With millions of American schoolchildren in summer vacation, cries of "I'm bored" ring out across the nation. Swimming lessons and trips to the mall can fill only so many hours. Before you give up and surrender the TV remote, consider some activities that can be productive, safe and fun for kids of all ages.
Teach them practical skills. We've all had friends who somehow reached adulthood never having washed their own socks or bought groceries. That's why my wife and I are strong proponents of teaching our kids self sufficiency. We've come up with additional jobs they can tackle during vacation for extra spending money, over and above their modest allowances.
Along with routine age-appropriate tasks like washing the car, yard work and babysitting, look for more creative ideas like scrapbooking old photos or weeding through closets for garage sale items. Target activities that not only ease your own workload but also increase the amount of time you can spend together. Most kids typically would rather spend more quality time with their parents than get a new toy.
- Involve them in balancing your checkbook and paying bills. They'll probably be amazed to learn how much things like utilities, rent/mortgage and groceries cost.
- Enlist their help planning vacations by researching travel costs online, calculating gas mileage, estimating hotel bills, etc.
- When planning a major purchase like a house or car, engage their help researching and comparison shopping, and explain how sales tax, loans and real estate broker commissions work.
- You Are Here, an animated site offered by the Federal Trade Commission, where 5th through 8th graders wander through a virtual "mall," playing games and learning key consumer concepts such as the impact of advertising, how to spot scams and protect personal information. The site also has a Parents and Teachers page with additional resources.
- Money Smart, a financial education program developed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that includes an eight-module, free curriculum for teaching young adults ages 12-20 the basics of handling their money and finances, including how to create positive relationships with financial institutions.
- MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching people of all ages the basics of financial education.
- Hands on Banking, a free, interactive program from Wells Fargo that teaches financial basics and smart money management skills, including dedicated sites for teens and kids.
- Building Wealth, a Beginner's Guide to Securing Your Financial Future, developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. It includes online interactive and print versions.
- The Jump$tart Coalition, a national coalition of organizations dedicated to improving the financial literacy of kindergarten through college-age youth by providing advocacy, research, standards and educational resources, which offers hundreds of free and low-cost educational materials.
- Financial Soccer, a fast-paced, interactive video game created by my employer, Visa Inc., and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which incorporates soccer's structure and rules to teach children and young adults the knowledge and tools they'll need to establish and maintain sound financial habits over a lifetime. Financial Soccer is free and can be played online or on CD-ROM.
This article is intended to provide general information and should not be considered tax or financial advice. It's always a good idea to consult a tax or financial advisor for specific information on how tax laws apply to you and about your individual financial situation.
Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney