Here are the three things I would tell my children if I only
had 30 seconds left to say anything to them to help them
with their future.
(As a matter of fact I say these things to them every night
when I kiss them goodnight.)
1. I love you sweetheart with all my heart.
2. You are my favourite, girl/boy in the whole world.
(I have one of each, very convienent! ;o)
3. You can do anything you want. If you think you can do it,
you are right. If you think you can't you are right!
What three things would YOU say to YOUR own children or loved
ones if you only had 30 seconds left?
Post them below, share them with us all.
Here's to your Massive Success!
Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik...Excited Life Enthusiast!
www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com
www.CreateYourOwnMindMovie.com
www.FunCakeDecoratingIdeas.com
P.S. Time is running out...
30, 29, 28, 27, 26...
Don't waste it!
Showing posts with label Kidpreneurs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kidpreneurs. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Why Business For Kids?
Dear Fellow Parents,
Today I am honoured with sharing with you a special blog post written by my good friend, Jenny Ford.
She is the owner of Cash-Smart-Kids and has three young entrepreneurial girls of her own, all with their own businesses, started at the ages of 9-12! Enjoy!
"Every now and again, I meet someone who is new to the area of
financial education, and when that happens I find that I need to go back to basics and explain why it is that we believe business experience is a vital part of a well-rounded financial education. I find that many people get focused on the earning of money when they think about business for kids.
Many people see business as difficult, and stressful, and as a complicated way to make money. It seems to them that understanding business is optional, as most kids will never need that understanding. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kids gain so many benefits from running a business, above and beyond the money they may earn.
Business Understanding Benefits Consumers and Employees, As Well As
Entrepreneurs. Even as a consumer, if you understand how business works, you are much
less likely to be conned, overcharged, or exploited. As an employee, your understanding of the business model your employer uses will make you more valuable, help you to make the right choices when using your discretion, and enable you to choose the right time and the right
supporting arguments to ask for that raise.
Business Experience Develops Character Quite apart from any financial benefit, running a business develops your child across a range of personal qualities. A business has been described as "one of the best personal development programs available". Whether it is dealing with unhappy customers, trying to make sales, managing contractors, or managing their own emotions of excitement, apprehension or disappointment, doing business will put your child in
learning situations which develop his or her character and attitude.
Business provides the best possible feedback - immediate and accurate. If you get your marketing message right, customers show up. If you treat your customers badly, they go elsewhere. We have devoted ourselves to shielding kids from the "harsh realities" of the world, but a little controlled exposure to reality is very important preparation for real life!
Business Experience Builds Confidence Doing business enables a child to negotiate with adults on an equal footing, as a professional supplier of good or services. The experience of being taken seriously is incredibly important, particularly in the tween and early teen years, when our culture really doesn't offer kids much opportunity to interact with adults as peers. I cannot stress enough how important it is for kids to have the sense that they can provide something of value, which adults will take seriously.
Kids are not stupid - they know when adults are cooing "oh, that's lovely" about a painting or poem, but don't really mean it. They won't reject condescending praise - any praise is better than no praise - but they hunger for real, valid affirmation. They yearn to be able to do something worthwhile, and be appreciated for their contribution with no allowances required for their age or cuteness.
Once a child knows their accomplishments are genuinely impressive at an adult level, it relieves a primal anxiety about how they will make their own way in the world as adults. Too many of our kids never get this sense of their own capability, and become children in adult bodies, still uncertain and anxious about their ability to function in the adult world. Early business experience can provide that vital sense of competence and self-sufficiency, even when the actual business earnings are no more than a few dollars.
Business Experience Teaches The Real Value Of Money When a child is too young to have a regular job, the only way they will learn the connection between providing something of value and receiving money in return is to have a business. As we all know, the "something for nothing" mentality is at plague proportions in our culture, and it causes a lot of misery.
Early business experience, coupled with parents who are responsible about allowances, will give kids a good, solid foundation of visceral knowledge that money comes as a result of providing value - and that they have something of value to offer. What better attitude to instil in your kids?
Of course, it is also important to teach them how to manage their money responsibly - to save, invest, give, and to make wise spending decisions. Business experience is not the be-all and end-all of financial education. Business education, however, makes an important contribution to
financial understanding, which cannot be replicated using allowances alone. This is why we created the Cash-Smart Kids program, to provide an integrated approach to financial education - one that covers all the bases."
Jenny Ford is a financial educator, holder of a B.A.(Hons) in Psychology, a Diploma in Training And Assessment Systems, and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management, and mother of three girls, all of whom started businesses aged between nine and twelve. Jenny's blog
can be seen at Raising Entrepreneurs. Enter the Cash-Smart Kids YouTube Video Competition
- do you know a child with a business? Make a video and they could be featured in a new book to be published in 2009.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. Jenny will be gifting us with future posts as well.
