ML Interest Tag: earn

Hidden Gem Museums That Are Worth the Trip

by Amy Bizzarri

Now that you’ve been to the Museum of Science and Industry and The Field so many times you could lead a tour, it’s time to earn a little extra credit. When you’re craving something new and culture’s on the menu, check out a super-secret museum that’s just a mini road trip away. We dug up goodies that are within an hour’s drive of Chicago. Scroll through to see them all, from a secret nature center to an auto museum with superhero appeal.

Transportation

Volo Auto Museum

Does your kid go crazy for cars? An hour northwest of Chicago, this wheel-tastic museum is a draw for car nuts of all ages. Famous movie cars from Fast & Furious 7, Batman Begins, Dark Knight and Dark Knight Rises, National Lampoon's Vacation and more. There are also plenty of coin kiddie rides for the youngest children in your group.

Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 27582 Volo Village Rd., Volo; Online: volocars.com

Illinois Railway Museum

America’s largest railway museum is right here in Illinois and goes way beyond your everyday Metra train. Ride on a one-of-a-kind mainline train, hop aboard an old-fashioned trolley coach or take a loop in a vintage streetcar. Feel like you've seen some of these sights before? That’s because the museum has been the set for numerous transportation scenes in commercials and movies, including A League of Their Own. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the annual Day Out With Thomas. On select days in July, kids chug along on a 20-minute ride on Thomas the Tank Engine and enjoy music, magicians, clowns and a meeting with Sir Topham Hatt. Consider taking a special trip for Halloween or Christmas when the museum features holiday-themed train rides.

7000 Olson Rd., Union; Online: irm.org

Nature

Trailside Museum of Natural History

Established in 1931, the Hal Tyrrell Trailside Museum of Natural History is a small museum located in a historic mid-1870′s Victorian mansion. Kids will have the chance to meet live native animals, including owls, frogs, turtles and even a fox. Hands-on activities complement learning, and even toddlers will enjoy the easy animal-themed puzzles. Natural-surfaced hiking trails through the surrounding Forest Preserve are perfect for little hikers and wind through beautiful oak woodlands and along the Des Plaines River.

730 Thatcher Ave., River Forest; Online: fpdcc.com

Knock Knolls Nature Center

Tucked in a quiet residential neighborhood, this slice of nature gives visitors the chance to discover what life was like at the convergence of the East and West Branches of the DuPage River in the 1800s. You'll also get to know the local wildlife that call this corner of DuPage County home. Grab a treasure hunt sheet from the front desk and explore! The highlight is a 900-gallon freshwater fish tank filled with catfish, bass and other swimmers. You'll also track replica fossils in the floor, marvel at a living wall of plants and learn how a rainwater collection cistern works. The building sits in a 224-acre park laced with winding, forested trails and sits adjacent to a nature playground. 

320 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville; Online: napervilleparks.org

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum

The Tinker cottage, gardens and three-story Swiss-inspired barn was built by businessman Robert Tinker in 1865. Flash forward to today, when you can witness its beauty and get a dose of local history. The charming cottage and over-the-top gardens have become one of Rockford’s most popular attractions. The Victorian-era decor and unique architecture will satisfy the curiosity of the parents. As for the kids, they'll have a blast romping through the iris, rose and prairie gardens as the weather warms.

411 Kent St., Rockford; Online: tinkercottage.com

History

Isle a la Cache Museum

Learn about Illinois in the 18th century when our state was home to French voyageurs and native Potawatomi. Operated by the Forest Preserve of Will County on an island in the Des Plaines River, this recently renovated museum features many interactive exhibits and a Native American longhouse. At a recent museum event, children participated in traditional French and Woodland Indian games and storytelling. If you visit the island in the summer, your family will want to take part in one of many nature activities like fishing, kayaking, hiking and more.

501 E. Romeo Rd. (135th Street), east of Route 53, Romeoville; Online: reconnectwithnature.org

DuPage Country Historical Museum

Housed in a building gifted by John Quincy Adams in 1891, the former Adams Memorial Library is now a museum that contains countless artifacts and materials that document DuPage County. The HO Gauge Model Train is operated by the DuPage Society of Model Engineers the 3rd and 5th Saturday every month.

