If there were any time that a mother would panic, it would be when her four-year-old swallowed a coin. But beyond the normal reaction, Nadia Rudder-McNeill realised that the incident happened because her daughter didn't understand what the coin really represented.
"As parents we tend to react rather than respond," Rudder-McNeill said. "We as parents need to get involved in passing on more than just numeracy to our children." Rudder-McNeill's new book, Know Your Money, is the result of that epiphany. Aimed at children ages six to ten years, the book is an interactive tool that parents and guardians can use to help their children learn about all the aspects of money, not just about spending.
The book defines money and receipts, explains the security features on our money, saving, the importance of a decimal point, money do's and don'ts and provides pull out play money sanctioned by the Central Bank. Environmental photographer Stephen Broadbridge also granted the author permission to use his images of flora and fauna as seen on T&T's currency.
"Some of the words are printed in bold to prompt parents or educators to help expand their children's vocabulary in terms to money. We want to encourage parents to share their morals and values. We shape our children's future attitudes toward money, what you do with it, how you budget it," Rudder-McNeill explained.
The book was launched on September 27 at Nalis, and invited guests included representatives from bpTT, the Just Because Foundation, the Cotton Tree Foundation and Scotiabank, who partially sponsored the printing of 1,000 copies. The book has also been endorsed by the Ministry of Finance.
The Surinamese ambassador to T&T Fidelia Grand-Galon bought several copies for herself and to give other ambassadors as gifts, so that they can also understand the unique symbols and meanings behind T&T currency.
Rudder-McNeill added that the ambassador is interested in rebranding the book for hers and other countries that may also need a tool like this. Rudder-McNeill explained that the social problems of society-poverty, gangs, drugs-are all linked to society attitudes toward money: how to get it, how to use it and what its value is.
"We are becoming a very corrupt nation and if we are to change that, we need to start training our children. Money answereth all things, and if there is not that value system regarding money, even when we get it we end up back in a hole."
And children are already responding to the text. Rudder-McNeill donated some copies to the Belmont Government Primary and Myrtle's Preschool and facilitated interactive sessions with some students.
Teachers report that the children are excited about using the play money in imaginary scenarios and learning how to use money. Rudder-McNeill loves to hear stories like this, and wants to find ways to have more children exposed to learning the right things about money.
"Nowadays we tend to give children what they want and they have no idea how hard it is to earn that money," she concluded. "Master money, don't let it master you."