Here's to your child's business education,
Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/
Today I am honoured with sharing with you a special blog post written by my good friend, Jenny Ford.
She is the owner of Cash-Smart-Kids and has three young entrepreneurial girls of her own, all with their own businesses, started at the ages of 9-12! Enjoy!
"Every now and again, I meet someone who is new to the area of
financial education, and when that happens I find that I need to go back to basics and explain why it is that we believe business experience is a vital part of a well-rounded financial education. I find that many people get focused on the earning of money when they think about business for kids.
Many people see business as difficult, and stressful, and as a complicated way to make money. It seems to them that understanding business is optional, as most kids will never need that understanding. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kids gain so many benefits from running a business, above and beyond the money they may earn.
Business Understanding Benefits Consumers and Employees, As Well As
Entrepreneurs. Even as a consumer, if you understand how business works, you are much
less likely to be conned, overcharged, or exploited. As an employee, your understanding of the business model your employer uses will make you more valuable, help you to make the right choices when using your discretion, and enable you to choose the right time and the right
supporting arguments to ask for that raise.
Business Experience Develops Character Quite apart from any financial benefit, running a business develops your child across a range of personal qualities. A business has been described as "one of the best personal development programs available". Whether it is dealing with unhappy customers, trying to make sales, managing contractors, or managing their own emotions of excitement, apprehension or disappointment, doing business will put your child in
learning situations which develop his or her character and attitude.
Business provides the best possible feedback - immediate and accurate. If you get your marketing message right, customers show up. If you treat your customers badly, they go elsewhere. We have devoted ourselves to shielding kids from the "harsh realities" of the world, but a little controlled exposure to reality is very important preparation for real life!
Business Experience Builds Confidence Doing business enables a child to negotiate with adults on an equal footing, as a professional supplier of good or services. The experience of being taken seriously is incredibly important, particularly in the tween and early teen years, when our culture really doesn't offer kids much opportunity to interact with adults as peers. I cannot stress enough how important it is for kids to have the sense that they can provide something of value, which adults will take seriously.
Kids are not stupid - they know when adults are cooing "oh, that's lovely" about a painting or poem, but don't really mean it. They won't reject condescending praise - any praise is better than no praise - but they hunger for real, valid affirmation. They yearn to be able to do something worthwhile, and be appreciated for their contribution with no allowances required for their age or cuteness.
Once a child knows their accomplishments are genuinely impressive at an adult level, it relieves a primal anxiety about how they will make their own way in the world as adults. Too many of our kids never get this sense of their own capability, and become children in adult bodies, still uncertain and anxious about their ability to function in the adult world. Early business experience can provide that vital sense of competence and self-sufficiency, even when the actual business earnings are no more than a few dollars.
Business Experience Teaches The Real Value Of Money When a child is too young to have a regular job, the only way they will learn the connection between providing something of value and receiving money in return is to have a business. As we all know, the "something for nothing" mentality is at plague proportions in our culture, and it causes a lot of misery.
Early business experience, coupled with parents who are responsible about allowances, will give kids a good, solid foundation of visceral knowledge that money comes as a result of providing value - and that they have something of value to offer. What better attitude to instil in your kids?
Of course, it is also important to teach them how to manage their money responsibly - to save, invest, give, and to make wise spending decisions. Business experience is not the be-all and end-all of financial education. Business education, however, makes an important contribution to
financial understanding, which cannot be replicated using allowances alone. This is why we created the Cash-Smart Kids program, to provide an integrated approach to financial education - one that covers all the bases."
Jenny Ford is a financial educator, holder of a B.A.(Hons) in Psychology, a Diploma in Training And Assessment Systems, and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management, and mother of three girls, all of whom started businesses aged between nine and twelve. Jenny's blog
can be seen at Raising Entrepreneurs. Enter the Cash-Smart Kids YouTube Video Competition
- do you know a child with a business? Make a video and they could be featured in a new book to be published in 2009.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. Jenny will be gifting us with future posts as well.
Here's to your child's business education,
Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Best Way to Learn is to TEACH!
I've had a lot of parents tell me,
"I'm not very good financially, how can I teach my child to be smart with their money if I'm not very smart with mine?"
This is a GREAT question!
Have you ever heard the old saying, "The best way tot learn is to teach?"
Well, it's incredibly true!
Just because you have not been very smart with your money in the past doesn't mean that you must continue along this way.
The fact that you can see that you have not been very clever with your money in the past shows me that you are now at a cross roads. You can see what you have done wrong and are getting ready to change.