102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton; Online: dupagemuseum.org

Graue Mill and Museum

Since 1852, the Graue Mill has been grinding cornmeal, its waterwheel turning at the edge of the picturesque Salt Creek. Today, the Graue Mill Museum is dedicated to bridging past and present through living-history programs that illustrate daily life of the past, including milling, spinning and weaving demonstrations. While the museum is closed in the winter, the grounds of the mill are picture-perfect year-round. Kids will love throwing pebbles into the Salt Creek and watching sticks make their way down the beautiful falls that make the mill's gristmill go round.

3800 York Rd., Oakbrook; Online: grauemill.org

— Amy Bizzarri & Jenny Muslin

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Not Being a Stay-at-Home Mom Was the Best Decision I Ever Made

By Emma Bennett

Being a stay-at-home mom sounds a bit like a dream, right? After all the years of working, earning and saving, finally, the day comes when you’re off on maternity leave. Maybe a nice baby shower with lots of cake and cute clothes and teddy bears. Then, finally, you get to sit and put your feet up and wait for this little person to take over your life.

And then he or she arrives. No sleep, lots of crying, constant hunger… and that’s just you! Babies are so demanding at first, and our whole life is about trying to seek out a little bit of undisturbed sleep where we aren’t worrying about whether the baby has stopped breathing in bed or our boobs aren’t painful, swollen rocks leaking little puddles onto the sheets.

But one day, everything settles down into a bit of a routine. You find that you get back some sleep and you start to feel human again. Now’s the fun bit, right? You get to just hang out with this little person, go to the park, long walks in the pram, coffee with other moms and just kicking back while the rest of the world keeps working.

The baby doesn’t need you 24/7 anymore and, in fact, you can start leaving them with other people for short periods. Your brain is starting to work again, slowly. You can even start to hold a decent conversation without either yawning or crying.

Now, I don’t know about other moms out there, but this was about the time I started to get bored. And this was, as a result, where the guilt really started!

I struggled to get up in the morning and focus for the day. Some days, I really found it hard to get motivated to leave the house at all. I felt like I was really cheating the system and just sitting around contributing nothing. I knew all the rhetoric—stay-at-home moms work harder than anyone in the workplace, enjoy the time to yourself and with your baby, they are little for such a short time, blah blah blah.

But I just couldn’t get into it.

I would try and get into being a really present and tuned-in mom. I would sit down and do some kind of really fun and engaging game with him that I had seen on Play School –yeah, this is awesome… look how much fun he’s having… I’m such a good mom, I would think. Then I’d look at the clock. Ten minutes had passed!! I still had the whole rest of the day to fill.

I realized why so many moms join mother’s groups and coffee mornings. It’s just to fill in time and get out of the house so the day goes faster! I’m not really much of a “joiner,” though, so I struggled to turn up for those kinds of things, and as a result, I spent a lot of time on my own slowly going crazy.

The guilt was enormous.

Why wasn’t I enjoying this more? What’s wrong with me that I am not relishing not having to go to work and have boring conversations with people all day about stuff that doesn’t really matter? I mean, after all, isn’t this the most important work you can do?

Well, I didn’t feel important; in fact, I felt like a fraud. Everyone else was out there earning a living and contributing to society, and I was here at home with this beautiful little human I made, bored out of my mind reading board books and playing with teddies all day.

Then one day, someone emailed me asking me to do some part-time work from home.

I resisted at first, feeling a different type of guilt. It was the guilt of admitting to myself that I didn’t really like staying at home. This is much harder guilt to overcome when there is absolutely nothing in life stopping you from enjoying staying at home with your baby.

While you feel like people will judge you if you go back to work and leave bub with someone, you feel equally judged being at home and not really having your head fully into being a mom. I know everyone says that just being with you is all the baby needs, but I really felt like I was completely robbing this kid of having someone around who could actually do fun things that would help his development.

