by Heather D. Reese


I was so excited today when my daughter came home from kindergarten today and asked me what I really need in life. More specifically, are the things in my life a "Want" or a "need".


At first I was confused, was she really asking what I thought she was? I've talked about this before with both of my children, they know the value of money... but I've never used these terms with my kindergartner.



She then pulled out a worksheet that teached them the difference. They had to circle the "needs" out of pictures of the following... Food, water, apples, candy, a bed, a teddy bear and a mom hugging her child. My daughter circled everything except the candy and teddy bear. I asked her about not circling the teddy bear... she said it would be nice to have, but that she doesn't need it to survive... I was so proud!



She then started saying things in her life that were wants and what was a need, "I guess my sister is a need". I said yep, "it'd be hard to survive without her", she says "yes, who would make me popcorn?". And the moment was over.



It really did open up a whole new level of money talk between us though. I'm a firm believer in talking to your children about money from the time they are toddlers, but I just didn't realize she was ready to understand even more.



It's about time that the kids are taught more about money in schools, and what a great way to start in kindergartner with the wants vs. needs. I think a lot more adults are also struggling with being able to differentiate the difference between a need and a want....