Don't wait until you get a handle on your finances BEFORE you start to teach your child about money, start today!
Right now!
Sit down with your child and show them how you have made money mistakes in the past. Then come up with a plan of how you are going to change these bad money habits for the future.
Be a rold model for your child. And don't be afraid to show your child your failures.
By showing your child that you are human, that you make mistakes you are actually helping your child to see that it is okay to make mistakes. That mistakes are just life's way of teaching you something.
I like to think of mistakes as just, "very expensive lessons!"
That's all.
Now if you make mistakes and don't learn from them, then you are asking for trouble.
If you begin on your path to financial freedom together with your child, not only will you be setting the best example in the world for your child's financial success but you will also be really connecting with them at a very personal and emotional level.
This could be the best bonding experience you ever make with your child.
Just imagine, you could be having weekly fiance meetings with your child where you both take turns describing how your week has gone financially.
Set the example, you go first. Tell your child about your week's financial successes and also about the financial mistakes that you have made this past week along with the lessons that you learned from those mistakes.
Then it's your child's turn.
You're child will be more likely to be open and honest with you if you show that you are being open and honest with them.
Have fun with it. Set a special family game night, where you play the CASHFLOW game or some other financial game together. It's a great way to open up the lines of communication.
Read books together on finances and then hold your own book club, so you can discuss the lessons together.
But most of all enjoy each moment of learning and teaching your child.
This should be fun!
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik...Excited Life Enthusiast!
============================================
For More Great Money Lessons for Kids read,
"The Insider's Secrets to Raising a Future Millionaire!"
============================================
"I'm not very good financially, how can I teach my child to be smart with their money if I'm not very smart with mine?"
This is a GREAT question!
Have you ever heard the old saying, "The best way tot learn is to teach?"
Well, it's incredibly true!
Just because you have not been very smart with your money in the past doesn't mean that you must continue along this way.
The fact that you can see that you have not been very clever with your money in the past shows me that you are now at a cross roads. You can see what you have done wrong and are getting ready to change.
Don't wait until you get a handle on your finances BEFORE you start to teach your child about money, start today!
Right now!
Sit down with your child and show them how you have made money mistakes in the past. Then come up with a plan of how you are going to change these bad money habits for the future.
Be a rold model for your child. And don't be afraid to show your child your failures.
By showing your child that you are human, that you make mistakes you are actually helping your child to see that it is okay to make mistakes. That mistakes are just life's way of teaching you something.
I like to think of mistakes as just, "very expensive lessons!"
That's all.
Now if you make mistakes and don't learn from them, then you are asking for trouble.
If you begin on your path to financial freedom together with your child, not only will you be setting the best example in the world for your child's financial success but you will also be really connecting with them at a very personal and emotional level.
This could be the best bonding experience you ever make with your child.
Just imagine, you could be having weekly fiance meetings with your child where you both take turns describing how your week has gone financially.
Set the example, you go first. Tell your child about your week's financial successes and also about the financial mistakes that you have made this past week along with the lessons that you learned from those mistakes.
Then it's your child's turn.
You're child will be more likely to be open and honest with you if you show that you are being open and honest with them.
Have fun with it. Set a special family game night, where you play the CASHFLOW game or some other financial game together. It's a great way to open up the lines of communication.
Read books together on finances and then hold your own book club, so you can discuss the lessons together.
But most of all enjoy each moment of learning and teaching your child.
This should be fun!
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik...Excited Life Enthusiast!
============================================
For More Great Money Lessons for Kids read,
"The Insider's Secrets to Raising a Future Millionaire!"
============================================
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
"Money Doesn't Grow on Trees!"
Does this saying sound familiar to you?
I bet you are probably one of many who heard this often growing up, right?
If not, you were lucky.
Let's turn a new leaf and start raising our own children a little differently.
How about we change the way we answer our kids when they want something that requires money that we do not have or refuse to give.
For example:
Jonny wants a new pair of brand-name, high-endurance, running shoes.
"Dad, I really need a new pair of 'brand-name', running shoes. They are the coolest and all the kids have them. I want a pair too! If I don't get a pair of them, then Shawn's going to beat me at basket ball and you know, I'm 10 times better than him at basket ball!"
Here are two different replies:
Dad replies with, "What do you think I'm made of? Money doesn't grow on trees you know!"
or
Dad replies with, "Well son, if those shoes mean that much to you and you truly feel that Shawn will have an unfair advantage over you in basket ball, then what is your plan? How do you plan to buy those shoes? Can you think of something that you can do, or make, or service, that can raise you the money so you can buy your own pair? If you really want those shoes, son, then you're going to have to come up with a good way to buy them. I believe you can do it. Come back to me when you have a plan and we'll see if we can work it out together. Good luck kiddo."