So I hired a nanny and took this job.

The first day I left him, there were tears all around. I was crying at leaving him, he was crying that mommy had ditched him with some complete stranger and the guilt was so intense I could almost taste it.

But then I got in the car, I turned up the music (and my resolve) and I headed into the city. I spent a few hours in meetings where I was briefed about my role, I got to meet a few people, I had a nice lunch and then I sat for a moment in a coffee shop. For the first time in months, I felt pretty happy.

I headed home and walked in to be greeted with the most amazing sight. My little boy was sitting with our nanny, on her lap, playing with a little toy, and she was singing and playing the xylophone. They were having a lovely time.

You could tell just taking one look at this woman that hanging out with kids is her favorite thing to do in life. They had obviously been having a ball. She’d done some foot painting with him, they’d been out for a walk and bought some books at the second-hand shop. She was just glowing with happiness and excitement at having spent a few hours with my son.

And I actually felt a great sense of relief and contentment. From that day on, I was a much happier person and, I think, a much better mom. On the days I wasn’t working, I really loved every second of being with my boy, and on the days I was working, I really loved every second of being on my own. It was as though it took being away from him to make me realize how special it was to actually be with him.

It took me this time to realize that I’m not the sort of person who can stay at home all day with a baby, and that is actually OK. The thing about parenting is that you have to do it the way that works for you.

There’s no right or wrong way to organize your family or to live your life. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with admitting that you just don’t like not staying at home full-time.

Everyone needs balance, and I actually think it’s really healthy to have your kids get used to being looked after by other people and to understand early on that they really can live without you. And if, at the end of the day, you are a happier, more peaceful person, then that can only make you a better mom as well.

So don’t allow yourself to feel guilt, regardless of what you end up doing. As long as you love your kids and you set up your life so that you are the best person you can be when you are with them, then you are being a good parent. Go out and live life the best way you can and always remember, you are a person in your own right, as well as a mom who loves your kids. There’s no room for any guilt in that sentence!

Originally published Sept. 2016.

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I'm a Dubai expat mum and I love to tell the funny side of life here and about travelling the world with a young family.Because let’s face it – no matter how well planned your travel journey, its those those funny, quirky moments that appear out of nowhere that create the real memories. 

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Explore, Learn, Protect: Become a Junior Park Ranger

by Nicole Findlay

Discover new ways to enjoy the outdoors! The National Park Service’s Junior Ranger motto is “Explore. Learn. Protect.” And that is exactly what your 4 to 13-year-olds get to do! Explore national parks in the Bay Area; Learn about the park’s natural wildlife, landscape and history; and Protect those parks so we can trek through them for years to come! After completing a series of activities (like counting rings on a fallen tree, word games and deciphering secret codes), kiddos can earn an official Junior Ranger patch and a Junior Ranger certificate. Keep reading to find out exactly which parks offer this cool program. And we’ve included a few virtual options as well!

How it Works

It’s simple! Go to one of the parks listed below. Pick up the Junior Park Ranger book at the visitor center (or sometimes you can download and print from home). Have fun doing all the activities and then turn in your completed book to a park ranger and get your badge and/or certificate. And the best part is that it’s FREE  and available year-round.

Where to Go!

Muir Woods National Monument

Spend time in the forest! Follow the directions in your book and then chat with a ranger about your time in the park. Discuss what you learned and what you’re still curious about. And then Wala! Your kiddo gets a badge and a certificate and you are now the proud parent of a Junior Park Ranger! Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 4-11+
Website: Muir Woods National Monument

Marin Headlands

Travel just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and explore the wonders of nature in the Marin Headlands. Learn about ocean ecology, the history of the inhabitants of years past and how to study animal scat! Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 6-12
Website: Marin Headlands Visitor’s Center

photo by Alcatraz Cruises

Alcatraz Island

Explore one of the most iconic prisons in the United States. Dive into the mystery and unique history of this national park. Are you ready to become an Alcatraz Jr. Ranger? Get the book here! Follow the map and complete the exercises along the way! Books are also available on Alcatraz Island at the Dock Information Station. And if you can’t make it to Alcatraz, don’t worry. You can visit virtually using the Jr. Ranger Photo Gallery and an Alcatraz Ranger will send your little one a badge!
Best for Ages: 4-12
Website: Alcatraz Island

