As you have probably heard your preschooler talk about Financial Peace Jr. or Junior himself recently, I wanted to give some suggestions on how to incorporate this program into your home. Over the past few weeks the kiddos have been introduced to new financial vocabulary including bank, store, money, work, spend, save, give, and dept. We have presented new concepts to the kids about the financial world and how to distribute money they earn. Lots of wonderful conversations have taken place and they have shown growth in understanding the concept of working and earning money. Bringing this program into your own home is an easy and beneficial system to have in place.

The first step is to establish what jobs or chores you would like your child to do in order to earn money. Working is the first step of the program that we covered. The students all have one job to do for the day, if they choose to do their job-they get paid. If they choose to NOT do their job, they do not get paid. We tried to make the concept super simple—Working = payment. Just as in the real world, when you show up and do your job, you earn a paycheck. So, at home for this area you need to establish chores you and your child agree upon that they will complete and then get paid for. Some chores may be expectations within your family, so they would not be paid. Establish the frequency of the jobs and the payment amount for completing each job as well. Establishing clear guidelines and walking through the entire process will be very helpful to make sure your child understands the expectations and process.

To help keep track of the jobs completed and payment you will want to set up a job chart in your home. You could simply handmake one or find a template you like online. If you want to be able to reuse the chart every week rather than making/printing a new one, just laminate the chart or easily use a page protector for simple wipe off with dry erase markers. Make sure that you and your child are marking the jobs completed or not completed each time. Follow up with conversations if they do not complete their job-What happens next? Do they still get paid? Encourage your child to try again tomorrow and remind them of the motto Hard Work = Money! Follow up with praise and support when jobs are competed! Make it a big deal so they will be eager to continue to do their jobs.

Next, you will need to set up the envelope system of how your child will divide up their money according to the guidelines in FPJ. For the preschool age group at school, the kids can earn $5 a week for doing their job every day. The program encourages them to split up their money as follows: Give-$1, Save $2, Spend $2. Now, this is a newer part of the program we are just now exploring so your child may still be trying to figure splitting up their earnings. Once each envelope gains larger values, spending that money accordingly will follow. Giving could be donating to a local charity, buying supplies to donate to a cause, or buying supplies in order to make something for others. Savings will go to whatever treat your child has had their eye on and spending will go to the little extras they may want to purchase. For example, have your child bring their spending money to the movies, have them take responsibility in buying the candy they want if you agree to only buy popcorn. Setting up the envelope system helps kids to establish how to prioritize their money now, which will greatly help them in the future.

Having your preschooler practice the Financial Peace Jr. program at home not only reinforces what they are learning at school, it is helping to build a foundation for future smart financial making decisions. Why not provide this wonderful opportunity? Bringing this program into your home will be so beneficial for the entire family! Practicing smart money making decisions now, will only lead to bright futures later!

-Ms. Whitney
Curriculum Coordinator
Lead Prekindergarten Teacher

June has been proclaimed as the Great Outdoors Month. This is a perfect time to share the glory of nature with your child!

There are plenty of reasons why you should pack your stuff and enjoy the Great Outdoors with your kids.  Here are just a few of them:

1.       Manage Your Kid’s Excessive Use of Technology

There are so many distractions these days competing for your child’s attention.  Gadgets, video games, the Internet, you name it, they’re all out there. And you know, once your child gets their hands on any of it, they give it their undivided attention.

There’s nothing wrong with exposing your kids to technology.  But too much of anything can negatively impact your kid, physically, socially and emotionally.

What is alarming though, is how children spend so much less time outside the home and seldom interact with kids their age. (Sometimes, they don’t even talk to their own parents!)  Technology is creating a reclusive generation who’d rather spend time in front of a mobile phone or a computer monitor. Even recess has been reduced or eliminated at many schools, further reducing the time spent outside.

Want to prevent this gloom and doom horizon? You can, if you manage how your kids use technology. Giving them interesting alternatives such as exploring the Great Outdoors tops the list.

If you have limited time because of work, look into having your child attend a child care program.  There are child care centers that offer outdoor activities in their curriculum.

2. 
   

    Explore the Grandness of Mother Nature

The US is well known for its majestic outdoors. Go explore some of it! Kids can learn a lot from actual, experiential discovery. Going camping, fishing, or just playing catch in a neighborhood park? Being outside gives you and your child the opportunity to be one with nature.

Imagine your child responding to a live butterfly flying above her head, instead of watching a some video about insects on the web.  It’s amazing to see your child discover new things about nature. Better yet, you’re there to teach your kid about nature itself!

3.       Bonding with Family & Friends

This June is the best month to bond with your child together with friends and other family members. During the National Great Outdoors celebration, there are plenty of fun activities you and your child can enjoy, such as:

•         Boating
•         Camping
•         Family Fun
•         Fishing
•         Hiking
•         Stewardship

Ask the director of the child care center your kid is attending if they offer any of these outdoor activities and how you and your kid can make the most of it.  Child care centers often align their activities with the Great Outdoors Month celebration, by including field trips to parks and other outdoor activities. And most centers need and appreciate volunteers to join them on these field trips, so ask how you can help!

Spending quality time with your kid this month while being out in nature is a wonderful and enriching experience.  Your child is guaranteed to enjoy endless opportunities for adventure, recreation, and renewal of family ties.

4.       Health Benefits

There’s no denying taking long walks outside can result in long-lasting and far-reaching health benefits.  Nature offers an opportunity to explore and get active while strengthening our bonds with family.

The health benefits are not just limited to physical health.  Sure, climbing a steep hill or backpacking with your kid builds endurance and improves overall physical well-being. But there’s more to physical health when you enjoy the great outdoors, including:

Mental Health Balance

Spending time with your kids outdoors is also beneficial to your own mental health.  It’s a wonderful stress reliever especially if you work in an office all day. Hiking, biking, and climbing can help relieve you of the stress that you deal with on a regular basis.  

Social Bond Strengthening

People who love the great outdoors or any kind of outdoor activity usually do well at group work.  Outdoorsy folks improve their social skills over time and they do so while learning how to effectively work with others.

Imagine what it will be like for your kid.

Encouraging your kid to enjoy nature also gives them important skills, such as team building and problem-solving skills. These will be extremely valuable when she grows up.  

Increased Productivity

Believe it or not, people who spend more time outdoors are more productive in their job and personal life.  Kids who spend more time with friends playing in the park tend to show more IQ and EQ than those who spend more time tinkering with their gadgets.

They are more motivated to get involved in activities and they bring this “grit” to solve life’s riddles and challenges.

Healthy View of the Environment

By exploring the world, kids develop a deep appreciation of nature.  Teaching your child about nature opens their eyes to how important and interconnected the environment is.

Talk to your child about simple, but pressing, environmental issues of the day and teach her how she can make a big difference in her own small way.  Besides, big changes take place with small steps.

5. 
   

    Contribute to the Local Economy by Boosting Local, Small Businesses

Last, but certainly not least, exploring the great outdoors with your kids can bring great value to local and small businesses in your area.  Every time you go out to enjoy nature, you contribute to your local economy’s coffers.

The Great Outdoors Month of June is a time for everyone to share what nature has to offer.  It helps heighten your child’s understanding of nature and their place in it. Plus it’s just a great place to relax in!