In Dad's first reply, dad shuts Jonny's hopes down but ALSO teaches him, although unintentionally, that life is all about 'scarcity'. Jonny learns from these negative replies that money is hard to come by. That it is difficult to get what you want in life. That other people will always have more than you. And the list goes on and on...
On the other hand in Dad's second reply, you can see that Dad is turning on the creative juices in his son's mind, "okay, so I want these new shoes, how can I go about making the money to get them myself?".
And as well as getting Jonny's creative juices flowing on some easy ways for kids to make money, Dad is also teaching some other incredibly valuable life lessons. Like: Abundance, Optimism, Faith in his son to find a way to fullfil his desire.
He is teaching him to be responsible for himself as well as encouraging him to come up with a plan and then to work together on making that plan come to action. This alone will diminish any thoughts of theft as an option.
So how are you talking to your own kids when it comes to money?
See if you can pay attention to the next time your child asks you about money. Listen to your own reply and then meditate on it for a minute or two.
How did that answer come across to your child?
Was your child turned off of money, or encouraged to take responsibility to come up with a creative way to attract their desired goods.
I hope you have enjoyed this thoughtful session, and I look forward to writing the next. If you have any specific topics that you would like me to talk about please just leave a message and I will do my best to answer your topics of interest where concerned with kids and money.
Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik...Excited Life Enthusiast!
=======================================
For 50 Free Money Making Ideas for Kids click here!
www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com
=======================================
I bet you are probably one of many who heard this often growing up, right?
If not, you were lucky.
Let's turn a new leaf and start raising our own children a little differently.
How about we change the way we answer our kids when they want something that requires money that we do not have or refuse to give.
For example:
Jonny wants a new pair of brand-name, high-endurance, running shoes.
"Dad, I really need a new pair of 'brand-name', running shoes. They are the coolest and all the kids have them. I want a pair too! If I don't get a pair of them, then Shawn's going to beat me at basket ball and you know, I'm 10 times better than him at basket ball!"
Here are two different replies:
Dad replies with, "What do you think I'm made of? Money doesn't grow on trees you know!"
or
Dad replies with, "Well son, if those shoes mean that much to you and you truly feel that Shawn will have an unfair advantage over you in basket ball, then what is your plan? How do you plan to buy those shoes? Can you think of something that you can do, or make, or service, that can raise you the money so you can buy your own pair? If you really want those shoes, son, then you're going to have to come up with a good way to buy them. I believe you can do it. Come back to me when you have a plan and we'll see if we can work it out together. Good luck kiddo."
In Dad's first reply, dad shuts Jonny's hopes down but ALSO teaches him, although unintentionally, that life is all about 'scarcity'. Jonny learns from these negative replies that money is hard to come by. That it is difficult to get what you want in life. That other people will always have more than you. And the list goes on and on...
On the other hand in Dad's second reply, you can see that Dad is turning on the creative juices in his son's mind, "okay, so I want these new shoes, how can I go about making the money to get them myself?".
And as well as getting Jonny's creative juices flowing on some easy ways for kids to make money, Dad is also teaching some other incredibly valuable life lessons. Like: Abundance, Optimism, Faith in his son to find a way to fullfil his desire.
He is teaching him to be responsible for himself as well as encouraging him to come up with a plan and then to work together on making that plan come to action. This alone will diminish any thoughts of theft as an option.
So how are you talking to your own kids when it comes to money?
See if you can pay attention to the next time your child asks you about money. Listen to your own reply and then meditate on it for a minute or two.
How did that answer come across to your child?
Was your child turned off of money, or encouraged to take responsibility to come up with a creative way to attract their desired goods.
I hope you have enjoyed this thoughtful session, and I look forward to writing the next. If you have any specific topics that you would like me to talk about please just leave a message and I will do my best to answer your topics of interest where concerned with kids and money.
Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik...Excited Life Enthusiast!
=======================================
For 50 Free Money Making Ideas for Kids click here!
www.TeachingChildrenAboutMoney.com
=======================================
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Insider's Secret's to Raising a Future Millionaire
Hello Parents of Future Millionaires!
I am so excited!
My ebook, "The Insider's Secrets to Raising a Future Millionaire" has been a huge hit!
It is so heartening to know that the information, tools and resources that I have put together in my book have been able to touch the lives of so many families who really want to teach their kids all about money.
Here's what one mother wrote me:
"Hi Amanda,
I just wanted to congratulate you on a fantastic book!
I grew up in a household with a ´poverty mentality´ always struggling to make ends meet.