Fort Point National Historic Site

Explore the fort. Learn about its incredible history. And protect the fort’s beauty and environment so that generations can enjoy it for years to come! Try a scavenger hunt, interview a ranger and learn about the day in a life of a soldier (Fort Point defended the Bay after the Gold Rush and through World War II). Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 4-11+
Website: Fort Point National Historic Site

Photo: annie-spratt via unsplash

China Camp

This Junior Ranger program searches for birds that live and visit China Camp’s shorelines and oak woodlands. You might find hummingbirds, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl. Kiddos will also get an up-close peek at nests and feathers. Don’t forget your camera! The program will be guided by naturalists/educators Suzanne Mirviss and Paula O’Connell. And good news! All kids must be accompanied by an adult—so you can join in on the fun as well! Register Here
Best for Ages: 7-9
Date: April 9, 2022
Time: 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: China Camp Ranger Station
Website: China Camp
*Pro-tip: Weather can be temperamental—layers work best! Snacks are welcome and water is encouraged.

San Francisco Maritime Park

Pick up your Junior Ranger activity book at one of three locations. Learn about a fleet of historic vessels and visit the maritime museum. At the same time, complete the activities and then find a park ranger who can review your kiddos hard work and award them with a well-earned Junior Ranger badge. Books are also available for download here for 5-8 yeard olds and 9-12 year olds.
Best for Ages: 5-12
Locations:
Hyde Street Pier, Foot of Hyde Street/2905 Hyde Street
Municipal Pier (Aquatic Park Pier)
Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building (Maritime Museum), Foot of Polk Street/900 Beach Street
Website: San Francisco Maritime Park

Photo: toki-doki via creative commons

Point Reyes Junior Ranger

Come to Point Reyes and pick up your Junior Ranger book at one of the park’s visitor centers. Explore the history of the Coast Miwok (people who call this area home) and learn about marine life (especially elephant seals and gray whales). When you finish your Junior Ranger book, return it to one of the visitor centers to get sworn in as an official Junior Park Ranger and receive your Junior Ranger patch. Too much time exploring to finish the book while you are in the park? Complete it later and mail it here: Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956.
A ranger will check your work and mail the book back to you with a patch! Can’t make the trip to Point Reyes? Become a Virtual Junior Ranger!
Best for Ages: 5-12+
Website: Point Reyes National Seashore

 

Virtual Opportunities

Dual Language

Initiated in the summer of 2020, close to 10,000 people participated in Virtual Junior Ranger Programs. Because they were so successful, the staff decided to continue the programs. And now—a dual language Junior Ranger program is available online. Check it out for yourself! And click here to access six different modules to complete at your own pace.

Beach Buddies Junior Ranger Book

The Beach Buddies Jr. Ranger book features Petey Plover, a cute little bird with a brown Ranger hat. Petey guides you through fun activities that teach you how to keep your beaches clean and safe in fun and easy ways.  Get the book here!
Best for Ages: 6-10+

Virtual Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer

Ready to become a railroad explorer? Learn more about the transcontinental railroad, which helped link the United States from coast to coast! Complete this book, check your work and complete the pledge in the back of the book.

Junior Ranger Sounds Explorer

Meet Lucy, the listening owl. Follow her as you explore the sounds of the park, learn the science behind those sounds and appreciate why we need to protect those sounds. Complete this book, check your answers with this key, have a parent sign the certificate to become a Junior Ranger Sounds Explorer. To find out more about natural sounds and why sounds matter, check this out!
Best for Ages 5-10+

Junior Ranger in Space

Co-designed with NASA, click here to access the Spaceflight Explorer Jr. Ranger book. Complete with math and matching puzzles, thinking questions, spot the difference photos, scrambled words and anagrams, children will learn about the Moon, space vehicles and national parks. Take the pledge, make your own badge, and show off your certificate proudly!
Best for Ages: 5-8

