Economy and Kids!

Investment Issues

By the time you begin explaining money and finances to your child, you’re probably already saving for his or her education. Even though you’ll continue making decisions about those investments for years, get your child involved early.

Consider a family game to stimulate your child’s interest in investing. Encourage family members to pick a stock for a company with which they are familiar, such as a fast-food restaurant chain or a company that makes sneakers. Give out play money so that everyone can make an initial “purchase” with $1,000. Track the stocks for three months. When the game is over, discuss how research about the choice of stocks might have helped everyone make better investments. The prize might be a family night at a movie chosen by the person whose stock has the greatest market value.

As your child grows up, you can gradually introduce him or her to a variety of investment options, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. To help your child understand these options, or to brush up yourself, check out the sources in “For More Information” on page