Growing Up Chico Article
The following Article about teaching children the value of money appeared in the Spring '09 Issue of Growing Up Chico, a magazine containing valuable resources for parents everywhere.
Raising Millionaire Babies
by Kristan Leatherman, M.S.
You have probably noticed there’s a growing need to teach our children financial responsibility, especially in the face of our current economic times. While many people agree we’re not doing a very good job teaching our children about money, and that it is important, just as many of us are not sure how and where to start.
We all know that our children are tomorrow’s future, but we tend to forget that our children may well become our future financial caretakers. As parents, and especially for those of us who are women in business, the values and lessons we instill in them today will carry them for generations to come.
For the last 20 years, as an author, family life consultant and seminar speaker, I have given parents the tools to raise respectful, responsible and self-reliant kids. One of my goals is to help parents understand it doesn’t take a perfect parent to raise a great kid. Oftentimes we think that we should know how to parent, and yet we receive no formal training in something that we have to do 24/7 for 18 years, at least officially.
Through classes, private consultations and published articles such as the one you are reading, parents can learn that parenting doesn’t have to be stressful. That parenting can actually be fun – when given practical, simple, effective tools and techniques that work!
When challenging times arise, parents, understandably, get frustrated. Some parents may try a lot of different techniques but find they are just not working. They may second-guess themselves wondering if they are doing the right thing.
Other parents notice their children, instead of themselves, are struggling with something, and want tools to empower their children. Parenting classes can provide such support. They are a great way to learn from other parents and participants benefit by knowing that they are not alone, and that other parents are struggling with the same, or similar problems.
Since not all techniques work with all situations and children, parents may need to customize the tools and strategies learned in class or in a book to their individual situation. A good rule of thumb is if a situation becomes chronic, lasting for more than three months, it’s probably time to seek professional help. Good professional help is solution oriented and helps parents develop an action plan with a series of practical, concrete steps to address the issues.
In addition to classes and consultations, there are many good books to consider. I have recently written, Millionaire Babies or Bankrupt Brats? Love and Logic Solutions to Teaching Kids About Money, with Jim Fay , co-founder of the Love and Logic Institute. This book provides the best of Love and Logic’s strategies because it allows everyone to reap benefits of learning responsibility. Children benefit because they learn how to solve their own problems, while gaining confidence and capability they need to meet life’s financial challenges. Parents benefit too, as they establish healthy control now, without resorting to anger or threats, and without guilt of having to rescue their children later when they should be financially independent.
Whether it’s books, classes or private consultations, most parents find they can benefit greatly from professional support somewhere along their journey towards raising happy, self-supporting kids. When the time for expert parenting advice arises, I am only a phone call or email away and eager to lend my expertise and an open ear.
Kristan Leatherman, M.S. has a master’s degree in counseling, and is a professional parent/teacher workshop facilitator, a certified teacher, and family life consultant with 20 years experience in education. For more information about her book, workshops and consultations, visit Kristan at her website www.raisingmillionairebabies.com/ or by calling (530) -879-9126 or emailing her at: kristanleatherman@sbcglobal.net