Junior Ranger Angler

Let’s go fishing! Get your booklet here! Learn about fishing, aquatic life and safety while you meet fish, learn about different types of fishing and get to know the gear. Parents, check their work and then scroll to the bottom of this page to print a badge.
Best for Ages: 5-12+

Junior Ranger Scientist

Explore magnificent caves, learn what cave scientists actually do and start protecting our natural environments and the things that make caves special! Complete this booklet and send it to this address: Jr. Cave Scientist, GRD-Academy Place, PO BOX 25287, Denver, CO 80225. Via mail, you will receive your booklet, a badge and a personal letter to your little explorer.
Best for Ages: 5-12+

Junior Ranger Night Explorer

Here’s the booklet! Try the “exploring with your Senses” and the “Take a Planet Walk” sections. Complete as much of the book as you can. Sign the book and take a look at your well-deserved virtual high-five.
Best for Age: 5-12+

— Nicole Findlay and Garrick Ramirez

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10 Things Kids Should Know about Money by the Time They’re 10

by Teresa Douglas

Teaching young children how to handle their finances pays huge dividends (pun 100% intended) both now and in the future. Not sure how to craft age-appropriate lessons for your squad? We interviewed four financial professionals and came up with a list of 10 money skills that deliver the biggest bang for your buck. Read on for all the details.

1. Use Everyday Moments to Talk about Money

Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

"It's important to have regular conversations about money management while your child is still young to push them towards positive financial outcomes in early adulthood," advises Jennifer Seitz, Educational Content Lead at Greenlight and Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI). 

Make it make 'cents': Seitz suggests parents "Look for practical daily examples of spending and budgeting and share them with your child; for example, when you take your child grocery shopping, you can pull out your card for the cashier and then ask your child, "Do you know what type of card this is? Is it a credit card or a debit card?" 

This creates a learning opportunity to explain how debit cards take money directly from your bank account, while credit cards have a balance that must be paid each month. It's not free money or magic money—help your child understand how it works!"

 

2. Talk about Wants vs. Needs

mom daughter computer online school virtual elearning
Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

We need air, food, water, shelter and clothing. While your crew might beg to differ, we don't need toy cars or princess crowns. Needs are the things we buy before we buy the things we want.

Make it make 'cents': Together with the kiddo, grab a bunch of old magazines and coupon mailers, cut out different pictures, and glue them on a sheet of paper so that you have a collage of wants and a collage of needs.

3. Pay Kids for Unusual Tasks

Photo by Amina Filkins from Pexels

How nice would it be to get paid for making your bed, folding clothes or cutting your grass? Alas, it's not the case, so why do we lead kids on with chore-driven allowance? Consider giving them cash for extra work that they don't usually do (i.e., helping cook dinner or washing the family pet).

Make it make 'cents': Charge your mini-money makers with organizing a bake sale to earn extra money. They'll have a blast setting up shop and get a taste of what it's like to have a job.

 

4. Demonstrate the Wonder of Compound Interest

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Tom Byrum, Sr. Director, Head of Global Sales Compensation at a Fortune 500 company, uses a hands-on approach to get his child excited about saving money. "I'm paying my 10-year-old daughter an exorbitant monthly interest rate on her savings to illustrate the time value of money. She had fun calculating how much her $37 would grow at 10 percent interest per day for 30 days (no, that's not what I'm paying). She kept guessing how much she thought it would be and passed her guess two cycles later." 

Make it make 'cents': Even the smallest fry can learn this lesson if you make it visual. Arm yourself with a roll of pennies and a Mason jar so your preschooler can see how quickly the change builds up.

 

5. Explain the Different Types of Money

Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash

There are coins, paper bills, paper checks, debit and credit cards–and you use them all at different times for purchases. The idea of monetary variety is a hard one to grasp for the under 10 set, especially when you can buy things with "invisible money" (aka credit cards). And let's not even get started on the difference between a checking and a savings account. 

Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian, advises parents to "...help their children develop good financial habits by teaching them the difference between a checking and savings account and how banks store funds. Take a trip to the bank as a teaching experience and deposit or cash a check." 

Make it make 'cents': Make "invisible" money visible. Set one person up as the bank and have your kid "pay" for items around the house with a debit card. The bank person should then take the money out of the bank and give it to you.

6. Talk about Credit Cards

Frankie Cordoba via Unsplash

"Without the proper knowledge of best practices, credit cards can lead to a lot of trouble for adults, both young and old," says Griffin. "Parents should teach children what credit cards are and how to use them wisely. Going through a credit card statement can go a long way in helping children understand the cause and effect of using credit cards, the importance of making on-time payments and how it can impact their credit score."

Make it make 'cents': Role play the difference between making a purchase with good credit vs. bad credit. Kids with good credit can buy a popsicle for $2, while those with low scores get charged $6. If you have more than one child, we suggest giving everyone the same credit score, so you don't start a mutiny.

7. Teach Kids to Budget and Plan for Their Needs

iStock

Ashraf Jaffer, Adjunct Accounting Professor at the University of North Carolina, has been doing this since her son was five years old. "He has a budget from birthday and holiday money. When he was younger, we would give him the prices of things he wanted. He would come up with a combination of things that would fit within his budget (which is a great way to incorporate math lessons). Now that he is older, we ask him to research prices and come up with a proposal and justification. The final decision is with us, but he feels he is more in control and participates in the decision process."

Make it make 'cents': Print out a calendar and pencil in planned family trips, holidays and special occasions. Ask your child to set aside spending money for each event before budgeting for immediate wants.

8. Don't Fudge the Budget

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

"Stick to the budget and do not exceed it even if your kid's argument for spending more is great," advises Jaffer. "They will learn to prioritize spending needs and patience if you don't give in and increase the budget." 

We know, we know—easier said than done. But the sooner kids understand that they can't buy things if they don't have enough money, the better. 

Make it make 'cents': Create and label four money jars: "spend," "save," "share," and "invest." It's up to your kiddo to decide where the money goes. Another fun way to practice budgeting? Play Monopoly!

9. Model Charitable Giving

iStock

Kids have great examples of $$$-stingy characters—think Scrooge, who no matter how much money he has, hoards it all to himself. Giving (even the smallest amount) to those who have less is a fundamental money lesson that naturally empathetic kids can enjoy.

Make it make 'cents': Together, research and choose one charity to donate money to each month.

10. Reinforce Positive Money Choices

A teacher high fives a student in class
iStock

“Talk about their successes and reward them,” says Seitz. “Did they decide against buying something they didn’t really need? Smart move! Explain that now they can use the money for something else, which is that core money principal: opportunity cost. Did they choose to save their birthday money for an important big-ticket item? Tell them how proud you are! And why learning to save is so important as they grow up and become financially independent.”

Make it make 'cents': Be as specific as possible in your praise to really solidify the lesson. The more your little one feels warm and fuzzy about their financially responsible decisions, the better.

 

—Teresa Douglas & Ayren Jackson

Featured image: iStock 

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6 Tips to Help Teach Financial Independence to Kids

By Denise Daniels

Photo: Greenlight

According to a report by the Brookings Institution, teenage financial literacy is positively correlated with asset accumulation and net worth at age 25. It may be surprising for parents to hear that only 28 states have some type of financial education standards in younger grades, including middle school, according to the Brookings report.

For us, this begs the question: If a school in your area isn’t implementing these types of courses, what can parents do at home to start the process?

The money talk may not be as intimidating as other conversations you might have with your kids, but it’s still a lot to think about. Believe it or not, 49 percent of parents say they’re not sure how to explain money to their child. Our answer? Start simple — explain common budgeting terms or have a chat about why saving is so important.

When kids make decisions on whether to spend or save their money, they’re learning about trade-offs. Kids learn a lot of other valuable lessons when they manage their own money, and the sooner they get started the quicker they’ll learn.

