skills for eventually. For simple practice of addition and subtraction, have your child practice making purchases and learning to count money. You can also practice adding and subtracting fractions by baking and having your child use different combinations of measuring cups. For a more advanced learner, using the quadratic equation to figure out where a ball will land once thrown. It can help make the concept seem less abstract.

You can tie these examples into a lesson on an appropriate topic, or just point them out as you see them in real life. And of course, if you ever hear one of those questions escape your child’s lips, “why do I need to know this?” or “who actually uses this in real life?”, now you will be able to give them some specific examples. Enjoy!

Create your own math materials at home to help your child see how math works visually

Math materials at home to help your child

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, a math concept will not ‘click’ with your child by using traditional teaching methods and math materials. It could be because they are a visual or kinesthetic learner. If they are, they may need to see and play around with other manipulatives before they get it. Or, your child might just be bored of doing a bunch of worksheets and need something new to regain interest. Either way, you can easily create some math manipulatives at home that mimic some of the materials you may find in your child’s classroom, but don’t cost a fortune.

Keep things colourful with math materials

The first thing to remember when making math manipulatives is to include different colours. Visual learners in particular will benefit from this, as bright colours will not only be visually stimulating to get them engaged, but can help them learn math concepts through colour association. For example, if you teach them to associate one colour with one operation, say blue for addition, that might resonate with them more than the simple subtraction symbol.

Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with bottle caps

One idea to ease yourself into making math manipulatives is to write a bunch of numbers on bottle caps for practice with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You can have a pile of these numbered bottle caps, and you or your child can select a few to form an equation.

This is an easy way to use math materials to get your child practicing solving equations, while switching it up from a boring old worksheet. One way to incorporate colour here is to make the numbers one of four different colours, so that each colour represents an operation. You can stick to one operation for each equation, say addition, or if your child is ready to learn order of operations you can mix them all together.

Another use for bottle caps: make a multiplication table

Another math manipulative you can make at home is a multiplication table out of bottle caps. This will require quite a few bottle caps: 100 if you want to do a full 10×10 table. But if you collect bottle caps easily in your house this is the perfect way to use them.

Start by numbering 1-10 on two strips of paper and place them across the top and left sides of a square of cardboard or any other hard material. Then, fill in each row with 10 bottle caps. Your child can put beads or beans in the caps to visually see how much 6×4 or 8×2 equals. See this link for a visual example (though the writing is in Italian).

Put a creative spin on ordinary integer tiles by making your own

If your child is learning to work with integers, they might have had the opportunity to work with integer tiles at school. When learning to add and subtract with integers, integer tiles can be very useful to help kids see what is happening visually.

Instead of trying to get your hands on expensive math tiles, make some with your child out of paper. Use fun colours or pictures to make them more visually appealing. For example, flowers could be positives and fish could be negatives. Or you could even just colour in positive tiles with red markers and negatives with blue markers. This can turn into a fun craft and an easy way to learn integers using simple math materials at home.

These are just a few examples, but hopefully this gives you an idea of how easy it is to make math materials right at home! Don’t be afraid to get creative! Try to recreate manipulatives you see in your child’s classroom using simple materials from around your house.

How to teach kids to try, try again

How to teach kids to try, try again

The familiar quote “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” can be traced back to The Teacher’s Manual by Thomas H. Palmer written in 1840. This quote may be from the past, but the lesson it teaches is important for the future of today’s young students. If we raise students to work hard and repeatedly try again they eventually will be a generation that will succeed in the future. Here are some ways adults can foster students’ attitudes to try and not give up.

1. Set kids up to succeed

Parents and teachers should not expect students to be able to do tasks that are too difficult for them. Giving a child a book to read that is too advanced will cause the student to be frustrated and give up. It is a good idea to give students tasks that are at their level that they can try to do on their own. Gradually the difficulty of tasks can be increased and students should still be encouraged to try to do the more difficult task on their own before asking for help.

2. Use words of praise that encourage kids to keep trying

Using the proper kind of praise is what fosters a trying attitude in students. An article about why some kids try harder and some kids give up talks about how adults are partially responsible for these attitudes. Parents and teachers can encourage students to try to accomplish tasks on their own by praising the amount of effort they give to the task. Saying “I knew you could do it if you kept trying!” or “practice makes perfect” are ways to encourage students to keep trying. A good quote for students to learn and repeat is the classic phrase: “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

3. Try not to praise students for being “smart”

Adults who praise kids by telling them they are smart might be instilling in them an attitude of “I don’t need to try” in order to do well. Some students think that they have a certain amount of ability no more and no less. Research shows that adolescent students are capable of learning and advancing beyond their original capacity. Students who are praised with phrases like “your effort really paid off” or “I can tell you were trying your best” tend to take on more challenging tasks in the future compared to students who will only attempt to do tasks that they know they can do well. Students who have the attitude that trying hard leads to success is much better than thinking they can only do as well as they already know they can do.

4. Don’t give students the answer right away: let them try on their own

It is important to let kids try to figure something out on their own. If a student asks a question it is best to help encourage them to try it themselves instead of immediately giving them the answer. If a student is really struggling it is okay to help them along and give them some clues so they don’t feel discouraged if they get stuck for too long.

