Raising Financially Fit Kids

From Booklist
Money, a powerful factor in family dynamics, is often a difficult subject for families to address. Godfrey aims to help parents send their children into the world as financially savvy adults by identifying 10 specific skills that can be mastered by children ages 5 through 18. These include saving, keeping track of money, spending wisely, living on a budget, investing, handling credit responsibly, and using money to help others. Godfrey contends that her advice is for parents of every income level because the same financial issues confront those with means as confront those with few resources, regardless of race, class, culture, or political orientation. While this book conveniently doubles as an infomercial for her consulting practice, it does offer valuable insight into an important subject. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
As a parent, you worry about instilling good financial values in your children—no matter what your income level. But when and how is it appropriate to start teaching your kids about the almighty dollar? Joline Godfrey, founder and CEO of Independent Means, Inc.—the leading provider of financial programs for kids and their parents—has the answers. In RAISING FINANCIALLY FIT KIDS, Godfrey aims her friendly, approachable, and practical text at parents and grandparents of children ages 5 to 18. At the heart of the book is a developmental map covering 10 specific money skills children can master by the age of 18 to become financially secure adults. Godfrey’s fitness plan doesn’t encourage children to accumulate wealth for its own sake; rather, it helps children achieve independence and become responsible members of families and communities by teaching habitual savings, smart money management, and decision-making skills. More than just a money book, RAISING FINANCIALLY FIT KIDS will help you send your kids into the world as balanced young adults who exercise good judgment, practice responsible habits, and live financially stable lives.

From the Publisher
A parent’s guide to raising financially sophisticated children, from the founder and CEO of the leading provider of financial programs for kids and parents. Parental frustration over children who haven’t mastered the habits of conservative spending and liberal saving cuts across race, class, culture, and political orientation. More than 100,000 young people have participated in Joline Godfrey’s programs, used her products, or visited her distinctive websites.

About the Author
JOLINE GODFREY is one of the country’s leading experts on kids, parents, and money. She is the author of Our Wildest Dreams, No More Frogs to Kiss, and Twenty $ecrets: The DollarDiva’s Guide to Life. She lives in Santa Barbara, California


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Renowned for her work in educating girls about money, Godfrey (No More Frogs To Kiss: 99 Ways To Give Economic Power to Girls) presents a general financial apprenticeship for kids ages five through 18. Suggested are age-specific activities and resources that will help parents of all income levels teach the author's "Ten Basic Money Skills" (e.g., saving, keeping track of money, spending wisely, and investing). At the heart of the text is the idea that financial apprenticeship is less about money than about instilling independence and responsibility. Godfrey's humor, coupled with her knowledge of child psychology, helps her make a strong case for a more playful yet studied approach to financial apprenticeship. Chapters on philanthropy and raising privileged kids make the book more suitable for public libraries serving wealthy communities. Libraries that already own Alan Feigenbaum's similar A Parent's Guide to Money: Raising Financially Savvy Children need not purchase. (Fold-out charts of the money skills not seen.)-Maryse Breton, Davis Branch Lib., CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.


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