Now that Spring Break is over, it’s the perfect time to begin the investigation, application – and saving – process for summer camp. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Involve kids in the planning

Kick off the countdown to camp by sitting down with your campers and reviewing the web sites (or brochures) for the camps you’re considering. Talk about the different activities and opportunities that each camp will provide. Discuss whether day or sleepover camp is the right option for them, and which camp best matches their interests.

The Chinese New Year brings ancient celebrations and customs to communities across Canada. One family tradition is for parents to give their children a gift of paper money in a red envelope — red being the traditional colour of luck. Even if you don’t celebrate Chinese New Year, the holiday is an opportunity to discuss different cultures’ attitudes toward money with your children. These cultural differences can teach us (and our children) a lot about managing our own funds.

Teaching children how to save is a core money management skill. Why not use the start of the New Year as a time to set a money savings resolution? 

Chances are, there is probably something on your child’s wish list that they didn’t get as a gift over the holidays. And it’s important for them to know that they don’t have to rely on others to reach their dreams. You can teach them that they can depend on their own resources too.

One of the key financial concepts you’ll likely be teaching your kids is to save for a rainy day – to establish an emergency fund. A great way to encourage them to do that is by setting an example and opening a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). Not only does a TFSA provide an easy way to put money aside for unexpected expenses, it also can be used to save for long or short-term goals – tax-free.

When financial expert (and budding entrepreneur) Alison Griffiths was 14, she borrowed money from her dad to start her own dog grooming business. Alison used the cash to purchase business cards, clippers, and supplies.

“Buy two, get one free!” “Limited time offer!” “Lowest prices, everyday!”

We’ve all seen the stickers, signs, flags, displays, and banners trumpeting the savings you can reap if you purchase a particular item. But is it really on sale, or is it the usual price on a red sticker?

As adults, we fall for this tactic every single day or retailers wouldn’t do it.

For many parents with tweens, one of the biggest challenges in giving them money, either in the form of an allowance or a gift, is negotiating who should pay for what. Here are some helpful tips from parenting expert Alyson Schafer and financial expert Alison Griffiths.

Whether your child spends one week or all summer at camp, the cost can be considerable so including your young campers in the budgeting and decision-making process can help turn it into a learning experience for them.

Your kids may already be registered for this summer’s sleepover camp, but here are a few tips to help you get a head-start on planning for next summer and ideas for imparting a few money lessons along the way.

Do your homework

Kids tend to learn best by doing rather than listening so one of the easiest ways to build number skills is by playing games. The kids are having so much fun, they don’t even realize it’s educational. We spoke with Alison Griffiths, a financial expert and parent, to learn more about this stealth teaching technique.

Q: What types of skills can kids learn from playing games?
AG: Games can teach some pretty advanced concepts. Take card games, for example.

What kinds of things could a 9- to 12-year-old be expected to do with his allowance?
AS: If you want your kids to start taking on genuine responsibilities at this age, feel free to give them enough of an allowance so they can cover their own movie snacks or contribution to the church collection plate.

AG: I don’t think it matters whether the money is spent on nachos or going skating. What’s important is that every purchase is talked about beforehand.

Teaching your kids how to keep track of their money so they can spend within their means is one of the most important financial lessons you can give them. The lesson starts with the very simple task of making a list – an effective way to ease tweens into the grown-up world of budgeting. Here are some ideas to get you started.

As your child approaches the teen years, it’s only natural for them to become more independent and vocal about what they want — and what they don’t want. It’s also a time when they start to see what they want as something they need; at least, they’ll try to convince you of that. Here’s what parenting expert Alyson Schafer has to say about teaching them the difference between the two.

Giving should be its own reward – at any age. That said, you can definitely encourage your kids’ generosity by demonstrating and rewarding initiative, compassion, and selflessness. We asked our parenting expert Alyson Schafer, our financial expert Alison Griffiths, and moms from across Canada for their suggestions on how to motivate tweens to share with others. Here are nine great ideas.

1. Recognize teaching opportunities
Be on the lookout for ways to introduce the subject of charitable giving in connection with fun activities or hobbies.

The topic of allowance is a no-brainer for kids – it’s all good – but for parents, it can raise more questions than answers. How much should I give? Are there downsides to giving an allowance? Should it be tied to specific chores or behaviour? To get the scoop, we spoke with our parenting expert and bestselling author, Alyson Schafer, and financial expert, award-winning journalist and television host, Alison Griffiths.