5. Set a good example of one who will try, try again in order to succeed

Adults can be a positive pattern of how effort results in accomplishing difficult tasks. For example, if a parent is trying to fix the Internet connection they should try to solve the problem and fix it. Rather than calling on someone else to do things for you set an example for your kids by trying to accomplish tasks on your own.

Being aware of how to encourage students to keep trying is the key to developing this type of hard working attitude in students. As these students grow older and graduate from universities they will be a generation of adults who will keep trying until they succeed.

Tips to prevent germs from spreading at school

Keeping kids healthy at school is not always easy. Last week’s blog post talked about why kids are more likely to catch cold and flu viruses at school, but the good news is that there are ways to stay healthy. Here are some tips that you can follow for keeping kids healthy right from the start of the school year that help prevent germs from spreading in the first place.

Prevent germs from spreading at school

How can you help your child prevent germs from spreading at school?

A study was done to find out what the most germy spots are around schools. The lunch room tables, computer mouses and drinking fountains were some of the most infested places. Different kids are touching these surfaces throughout the day and spreading germs to each other. Getting sick can’t always be avoided, but the spread of germs can be reduced by following some general practices. It is good to educate your child at home so they can continue to use the same practices when they are at school.

1. Keep your kids hydrated, rested and full of vitamins

Drinking water is one way to keep your kids bodies equipped to fight off germs. Taking daily vitamins that are full of vitamin C are also ways to help boost your family’s immune system. Making sure to get plenty of rest also keeps your body strong to stand against illnesses. By keeping yourself and your family members healthy your kids will be more likely to avoid catching whatever bugs are going around the school. This is also a good step toward preventing the cold and flu viruses from taking over your home.

2. Wash hands often at home and at school

It might seem like a no brainer to tell kids to wash their hands throughout the day, but this is something kids tend to forget to do. Washing hands is not just important after using the washroom but also after coughing or blowing your nose and before eating. Kids especially eat a lot of finger foods, so it should always be a requirement to wash hands before eating a snack or a meal. Reminding your kids to wash their hands will help keep them and other kids from getting sick at school. This article shows why handwashing is so effective at keeping people healthy.

3. Avoid sharing food or drinks with others

Friends sometimes like to share food and drinks with each other. They may think it is harmless, but this is one way that is bound to spread germs to other students around the school. If your child enjoys sharing snacks with friends they can pack extra snacks or drinks to pass around instead of sharing the same food or drink item.

4. Promote health education at school

It is good to inform your children about how to reduce germs from spreading. Another way of keeping kids healthy at school is to have health education at the school. Sharing health tips with all of the students in the school will help get the whole school involved in preventing germs and sickness from spreading. Even if there is not a separate health class every classroom teacher can spend some time covering basic information with their classes.

These tips can’t guarantee that your kids will never get sick when they go back to school. However, by following these simple steps and reminders it will at least help to reduce germs from spreading and limit the numbers of students who have to stay home from school due to illness.

How do kids catch cold and flu viruses at school?

Does it seem like as soon as kids return to school they start coming home sick? There are a variety of factors that lead to kids catching colds or viruses that take them out of school for days. Here are some of the reasons why kids catch cold and flu viruses at school.

kids catch cold and flu viruses at school

Why do kids tend to get sick when school starts?

There are a number of reasons why kids come home with runny noses and fevers once they return to school in the fall. Here are three of the main reasons why the start of the school year coincides with the start of cold and flu season.

1. Being around lots of new kids with new germs

One of the culprits to the spread of sickness is kids being around a lot of new people who they haven’t been around before. All the kids coming back to school bring all sorts of germs with them. Some kids have travelled to different countries during the summer where they may have picked up some foreign germs as well. Once all these kids come together, the school building becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Kids all touch the same door handles, sink faucets and paper towel dispensers. They also share crayons, play games with the same toys and little kids might still walk together holding hands. These are all avenues that enable germs to spread throughout the school.

2. Do changes in weather increase the chances of getting sick?

Some people believe that going outside when it’s cold out can lead to getting sick. Cold weather alone isn’t proven to cause sickness. It may however, weaken the immune system and make kids more susceptible to catch cold and flu viruses at school. Another factor that may cause people to get sick when the weather gets colder is that more people congregate indoors where it is easier to spread germs to one another. Regardless of whether or not the weather makes you sick it is still a good idea to keep your kids dressed with adequate layers to keep them warm when they go outside in cool weather.

3. Kids catch cold and flu viruses at school in the fall and winter

The changes in weather could be a major breeding ground for cold and flu viruses. Some research has indicated that cold and flu viruses are more easily transmitted in cooler, less humid weather. If viruses are hardier during these seasons then they can survive for a longer period of time and infect more people.

For kids to be able to focus at school they have to be feeling good. If your kids catch cold or flu viruses at school it is important that they rest at home before returning to school. Being at school when not feeling well doesn’t do much good for the sick child and there is a risk of spreading more germs to other students. Follow the school nurses orders and keep your sick child home for the recommended number of days before returning them to school.