subject: English Math Money Internet - New Education For Children [print this page] English Math Money Internet - New Education For Children
I recently spoke with a person with 2 children. She refused to have an Internet connection in her home. She explained to me that the Internet is evil. Her religious beliefs were the cause of her convictions. When I asked her why she wanted to be so cut off from the world she answered: "I have a TV and a cable connection and that's all my children are allowed to watch".
Wow! Can you imagine all the insane TV commercials her children are watching? Commercials she has no control over that are always brainwashing her children, mindlessly, minute after minute, day after day, month after month?
A New Education. What does it mean today? And mostly, what does it mean regarding children when their minds are so open and ripe for new ideas and impressions - impressions that will strongly impact the rest of their lives?
Many definitions exist to describe the word education. My favourite: You are educated when you can create the life you seriously aspire to and love without violating the rights of others.
So why are so many people disappointed about their lives? Why do many of us stick with old ideas and end up in a rut? Even one old lingering idea from our childhood can continue pointing us in unending unhappy directions. These directions can last for years, even decades. Ideas from childhood can dictate our actions for a lifetime.
English and math. Basic education that is absolutely essential. We all started learning this in grade one. The question is, when to start teaching children about money? After all, money will be one of the most dominating forces in any child's future life, along with English and math. And now, let's face it, the Internet is the fourth most dominating force the Internet is an immediate INSTANT connection to the entire planet, a serious situation that needs some serious attention.
English. Math. Money. Internet
Starting in grade school, a little geography and history and science is nice. It is fascinating to learn about elephants and birds and the war of 1812. Art and music are also beautiful additions to early learning. The point is: Learning about money and the Internet is equally important for any child's future. The sooner the better.
Let's talk about early money.
When I was 12, I earned money by cutting grass in the summer and shovelling snow in the winter, including delivering the local daily newspaper to 35 people. I was rich. I had all the money needed to buy the latest skate board, Atari video games, go to the movies, you name it. I also took my left-over cash and ironed it on the ironing board so to make it flat and crisp. I piled all my ironed money in a nice even stack in my bedroom drawer, the ones, and twos, and five and tens, and sometimes the twenties (never owned or saw a fifty).
This money collected to a nice sum (even though my older brother dipped in to it once and awhile behind my back). If only my parents would have instructed me to open a bank account and start investing. It would have starting a good habit. A life-long habit. I was making all this heavy kid-money but I had no idea what to do with it, other than hoard it, or spend it, or have it stolen (my brother eventually admitted to stealing my money 25 years later).
Anyway, back to early education about money, starting in grade one. Now is the time to teach children about money. Even better, how to teach children all about money while they see money as natural building blocks for their secure future.
English. Math. Money. Internet.
There are some parents that have taught their children to wisely invest their money in real estate using their own saved "paper route"money. Can you imagine the wealth you would have today if someone started you off investing money when you were 12 years old?
English. Math. Money. Internet (and some geography, science, history, and music for fun).
We really ought to start teaching children about money and the power of the Internet ASAP so they learn excellent habits that will serve them well for their entire lifetime.