Open the conversation with something like, “You might not have enough money to buy XYZ right now, but add to your savings over time and you’ll get there!”  Another way to plant the seed? Try pointing out something that you’re saving for—maybe it’s a new TV or a family vacation. This opens up the conversation and makes it relatable.

Some tips on talking finances with the kids:

  • Get started early. Savings accounts can be created as soon as your child is born. You can do this quickly and easily by signing up for apps like Greenlight.
  • Set up recurring deposits. Deposits add up and grow over time, especially if you’re earning interest. When you’re ready, show your kids the impact of saving regularly.
  • Provide hands-on experience. Start giving your kids real-world experience with money and making financial decisions. When a night out at the movies means a delay in buying a new videogame, they’re learning. When they decide to eat at home instead of spending money at a restaurant, they’re taking action. Rather than learn these lessons when they’re out on their own, they can learn with you by their side, which is comforting for both of you.
  • Teach kids about saving. If kids can spend it, they can save it. Kids are tech-savvy so us an app like Greenlight that easily shows them what happens when they save money over time. When they start earning some money of their own—whether from gifts, allowance or chores—encourage them to save some of it, even if it’s for a big purchase down the road.
  • Talk about interest. Interest and compound interest are incredibly important for building wealth over time, but it can be tough for kids to grasp. Break down these concepts to your kids in a way that is easy to understand and fun to learn about. A hands-on approach is setting your own interest for your kids.
  • Explore investing as a family.  We encourage kids to explore real-life investing with their parents. Work with kids to pick stocks of companies whose products and services they understand and use. Have them research the companies they know to understand what they do, how well they are performing now, and how well they may be doing in the future.

To ensure our younger generations are growing up with a solid baseline of financial literacy, it’s important for these lessons to start in the home when kids are young. The greatest gift you can give your kids is to help them pave a path to financial independence.

Denise Daniels,RN, MS and creator of the groundbreaking children’s brand The Moodsters is a Peabody award-winning journalist, author, and parenting and child-development expert dedicated to putting young children on the path to positive mental health. She created The Moodsters—five quirky little feelings detectives who solve the mysteries of emotions. 

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How to Teach Your Kids to Save Money for Emergencies

By Denise Daniels

Photo: Greenlight

Most parents know a thing or two about saving money for emergencies. But with our kids, it may be hard for them to understand why we need to save for a rainy day. Right now we’re all spending a lot of time at home. Some of us are watching the news and some are answering tough questions about current events. Either way, we have a special opportunity to share the importance of saving for emergencies with our kids in a way that makes sense to them.

Put it in their world. The current economic climate provides a real-world example that can serve as a lesson-teacher for your kids. If they’re old enough, share how you or members of your community may be affected by losing work. Talk about how emergency savings can help them through tough times.

1. Set a budget. Saving isn’t always easy, especially when you have needs and wants that take up your monthly budget. Help your kids understand how to budget by putting a limit on when and where they can spend. For some families, kids can only use their money for gas. For others, they can spend anywhere. Setting a budget helps your kids get in the mindset of allocating their earnings and putting must-haves before nice-to-haves.

2. Make it visual. Kids learn by doing. As you show your kids that it’s important to save, also show them how. Work together to set savings goals or talk to them about a big-ticket item you’ve needed to save for. With the Greenlight app, kids can set their own goals and watch their progress bar advance as their savings grow.

3. Incentivize saving. Kids are more excited to save money when they have an incentive. Encourage them to continue putting money away for emergencies by matching them or setting your own interest rate for them. Greenlight parents are able to set a parent-paid interest rate so that saving more means earning more.

4. Monitor balances. Show your kids the importance of checking their balances. While it may not directly impact their emergency funds, this helps them form the habit of closely monitoring their spending so they can live within their means.

When we teach our kids about money at a young age, they’re able to form smart habits for life. The next time you run out of stay-at-home activities to keep the family busy, take some time to work with your kids on managing their money—it pays off in the long run.

