We all want our children to have healthy financial futures, yet many times we fail to start them out with a healthy understanding of money.
We either give them too much or struggle to provide even their smallest needs, but we may be guilty of never explaining either case to them, and therefore we rob them of a good educational financial background.
Teaching your kids about money can be fun and simple, and mostly it is important for their financial future.
Here are seven simple ways to teach your kids about money:

1. Start early.
   Kids are smart, and they get things a lot faster than we give them credit for, so as soon as your kids can count introduce them to money.
   Have them count pennies, nickels, quarters, and more.
   It gives them exposure to money and a place to start which you can build on in the future.
   
2. Help your kids save.
   So grandma gives Little Johnny $5 every time she comes for a visit.
   Do you allow Little Johnny to go to the store and spend all of his $5 your next trip or do you show him how to save by putting aside fifty cents or a dollar of the money in a jar to begin showing him how money can add up if you put it aside for a rainy day.
   
3. Help them understand the difference between wants and needs.
   Just as it is important for an adult to question whether something is a want or need it is important for us to teach our children the same concept so that they can make smarter decisions in their future.
   
4. Teach them to give.
   We all know how much greater it feels to give than to receive.
   Therefore, whether you are teaching them to give their tithe in church, or giving to a friend in need, teaching them to give is an important tool that will help them in the days ahead.
   
5. Pay them for a job well done.
   Once your children are old enough to do some type of work, you can begin to teach them about being paid for performing a task.
   They will understand the connection between doing a good job and being rewarded or paid for it.
   
6. Allow them to make spending decisions.
   When you do allow them to spend some of the money they receive, give them the power to decide what they want to purchase.
   Many times children will pick out an item that is priced higher than they can afford.
   Instead of coming to their rescue and providing the additional cash, allow your child to learn by telling them they do not have enough money and having them choose to buy something else or wait until they can save enough money for the higher item.
   
7. Teach them the value of a dollar.
   You can do this buy pointing out to them the quantity that you can purchase with one dollar.
   You can do this with a low priced item such as bubblegum and a candy bar.
   The gum may cost five cents per piece, whereas the candy bar cost $1 and therefore they can purchase 20 pieces with $1 but can only purchase one candy bar.
   This will help them to understand what is worth more.