Since having my own children I have always want to teach them that nothing is impossible but time seems to fly by and I always think I am not doing enough to give them a financial education (too busy trying to make money to give them the best schooling I can afford!)
Your book has really given the push I needed to make this a priority. They are already 6 and
8 and I know you are right - the time to start is now.
If I say we don´t have the money for something they tell me to just go to the bank and get it - like it just appears magically.
I desperately want them to be financially secure so that they concentrate on enjoying life and there are loads of great resources in the book to help me teach them.
This is a must-have for all parents." Yolanda Solo, USA
Thank-you Yolanda, I am so pleased that I was able to give you what you needed to really get your financial education for your kids going. I'm sure that with persistence and by being a positive role-model for your children you will be able to succeed at raising your own kid entrepreneurs and future millionaires!
I'm so pleased that I was able to offer my loyal members my Last Chance Offer to get my ebook at the Pre-Launch reduced price. The ebook is now fully available and functional.
For all of you who have already purchased my ebook, a REAL BIG THANK-YOU! I really do appreciate your business and I truly look forward to working together to help your with all your educational needs and support while you are teaching your children about money.
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik.....Excited Life Enthusiast!
I am so excited!
My ebook, "The Insider's Secrets to Raising a Future Millionaire" has been a huge hit!
It is so heartening to know that the information, tools and resources that I have put together in my book have been able to touch the lives of so many families who really want to teach their kids all about money.
Here's what one mother wrote me:
"Hi Amanda,
I just wanted to congratulate you on a fantastic book!
I grew up in a household with a ´poverty mentality´ always struggling to make ends meet.
Since having my own children I have always want to teach them that nothing is impossible but time seems to fly by and I always think I am not doing enough to give them a financial education (too busy trying to make money to give them the best schooling I can afford!)
Your book has really given the push I needed to make this a priority. They are already 6 and
8 and I know you are right - the time to start is now.
If I say we don´t have the money for something they tell me to just go to the bank and get it - like it just appears magically.
I desperately want them to be financially secure so that they concentrate on enjoying life and there are loads of great resources in the book to help me teach them.
This is a must-have for all parents." Yolanda Solo, USA
Thank-you Yolanda, I am so pleased that I was able to give you what you needed to really get your financial education for your kids going. I'm sure that with persistence and by being a positive role-model for your children you will be able to succeed at raising your own kid entrepreneurs and future millionaires!
I'm so pleased that I was able to offer my loyal members my Last Chance Offer to get my ebook at the Pre-Launch reduced price. The ebook is now fully available and functional.
For all of you who have already purchased my ebook, a REAL BIG THANK-YOU! I really do appreciate your business and I truly look forward to working together to help your with all your educational needs and support while you are teaching your children about money.
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik.....Excited Life Enthusiast!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
9 Year Old Girl Takes Her Cake Decorating Passion And Turns It Into a Kidpreneur Business!
abc13.com: Girl, 9, is talented cake decorator and has the beginnings of a business 6/06/08:
"THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- A pint-sized baker in The Woodlands is already starting to make a name for herself, decorating cakes for family and friends' occasions, worthy of praise from the experts.
For 9-year-old Valerie Pignetti, it's all in the squish. Too much can lead to a squash. She's learned the secret to her bakery rolling technique. 'You start in the middle and work your way out every time,' Valerie said. Like any good baker, Valerie first starts with a drawing of the cake she wants to make."
Dear Fellow Parents of Kidpreneurs,
I love finding our young entrepreneurs all through the world taking their passions and turning them into 'kidpreneur' businesses!
Valerie is a 9-year old inspiration for our own young children.
What passions does your child have?
How can you encourage them to take that passion and create their first business venture with it?
Food for thought...
Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
============================================
Need some help figuring out ways to take your child's passion and turn it into their very first business venture?
Download my "50 Money Making Ideas For Kids" ebook, it's FREE!
============================================
"THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- A pint-sized baker in The Woodlands is already starting to make a name for herself, decorating cakes for family and friends' occasions, worthy of praise from the experts.
For 9-year-old Valerie Pignetti, it's all in the squish. Too much can lead to a squash. She's learned the secret to her bakery rolling technique. 'You start in the middle and work your way out every time,' Valerie said. Like any good baker, Valerie first starts with a drawing of the cake she wants to make."
Dear Fellow Parents of Kidpreneurs,
I love finding our young entrepreneurs all through the world taking their passions and turning them into 'kidpreneur' businesses!
Valerie is a 9-year old inspiration for our own young children.
What passions does your child have?
How can you encourage them to take that passion and create their first business venture with it?
Food for thought...
Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
============================================
Need some help figuring out ways to take your child's passion and turn it into their very first business venture?
Download my "50 Money Making Ideas For Kids" ebook, it's FREE!
============================================
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Don't Be Realistic!
How often have you heard people say,
"Be Realistic,"
right after you have told them all about one of your dreams?
These lovely people are called, "dream stealers" and although they may think that they are being helpful to you to keep you on the ground and be 'realistic' what they really are doing is damaging your beliefs, your visions.
It is so incredibly important to surround yourself with possitive people who honestly believe in your visions and goals and truly want to see you succeed.
These are the people who will help you achieve your goals.
Unfortunately in your life, you will find them all around you and your child, you will come across these 'dream stealers'.
They are in your close circle of friends and family and they are hard to avoid.
It is very important to keep you and your child motivated towards your own true goals and to put up an imaginary wall between your "well-meaning loved ones" and yourself and your own family that you wish to protect.
It happens to me daily. I constantly get told by well meaning family members or friends that my visions and dreams are 'unrealistic' and that I should be 'real' and just live my life the way that they think I should.
If you've viewed my 'mind movie' then you will already know some of my own personal goals and dreams and you will know that homeschooling my own children and teaching other children about money are two very important and personal goals of mine.
Yesterday, my father-in-law, although in his mind "meant to be helpful and supportive", told be straight out that my children should be in school and that he had already noticed that my children were falling behind socially because of this 'lack' of socialization that homeschooling brings.
Now had I not had the supportive friends that I am blessed to have and also had I not had an incredibly supportive husband, then I may have taken my father-in-law's remarks straight to my heart and felt that I was doing harm to my children by following my dreams etc. etc.
Instead, however, solid in my goals and visions and constantly surrounded by possitive and inspirational, supportive friends, I was able to look past this remark and see what was really behind it.
Here are some points about his remarks that I will share with you so that you too, may be able to look past the remarks of your own 'well-meaning' friends and family and know that there are other people out in the world just like you who also need support and that you are not alone in your dreams.
1. Firstly, I must tell you that my father-in-law is a teacher and so must take it at some level personally that we chose not to send our chidren to school.
I can fully understand his concern. School is what he knows, this is what he feels comfortable with.
I am confident that if he took the time to really get a full understanding of all that is involved with homeschooling socially then he would change his perception.
2. Secondly, his perception of my children's lack of socialisation skills was also affected by the fact that he had only ever observed their social behaviours in a country where they didn't speak the native language.
Had he seen how they react socially in an English speaking society instead of the Dutch speaking society of his island then he would have been better able to see that my children were a little bit at a disadvantage.
Most children would feel slightly out of place in a country where they do not speak the language.
Ironically, the beauty of us taking this trip to this beautiful Dutch speaking Carribean island, is that my children are now learning to speak Dutch and are making many new and interesting friends.
Again, had I not had that solid background of exceptional support people in my life then I'm sure I would have found it incredibly hard to deal with these types of negative comments and would surely take most of them very personally.
Now, however, even though it will still never feel nice to have 'dream stealers', I am able to take a step back out of the situation and see their comments for what they really are.
You have a support network here. We truly want to see you succeed.
I look forward to reading your comments on this post and reading your own experiences to share with our readers so we can continue to build a strong possitive support group for each other as we follow our dreams for ourselves and our children.
Cheers......Amanda van der Gulik......Excited Life Enthusiast!
"Be Realistic,"
right after you have told them all about one of your dreams?
These lovely people are called, "dream stealers" and although they may think that they are being helpful to you to keep you on the ground and be 'realistic' what they really are doing is damaging your beliefs, your visions.
It is so incredibly important to surround yourself with possitive people who honestly believe in your visions and goals and truly want to see you succeed.
These are the people who will help you achieve your goals.
Unfortunately in your life, you will find them all around you and your child, you will come across these 'dream stealers'.
They are in your close circle of friends and family and they are hard to avoid.
It is very important to keep you and your child motivated towards your own true goals and to put up an imaginary wall between your "well-meaning loved ones" and yourself and your own family that you wish to protect.
It happens to me daily. I constantly get told by well meaning family members or friends that my visions and dreams are 'unrealistic' and that I should be 'real' and just live my life the way that they think I should.
If you've viewed my 'mind movie' then you will already know some of my own personal goals and dreams and you will know that homeschooling my own children and teaching other children about money are two very important and personal goals of mine.
Yesterday, my father-in-law, although in his mind "meant to be helpful and supportive", told be straight out that my children should be in school and that he had already noticed that my children were falling behind socially because of this 'lack' of socialization that homeschooling brings.