 

Denise Daniels,RN, MS and creator of the groundbreaking children’s brand The Moodsters is a Peabody award-winning journalist, author, and parenting and child-development expert dedicated to putting young children on the path to positive mental health. She created The Moodsters—five quirky little feelings detectives who solve the mysteries of emotions. 

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All the Best Deals from the Zappos VIP Sale

by Kate Loweth

Zappos’ annual VIP sale is running from 8/23-8/30, and there are a ton of deals to snag before it’s over. There are also cool perks you’ll get for being a VIP, like earning up to 11 points for every dollar spent, rapid refunds on returns and free UPS pickup. Plus, you’re a Prime member, you’ll earn an additional one point on every dollar! So from shoes to clothes and even accessories, keep scrolling to take a peek at some of our favorite things to buy now.

adidas Originals Kids Stan Smith (Big Kid)

Buy here, $52.50 ($75 before sale) 

Free People Dani Tee

Buy here, $28 ($58 before sale) 

Hydro Flask 

Buy here, $34.95

Huxababy Fluffy Heart Knee Leggings

Buy here, $34.99 ($42 before sale) 

Chaser Kids Vintage Recycled Tee

Buy here, $29.99 ($40 before sale) 

Hatley Kids Shiny Rain Boots

Buy here, $30 & up ($54 before sale) 

Kate Spade Albi Blue Light Glasses

Buy here, $47.60 ($68 before sale) 

Burton Kids Crown Weatherproof Full Zip Sherpa Fleece

Buy here, $89.95

Hunter Original Refined Rainboots

Buy here, $165 (originally $185)

Vans Classic Slip-On

Buy here, $35.39 ($37 before sale) 

Pendleton Jacquard Muchacho Kids Blanket

Buy it here, $99.50

 

Plae Shoes - The Ty

Buy them here, $55 before sale

—Gabby Cullen & Kate Loweth

 

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Support Your Kids 365 Days a Year with This Kit (& a Year’s Supply of Rice Krispies Treats!)

by Karly Wood

As parents, we want to give our kids everything we may have missed growing up and then some. In fact, a recent survey from Rice Krispies Treats found that 86% of parents experienced moments where they needed more support and love from their parents during childhood.

To help inspire caregivers, Rice Krispies Treats has paired up with award-winning actress and singer Idina Menzel to provide an easy way to provide the love and support kids need. Starting today, parents can enter to grab a limited-edition Rice Krispies Treats “365 Days of Love and Support Kit” that includes tools for self-reflection and daily encouragement.

photo: Courtesy of Rice Krispies Treats

Each kit includes a one-of-a-kind daily planner with inspirational prompts and a pen to use with the planner and on Rice Krispies Treats wrappers. Oh yeah, did we mention the kit comes with a year’s supply of Rice Krispies Treats?

While every kiddo likely loves a sweet treat, the true love comes from the message from mom and dad on the writable wrapper.

From Aug. 19-26, head to RiceKrispiesTreats.Fooji.com or visit Idina’s Instagram to enter to win a kit. All entries will win a digital version of the planner, along with a note from Idina herself. Lucky winners will earn the kit and the year’s supply of treats for never-ending love and support.

––Karly Wood

 

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This New Version of Monopoly Is Right on Target

by Karly Wood

Calling all Target lovers! Now you can combine your love of the bullseye retailer and your prowess as a property owner in a whole new game: Target Monopoly!

Target and Hasbro are bringing shopping enthusiasts a limited edition version of Monopoly that you can finally get now. Monopoly: Target Edition plays the same way the OG version does, but with all the things that make Target the magical place it is.

Instead of buying property, you get to pick up Target items, and in typical Target Circle fashion you can earn tokens that will help you increase your savings. When you pass GO, go ahead and buy those items in your Target basket! To win, be the player with the most savings at checkout.

“Monopoly: Target Edition is the latest example of how we are always exploring new ways to spark moments of joy with all of our guests within our curated assortment of fan-favorite and Target-exclusive games and toys,” says Nik Nayar, senior vice president, hardlines, Target.

The limited edition game is available now stores and Target.com.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Target

 

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