Try as I might to get my six year old daughter to be excited about the concept of money, she still would rather roll the coins on the wooden floor, or throw the bills in the air, then learn about saving and spending. That was until she realized she had a total of $6 dollars in her bank. The magic number 6! As I mentioned she is 6, so all things 6 are exciting to her. Now she was ready to go to the store and make her first purchase.
To my amazement when asked what she wanted to purchase her immediate reply was “A LUNCHABLE!” The excitement on her face and in her voice made me think she certainly must have said “Disney Land”, but no, it was very clearly “Lunchable”. (For those of you not familiar with this delicacy, it’s an Oscar Mayer snack/lunch box that includes crackers, meat, cheese, a treat, etc.) So off to the grocery store we went! She knew exactly where they were located. Obviously she had scoped them out on a prior visit. She quickly selected her turkey Lunchable and carried it to the counter. She proudly paid for it with her own money, out of her own pink purse, and put it in her own grocery bag. Watching her enjoy her first purchase was such a joy!
Does she now better understand the value of money? I’m not sure. However, a week later, we went back to the grocery store, and I “sprung” for another Luncheable. If only she could always be so easily (and inexpensively) pleased! What a great lesson in appreciating the smaller things in life.
What are your favorite tips for teaching your kids the value of money? What was their first purchase?
Here’s an interesting article I found on teaching the value of money, as well as a link to General Mills Federal Credit Union Kid’s and Teen’s programs.
Tags: children, kids, Lunchable, teens, value of money