Now had I not had the supportive friends that I am blessed to have and also had I not had an incredibly supportive husband, then I may have taken my father-in-law's remarks straight to my heart and felt that I was doing harm to my children by following my dreams etc. etc.
Instead, however, solid in my goals and visions and constantly surrounded by possitive and inspirational, supportive friends, I was able to look past this remark and see what was really behind it.
Here are some points about his remarks that I will share with you so that you too, may be able to look past the remarks of your own 'well-meaning' friends and family and know that there are other people out in the world just like you who also need support and that you are not alone in your dreams.
1. Firstly, I must tell you that my father-in-law is a teacher and so must take it at some level personally that we chose not to send our chidren to school.
I can fully understand his concern. School is what he knows, this is what he feels comfortable with.
I am confident that if he took the time to really get a full understanding of all that is involved with homeschooling socially then he would change his perception.
2. Secondly, his perception of my children's lack of socialisation skills was also affected by the fact that he had only ever observed their social behaviours in a country where they didn't speak the native language.
Had he seen how they react socially in an English speaking society instead of the Dutch speaking society of his island then he would have been better able to see that my children were a little bit at a disadvantage.
Most children would feel slightly out of place in a country where they do not speak the language.
Ironically, the beauty of us taking this trip to this beautiful Dutch speaking Carribean island, is that my children are now learning to speak Dutch and are making many new and interesting friends.
Again, had I not had that solid background of exceptional support people in my life then I'm sure I would have found it incredibly hard to deal with these types of negative comments and would surely take most of them very personally.
Now, however, even though it will still never feel nice to have 'dream stealers', I am able to take a step back out of the situation and see their comments for what they really are.
You have a support network here. We truly want to see you succeed.
I look forward to reading your comments on this post and reading your own experiences to share with our readers so we can continue to build a strong possitive support group for each other as we follow our dreams for ourselves and our children.
Cheers......Amanda van der Gulik......Excited Life Enthusiast!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Why Should We Teach Children About Money?
Dear fellow Concerned Parent,
I am constantly asked why is it so important to teach our kids about money?
Shouldn't we just let our kids be 'kids' and let them worry about money after they grow up?
These are very good questions and I completely understand why concerned parents ask this.
We assume as parents that our schools will teach our children everything they will need to know to be able to become independant young adults but we forget that 'teaching children about money' is not in the curriculum.
Now let me give you statistics that may shock you:
1. Did you know that the number one reason that young couples divorce today is because of money stress?
2. Did you know that the majority of bankruptcies today are applied for by adults 25 years and younger?
Do you want your children to end up as one of these statistics?
No, I didn't think so, and neither do I.
That is why I now am actively teaching my children about money.
So where do you begin?
I simply suggest you begin by encouraging your child to come up with a creative way to earn their own money, so they will feel the pride they deserve from their own efforts.
Then I suggest you encourage your child to split their money into four categories (or piggy banks):
1. Savings (for that rainy day emergency)
2. Investings (you can start them off with simple small stock investments in quality stocks)
3. Charity (teach your child now while they are young to give away some of their money to help others so they won't turn into Scrooge! AND they will get an incredible sense of responsibility toward humankind and nature, and that will only strengthen their characters and help them in their day to day struggles in life)
4. Spend the rest, FAST! (let them feel the rewards of their harded earn cash quickly so they stay excited to continue along this entrepreneurial path.)
I hope this has been helpful and look forward to hearing your comments or other suggestions.
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik.....Excited Life Enthusiast!
============================================
For '50 FREE Money Making Ideas for Kids' click here.
Help your kid find some easy ways for kids to make money.
============================================
I am constantly asked why is it so important to teach our kids about money?
Shouldn't we just let our kids be 'kids' and let them worry about money after they grow up?
These are very good questions and I completely understand why concerned parents ask this.
We assume as parents that our schools will teach our children everything they will need to know to be able to become independant young adults but we forget that 'teaching children about money' is not in the curriculum.
Now let me give you statistics that may shock you:
1. Did you know that the number one reason that young couples divorce today is because of money stress?
2. Did you know that the majority of bankruptcies today are applied for by adults 25 years and younger?
Do you want your children to end up as one of these statistics?
No, I didn't think so, and neither do I.
That is why I now am actively teaching my children about money.
So where do you begin?
I simply suggest you begin by encouraging your child to come up with a creative way to earn their own money, so they will feel the pride they deserve from their own efforts.
Then I suggest you encourage your child to split their money into four categories (or piggy banks):
1. Savings (for that rainy day emergency)
2. Investings (you can start them off with simple small stock investments in quality stocks)
3. Charity (teach your child now while they are young to give away some of their money to help others so they won't turn into Scrooge! AND they will get an incredible sense of responsibility toward humankind and nature, and that will only strengthen their characters and help them in their day to day struggles in life)
4. Spend the rest, FAST! (let them feel the rewards of their harded earn cash quickly so they stay excited to continue along this entrepreneurial path.)
