"No one every taught me about money. I had to learn about money through trial and error - just like everyone else", said Parent to me.

"At school we learnt history, geography, science, biology, languages, mathematics, woodwork, drama, art and physical education but never about money. I don't know why, though. I've never used trigonometry, calculus, poetry or paint brushes EVERY SINGLE DAY in order to put a roof over my head and food on the table", Parent marvelled.

"Knowledge of these subjects has been valuable to me in order to converse with the rest of society about the very same content which they learnt at school and many of us agree, how very GENERAL this knowledge is and mostly UNRELATED to our daily means of survival. It's not that this knowledge is unnecessary. We appreciate the skills and tools we've learnt which aide our lives but rather, we feel that we missed out on learning something very ESSENTIAL in our schooling", continued Parent.

"How is it that a child can attend school 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, 40 weeks a year for 13 years and still walk out of the school gates at 18 years of age with INADEQUATE knowledge and training on how to manage money? Yet, once they are 18 years old these kids are given the rights and responsibilities of a financially literate person which leads them to make basic money mistakes and destroys their confidence!", said Parent with slight exasperation in their voice.

"You are absolutely right", I said. "Do you think that you could teach your children the skills they need to be financially literate by the time they leave school?"

"Not really", Parent answered. "I don't have the patience and I wouldn't know where to begin. There's just so much for them to learn about money and I don't think that I have the time to teach them everything. That's why I sent them to school!"

"Learning to be financially literate is like learning a language", I replied. "You can't learn it in a weekend and expect to be fluent for the rest your life. It takes time to learn and daily application of this new skill which will set you up for a life filled with dreams coming true and free of money worries. Your children will thank you later for sending them to financial literacy lessons now."

Nicole Martin is an accountant and Certified Financial Education Instructor offering in-person financial education instruction in Coffs Harbour, Australia. Make up your mind NOT to be left behind.

I don't know how to teach my kids about money

Nicole Martin

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