August 14, 2017—During a conversation among parents about their children—now adolescents and young adults the issue of children and money came up. There were the usual rants about children not appreciating the value of money, anxieties about paying for college expenses, the astronomical increase in auto insurance when adding a teenager to the policy, etc. Most parents shared frustrations, and worry, about their teenage and young adult children not being able to handle their finances.
I asked the group of parents if they talked about money, finances, and stewardship with their children when they were young. All said that no, they hadn’t. That being the case, I wondered at their surprise that their grown children were unprepared to handle money as adults.
Money and the economy are topics of high anxiety today. It seems it makes for a lot of daily conversation among adults, conversations that children overhear. I like to remind parents, and others who work with children, that one of the most important functions we provide for young children is to be interpreters of the world for them. And, like any parental or teaching function, we need to be intentional about it.
Below are eleven points about “How to Talk With Kids About Today’s Economy,” by my colleague Dr. Daniel G. Bagby, Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Care at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, VA. As always, he has good advice:
Resources: Tamar E. Chansky. Freeing Your Child From Anxiety: Practical Solutions to Overcome Fears, Worries, and Phobias (Broadway,2004); James J. Crist, What To Do When You’re Scared & Worried: A Guide For Kids (Free Spirit Pub, 2004); Lori Lite & Kimberly Fox, The Goodnight Caterpillar: A Children’s Relaxation Story (Indigo Dreams, 2007); Rapee, Wignall, Spence & Cobham, Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step by Step Guide For Parents (New Harbinger, 2008); Eimer, Moshe, & Torem, Coping With Uncertainty (Harbinger, 2002).
Israel Galindo is Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary. Formerly, he was Dean at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. He is the author of the bestseller, The Hidden Lives of Congregations (Alban), Perspectives on Congregational Leadership (Educational Consultants), and A Family Genogram Workbook (Educational Consultants), with Elaine Boomer and Don Reagan.
His books on Christian education include Mastering the Art of Instruction,The Craft of Christian Teaching (Judson), How to be the Best Christian Study Group Leader (Judson), Planning for Christian Education Formation (Chalice), and A Christian Educator’s Book of Lists.
Galindo contributes to the Wabash Center’s blog for theological school deans and to the Digital Flipchart blog.