I hope this has been helpful and look forward to hearing your comments or other suggestions.
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik.....Excited Life Enthusiast!
============================================
For '50 FREE Money Making Ideas for Kids' click here.
Help your kid find some easy ways for kids to make money.
============================================
Friday, May 23, 2008
Cash-Smart Kids - Teaching Kids About Money and Business
Hello Parents,
I've just come across an amazing site. These parents have three young girls and all three of them started their own businesses in elementary school!!! Not bad, eh?
Here's a small exerpt from their site, click the link to read the full story.
Cash-Smart Kids - Teaching Kids About Money and Business: "more and more parents are realising the importance of providing their kids with something better than the standard basic school education about money and business.
In today’s economy, we need to raise our kids to be self-reliant. Getting a good job in this day and age is no longer the passport to financial security it once was. Employees, even highly skilled ones, face an uncertain future, hoping and praying that the environment is kind to their employer, their geographical area, and their industry."
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
=========================================
FREE ebook, "50 Money Making Ideas for Kids"
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/
=========================================
I've just come across an amazing site. These parents have three young girls and all three of them started their own businesses in elementary school!!! Not bad, eh?
Here's a small exerpt from their site, click the link to read the full story.
Cash-Smart Kids - Teaching Kids About Money and Business: "more and more parents are realising the importance of providing their kids with something better than the standard basic school education about money and business.
In today’s economy, we need to raise our kids to be self-reliant. Getting a good job in this day and age is no longer the passport to financial security it once was. Employees, even highly skilled ones, face an uncertain future, hoping and praying that the environment is kind to their employer, their geographical area, and their industry."
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
=========================================
FREE ebook, "50 Money Making Ideas for Kids"
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/
=========================================
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Money Mammals - Teach Children About Money Through Music!
I have come across a great site with incredible tools for teaching children about money.
They are called The Money Mammals.
Here's what kids are saying about money.
And here's an example of how The Money Mammals can help teach children about money.
Here's to our continued success in teaching kids about money!
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
They are called The Money Mammals.
Here's what kids are saying about money.
And here's an example of how The Money Mammals can help teach children about money.
Here's to our continued success in teaching kids about money!
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
How Can You Avoid Spoiling Your Kids?
Is your kid a spoiled brat?
"Instead of an iPod nano, give your kids the tools they need to be financially independent adults.
Give them an early start
"Instead of an iPod nano, give your kids the tools they need to be financially independent adults.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Last year you caved and bought your kid an iPod, now they want a nano. Where does it end?
"Just say no," said Janet Bodnar, author of "Raising Money Smart Kids"
Many parents struggle with not buying their children what they desire when they can afford to do so. But "it has nothing to do with whether you can afford it," warned Neale Godfrey, author of "Money Still Doesn't Grow on Trees." "It has to do with the values you want to raise the kids with."
Let your child in on your spending decisions and convey the reasons behind the choices that you are making. Explain that "we are saving money for a vacation or something else," Bodnar said, who believes the biggest problem parents have is not talking to their kids about money.
Here are a few other suggestions to keep your kid from becoming a brat.
Starting when your kids are young, give them a simple lesson in finances. "Explain to them that the bank is a big piggy bank for Mom and Dad," Bodnar said, make sure they realize that the money you have in the bank is not limitless, but only as much as you have put in.
Even as early as three years old, your children begin to understand that money is the medium of exchange, which means that's when their financial education should start, according to Godfrey.
"It's easier if you start them at three than at 18," she said. But if you are already faced with disillusioned teens, it's not too late to teach them money-smart lessons."
This is an amazing article I just found through Google Search that has an incredible amount of practical and extremely effective information for parents on how to make sure that you don't end up with a spoiled dependent child. Click here to read more of the article with all of their tips on how to make sure you don't end up with a spoiled child.
Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Kids Business Ideas - Highly Recommended eBook
Hello Parents,
I have just come across an amazing resource guide with 83 Ways for Your Child to Start Earning Money Right Away! Similar to my own "50 Money Making Ideas for Kids" ebook, this "Kids Business Ideas - Money Making Inspiration For Kids And The Parents Who Love Them" ebook is a must read for kids who would like to find some ideas for ways that they can earn money during the summer and beyond.
Hope you enjoy it and if you have any feedback on the ebook please do let me know so I can publish your thoughts on the book and let us know how the ideas helped your child.
Cheer....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
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