Money is abstract and for children to learn, money lessons must be concrete — hands-on. With this in mind, remember to introduce money to your child in the following order: coin before currency before checking before debit before credit. As each level gets more and more abstract it becomes more important for each level to be mastered before you move on.

It is clear to kids when cold hard cash is gone — that it’s gone. Understanding that you’re underwater with credit takes more mastery of the abstract. Help your child get ready for plastic by making sure they get coin and currency first.

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