Dealing with money is such a natural part of life that you don't have to set aside extra time to talk about it. Instead, you can take advantage of situations that crop up every day. Your ultimate aim is to turn out independent adults who know how to manage money and have a healthy regard for what it can and cannot buy. Abstract concepts are beyond most preschoolers. They focus on the concrete, and so should you, showing them what coins look like and how they can be exchanged for other things.
Most children get their first look at the world from the seat of a shopping cart.
So learn to make the most of the opportunity, and steer clear of some nasty scenes as well. At the checkout counter, each kid gets to keep one thing from the basket. They won't bother if they know the rules, and know you'll stick to them. Dr. Tightwad can't reply to each question, but she will answer questions of general interest. The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.