We've seen some of the keys to teaching our kids about money:

• Letting them see our mistakes
• Giving them experience with money of their own
• Communicating and modeling stewardship principles

When our children hit major milestones - like college, moving out, and marriage - the effort we've taken to disciple them in stewardship really begins to pay off. But how do we approach these milestones? How can we continue to create in our children an increasing sense of confidence and independence while helping them to make wise decisions at these critical junctures?

At these milestones, our children will begin making some very consequential financial decisions: taking out educational loans (and the question of how to approach college); living on their own and paying their own bills; integrating their life with a special someone who may not have had the same financial training and background. Decisions made in this stage will impact the remainder of their lives.

These watershed moments can be times of huge relational and financial stress; or they can be times of real relational growth, as we begin to relate to our children as adults (or they can be a bit of both!). One key to success is clear communication about expectations. What do they expect - and what do we expect - when it comes to paying for college? When it comes to their transitioning out of our home? When it comes to supporting their wedding and early marriage years?

In this final installment of our 3-part series on teaching kids about money, host James Lenhoff discusses these landmark events and decisions and provides tips on navigating meaningful conversations with our children.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Email James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

What does it look like to actually teach our kids about money? The biggest key is giving them responsibility for managing their own money - and starting early.

When parents tell their kids, "We're not buying that - it's a useless toy that will break as soon as you get it home," kids only learn that their parents make all the decisions. But when kids make those decisions with their own money (an allowance), they experience first-hand the disappointment of having wasted that money - and that's a lesson that lasts.

And it's important for kids to learn these lessons by making five-dollar mistakes, rather than making $5,000 mistakes as they get older. It's like learning to walk. Kids learn to walk by falling - not by parents lecturing them on the theories of walking. And when a toddler falls, it's a fall of six inches - so it doesn't matter much. But if we keep our children in wheelchairs until they're teenagers and then give them an opportunity to walk for the first time, a fall will hurt much more. The same is true with finances.

In this episode of The Faithful Steward, James Lenhoff shows us the importance of enabling our kids to learn financial responsibility and stewardship through their own experiences. James shares practical examples of how to give our children increasing levels of freedom and responsibility in this important area.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Email James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

Sometimes, the most important things to teach our kids are also the hardest. This is often true when it comes to teaching our kids about money. Maybe we've made some mistakes and don't feel qualified to lead our kids financially. Maybe our parents didn't teach us about money, so we're not sure how to go about it. Or maybe we just think "it's none of their business how we manage our money."

The thing is, our kids are learning about money. They're learning from marketers, from their friends, from culture in general. And none of these sources are teaching stewardship principles. Instead, they're promoting materialism, greed, and a sense of entitlement. If we want our children to become faithful stewards of God's resources, it's up to us to model and teach that.

Jesus teaches us that we have to choose between serving God and serving money. That sounds simple, but it's not always easy. And if it's not easy for us, it won't be easy for our kids.

In this first installment of our three-part series on teaching kids about money, host James Lenhoff shows us the importance of teaching and modeling stewardship principles, exposing them to those who have less, and sharing our own mistakes (even as we make them!) as key elements of discipling our kids in this critical area.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Email James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org