GRAND Magazine - January/February 2019 - 6

money

Teaching children how to have a healthy lifelong
relationship with money
BY RIC EDELMAN

M

y wife Jean and I have
been teaching personal
finance for the past 30
years, through our books and as
independent investment advisors.
It was time, we decided, to write a
money book for children ages 4-8.
Research shows that financial
habits form at a very early age.
Unfortunately, personal finance isn't
taught in schools, and few employers ever discuss the subject with
workers. And many parents never
discuss money with their children -
often because they don't know
where to start. But if we want our
kids and grandkids to be financially
secure, we must start teaching them
when they're still young.
That's why we wrote The Squirrel
Manifesto, a modern-day fable
teaching young children the most
important aspects of money: spend a
little, save a little, give a little and tax a little.

"

"As a grandparent, you play a vital
role in shaping your grandchildren's
financial habits."

6 GRAND

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2019

From handling allowances and
birthday money to the cash they'll
earn babysitting or mowing lawns,
you can help your grandchildren
understand that money brings
opportunities-and also creates
obligations. Even very young children can learn the value of money
by following the simple rules of
The Squirrel Manifesto. By seeing
how a squirrel eats nuts, gathers
some for later, and gives some to
those in need, children learn how
to live a happy, rewarding life.
As a grandparent, you play a
vital role in shaping your grandchildren's financial habits. To
help you, The Squirrel Manifesto
includes a Guide for Grown-Ups.
This fun, practical guide shows
you how to teach your grandchildren that money is fun - and
that it's equally important to put
some aside for the future and to be charitable. For instance, when
you gift your grandchildren cash, use small bills or coins so it is
easy for them to spend a little, save a little and give a little - all
good money habits that can last a lifetime.
Sharing these valuable fundamentals with your grandchildren
will help them grow up to be successful, happy adults.

Ric Edelman is a founder and Chairman of Financial
Education and Client Experience at Edelman Financial
Engines. As a #1 New York Times bestselling author with
more than one million copies collectively in print, Ric's
nine books on personal finance have been translated
into several languages and have educated countless
people worldwide. The Ric Edelman Show has been
airing on the radio for more than 25 years and is heard
throughout the country.

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GRAND Magazine - January/February 2019

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