How to Teach Your Child the Value of Money

Teaching kids about money can be a challenge. They may think you have an endless supply of cash and not understand the value of money. Teaching financial literacy will not only give your children an appreciation for what you provide, it will also help develop a baseline for a successful financial future. Here are some simple money lessons for both children and teens from C&N to help your kids grow up into financially responsible adults.

Money Management for Kids

Is your child begging you for the latest video game console or the hottest new toy? It’s important to use this as a way to teach valuable money lessons, including the importance of saving for what you want.

• The Value of a Dollar: Start your financial literacy lesson by choosing something your child wants to buy and explaining how much it costs. To truly learn the value a dollar, ask your child to earn all or part the cost. Depending on his or her age, this could come in the form of household chores, babysitting, pet sitting or dog walking. Look for local social media boards that list these kinds of opportunities to help your child find an appropriate way of earning money.
   
• Teach Children About Saving Money: Encourage your child to save the money he or she earns. Putting money away into something tangible like C&N’s Ju$t for Kid$ Club will help your child understand the concept of watching money grow over time. Children aged 13 and under enrolled in our Ju$t for Kid$ club will also receive birthday cards, access to our rewards program, a semi-annual newsletter and much more. Our program offers children a fun and positive experience associated with money that will be sure to kickstart good savings habits at a young age.
   
• Spending Money: Once your child has saved up enough money, it’s time to go shopping. This rewarding experience can help teach a valuable lesson and begin to establish lifelong, healthy money management skills.

Teenage Money Management

If you are the parent of a teenager, it’s important to regularly talk to your teen about money management and teach responsible spending and saving habits. Here are a few ways to help your teen understand how to manage money independently.

• Enroll in C&N’s Teen $teps Program: C&N’s  Teen $teps Program is designed specifically for teenagers to help them develop sound financial habits. With a parent or guardian’s permission, teenagers open a C&N Everyday Checking Account, and the program will give them through real-life scenarios in a fun, interactive Banzai® Teen game. The further they advance, the more access they get to the Checking account. More financial education means more financial freedom.
   
• College Savings: According to the College Board, the average cost of private college tuition is over $50K per year. This is a hefty expense for any family, so it’s important to start the conversation early on. Estimate how much it would cost for your child to attend a private, public or community college. If you’ve been contributing to an education savings fund, tell your child how much you think you’ll have saved and if he or she is expected to contribute the rest. This is also a great time to teach your teens about how to find and apply for scholarships or grants and how student loans work. Talk to them about how student loans are structured with our Student Loan Consolidation and Debt Payoff calculator. 
   
• Protecting Cards & Identity: If you allow your teens to have cell phones, credit cards and/or social media accounts, it’s critical to teach them how to protect themselves from identity theft. About 1 in 15 people is a victim of identity theft, according to a 2018 identity fraud report. Unfortunately, thieves know to target those who have not yet learned to protect themselves. Ensure your teens secure their Online Banking accounts and store their credit cards in a safe place. They should also be vigilant about protecting debit card PIN numbers and their Social Security Number. The more you teach them now about protecting their identities, the safer they’ll be when they’re out on their own.

Teaching Money Management Skills to Kids & Teens

Our friends at Banzai^® offer onlines courses that put children or young adults in real-life scenarios to demonstrate the power of good financial planning. 

• Banzai Junior is designed for kids aged 8 to 12 that puts them in charge of a lemonade stand with the goal of saving up for a new bike throughout the summer. This course teaches concepts such as interest and fees, budgeting and income. 
   
• ​Banzai Teen is designed for young adults aged 13-18 and gives them the opportunity to work through real life scenarios with the goal of saving enough money to register for college, with unforeseen challenges and obstacles along the way. 

Financial Literacy is a Life Lesson

Whether you are parenting children or teens, financial lessons are important to prepare them for the real-world. If you’d like to speak with a C&N expert, please contact us to set up an appointment or visit us at your nearest C&N office, and we’ll partner with you to get your child on the path to financial responsibility.