Do you educate your children about money? I'm interested in it somehow, but in the first place, "I don't know what to do" and "I'm wondering how old I should start". For such parents, we will explain the methods of money education that can be done at home and its merits, which are recommended for children from preschool to lower grades of elementary school.What is money education?Money education is to hone your kids own values ​​by understanding how money works and how it works, and thinking about how it relates to their daily life. In money education, there are many things that cannot be understood without actually spending money, such as "type of money," "how to manage money," and "how to use money." Therefore, in order to educate children about money at home, it is recommended to utilize "pocket money" that can increase the chances of touching money.Why do you need money education for your children?Why do preschoolers and children in the lower grades of elementary school need money education? Some parents may think it's too early to teach small children about money. But the truth is that money education is also meaningful for young children. Below, we will introduce the benefits of providing money education to children.Advantages 1. Child's autonomy. Foster independenceOne of the benefits of money education is that it fosters children's autonomy. Leaving money management to your children gives them the freedom to decide how to spend their money, but it also introduces various restrictions. Children have to think about what they want, what they can buy, and what they need, and decide when to spend their money.Your kids can buy what they want with their own money, and sometimes they need to be patient to buy what they want. Even if the adult does not tell them, the child will be able to control himself voluntarily, which will eventually lead to an improvement in autonomy. Also, if your children continue to manage while learning the knowledge and usage of money, they will experience not only successful experiences but also failures such as waste. From the accumulation of such mistakes, they can learn how to use it realistically and develop your children's independence.Advantage 2. Train the concept of numbers and computing powerAs children decide how to spend their money and manage it themselves, they have more opportunities to make calculations on a daily basis. Therefore, not only management ability but also calculation ability can be expected to improve. For example, in the calculation of money that is casually done in everyday life, "addition" and "subtraction" are used to summarize the income and expenditure, and when the total amount is calculated at the store, not only "addition" but also "multiplication" and discount are used. At times, you also calculate "subtraction," "multiplication," and change. In addition, when purchasing a product, it is necessary to compare the amount of money on hand with the amount of purchase at the cash register and calculate quickly, so it is a great opportunity to improve the child's "instantaneous judgment" and "calculation speed". It can be said. Also, remembering money is an important point in "money education". Children can learn more about the concept of numbers by picking up coins and banknotes and understanding the "concept of currency exchange".Advantage 3. Foster a sense of money valueBy telling your child about money and actually spending it, you can improve their sense of money value from childhood. Through the shopping experience, they will understand the difference between price and quality, and they will become aware that money is finite. In addition, your child will be able to objectively understand the values ​​of things because they will have a habit of considering the amount of money when judging the value of things.For example, the price of a video game that is popular with children is hundreds of times higher than that of candy. If your kids have a habit of spending money on their own, they will be aware of the value of things that are close to them, so they may be able to spend them carefully.Money education methodsFrom here, I will introduce a method of money education at home that can be practiced even today. The time to start money education is when your child is interested in money. If your kids see parents spending money or trying to touch it, start money education from the first step. It's not too early just because you're a toddler.Method 1. Playing Pretend ShoppingThe first step in money education is from shopping. Especially recommended for children from 4 years old to preschoolers. Let's put a price on personal toys and stationery, and let's play shopping while changing the role of the shop staff and the role of the customer. You can deepen your child's understanding while playing, such as that you can buy products by paying a fixed price and that you can get change if you pay a lot of money. Not only toy money sets, but also marbles can be used as money, and if the price of things is "3 marbles", even children who cannot read numbers can play. Also, when spending money, it would be easier to understand as an introductory edition if you could complete it with just a $ 1 bill, such as "Eggs are $ 1 each" and "Sweets are $ 3 each". Once your kids get used to shopping a little, it's a good idea to step up by increasing the types of money they spend and the price variations.Method 2. Learn the flow of money and the value of things through everyday lifeLet's talk about money with parents when they go shopping or go to the bank. Money does not come indefinitely from a parent's wallet. Please chew and talk about how the money came in and what you are spending it on. Supermarkets are also a treasure trove of subjects. Even with the theme of "why the price is different depending on the product even though it is the same milk", you can expand the story as much as you like, such as quality, difference in production method, and points of concern about the product. Showing your household account book to your child is also a good learning experience.Method 3. Make pocket money a reward systemFor pocket money, we recommend the "reward system", which is given as compensation for help, rather than the flat-rate system, which gives a fixed amount every month. While consulting with your child, create a help table such as 〇 cents for cleaning the bath and 〇 cents for washing dishes. Children get the experience of "working and getting paid", the difficulty of making money, and the joy of getting paid. It is also an important process to use the pocket money you earn. Let's leave the usage to the child as much as possible. Children learn through failure, even if it may seem like a waste to adults. It is also a valuable experience that "I couldn't buy the sweets I wanted because I spent too much money on the game." By accumulating experience, you can experience how to spend money.Money education in early childhood is the first step in cultivating important values ​​for living. In order to cultivate a healthy sense of money for your child, why not start with a casual shopping play?