Money Matters for Kids
Have you ever bought your child that candy bar or comic at the checkout counter to calm a tantrum?
Most parents experience moments that tempt them to keep their children happy and behaving well—and often this involves money. But as the old saying goes, “money doesn’t always buy happiness,” especially when it comes to kids.
“Parents should be open about money with their children,” said Charlotte Baechur, editor of Zillions, the Consumer’s Union magazine for kids. “If they’re going to make a purchase that’s visible to the child such as a car or a TV, they should talk about the expense and say things like, ‘Well, if we buy this, we can’t buy that, or we will have to cut back on that.”
In this economic climate, many parents are teaching their children at an early age about how to manage and budget their money. We have several books that address these issues and make the subject matter easier to grasp for children. Additionally several wonderful websites have sprung up devoted to helping kids of all ages learn about money and investing. It is never too early to teach children how to make smart money decisions that will last a lifetime. Here is a compilation of both books and websites that will help in the education about money and finances for children.
Try one of these websites:
H.I.P. Pocket Change from the US Mint
ChangeMaker from FunBrain
Cash Puzzler from Visa’s Practical Money Skills for Life
These and other books about money and saving for kids are available in Marple Public Library:
Rancic, Bill. Beyond the lemonade stand : starting small to make it BIG! J 658.1 RAN
Business advice from the winner of the television show The apprentice.
Harman, Hollis Page. Barron’s money sense for kids J 332.024 HAR
Explains the nature of money, the different ways in which it can be represented, and how it can be saved or invested. Includes games and activities.
Gill, Shelley. The big buck adventure J 513 GIL
Rhyming account of a little girl’s quandary as she tries to decide what she can get with her dollar in a candy shop, toy store, deli, and pet department.
Leedy, Loreen. Follow the money! J 332.4 LEE
A quarter describes all the ways it is used from the time it is minted until it is taken back to a bank.
Adler, David A. Money madness J 332.4 ADL
From bartering, early forms of currency, credit cards, and digital payment, here is a clear and thorough introduction to money.
Bateman, Katherine Roberta. The young investor : projects and activities for making your money grow J 332.6 BAT
Suggests how to make your money grow, discussing savings, investing, stocks, and the economy.
Rose Tree Park in Media is again hosting a Delaware County Summer Festival concert series. We’ve had questions at the library about the schedule and have some brochures available, so be sure to pick one up before we run out! Also, the concert schedule is available online at www.co.delaware.pa.us/summer/2009WebSchedule.pdf
