Helping Your Children To Be Financially Literate (NAPSA)—Parents whoinstill healthy financial values in their children deserve a lot of credit. Youngsters are not likely to learn in school the difference between needing something and wanting something. To help, Visa created a Practical Money Skills for Life Website that teams with television stars to offer financial guidance and money management skills for teachers, students, par- ents and consumers of any age. Here are some of the suggestions the site offers: On allowance: Once kids have learned to add and subtract with ease (usually first or second grade), it’s a good timeto start them on allowance. Rather than tying allowance to chores, behavior or grades, determine the amount by figuring out what you expect your children to buy with their money. On saving: Setting up rules on how much of the allowance or gift money your kids must save may help them save, but it may not help them want to save. Instead, wait until the first time your youngster doesn’t have enough to buy something inexpensive that catches his eye. That’s a great time to introduce your child to the wonders of saving. Visa’s Website, aptly called www.practicalmoneyskills.com, will include a feature called “Fame,” with primetimetelevision personalities such as Jane Kaczmarek (Lois from FOX’s “Malcolm in the Mid- dle”), Cheryl Hines (Cheryl David from HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Jasmine Guy (Roxy from Showtime’s “Dead Like Me”). Besides providing award-winning performances on “Malcolm in Jasmine Guy is hoping to inte- grate the financial literacy pro- gram into her work at a safe housein Los Angeles. the Middle,” Jane Kaczmarek’s biggest priority is caring for her children and teaching them to save and share. She founded the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation, which collects red-carpet clothing and items from celebrities and auctions them off to benefit children’s charities. Cheryl Hines, as a parent herself, sees the importanceof offer- ing children new opportunities to learn, which is why she has also become involved in Clothes Off Our Back with Jane Kaczmarek. Jasmine Guy is hoping to integrate the financial literacy program into her work at “A Place Called Home,” a safe house in South Central Los Angeles that she has been involved with for more than 10 years. She founded a dance program there, which her sister now runs. To learn more, visit www.prac ticalmoneyskills.com.
