Parenting Roundtable: Economic volatility is affecting every level of society in some way. How do parents help their children prepare for a future that seems so uncertain?

SHAUN KEMMERLY, MD

Chief Medical Officer and Interim President, FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health

Teaching kids about money—saving, investing—is important. Talking to kids about money in an appropriate way matters. We should be intentional in teaching children to give to others less fortunate. Many of our children and families are vulnerable; they struggle with finances and other social drivers of health. We screen patients at FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake for financial insecurity, food insecurity, transportation. When families need help, we connect them to resources—food banks, emergency food boxes, clothing closets. It’s about recognizing needs and connecting families to resources to help them move forward.

MARY STEIN

Assistant Library Director: Programs, Outreach & Collections, East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Career exploration doesn’t just start when you’re in high school. Kids can try to be many things and that doesn’t have to mean a college degree. Trades are noble and we need them. It starts with parents—sharing why they made a decision, why they bought this instead of that. Little children love to play store, play cooking. That builds numeracy and confidence. Don’t hide decisions. Children need to know you are investing for your future and for their future. Little things add up. Talk about the value of different jobs. Buy an experience, not a toy. That shared time is valuable.

SONNY ALDRIDGE

CEO, United Community Bank

I’ll never forget as a young kid, walking down the street with my grandpa, I saw a penny on the ground, picked it up, looked at it, and threw it back. He almost had a heart attack! That has stuck with me my entire life. We’ve lost a little bit of that. Even in a financially stable home, our kids need to be prepared for the day they’ll be on their own. My son and I were doing some yard work, and he said, “Why don’t we pay someone to do this?” I explained the cost and how much we saved. Things like that need to be reinforced.

WADE EVANS

Mayor, City of Central

Don’t worry about the future—live in the present. Read everything. That builds critical thinking. We have to build resilience. Don’t solve every problem—let them learn how to solve problems. We push kids on paths they’re not ready for. Not all kids need the same track. That creates anxiety. We need to let children grow and experience life instead of protecting them from it. We also need to slow down. We have our kids involved in too much. When we focus on what’s important, every moment becomes more valuable.

EMILY GREENE

President, First Choice Therapy

Children learn from us as role models. We need to model smart financial behaviors—live below our means, avoid unnecessary debt, and plan for the future. Teach practical life skills—time management, money management. Teach children to set goals and delay instant gratification. Allow children to experience failure and guide them through it. If they earn money, teach them the importance of a budget and sticking to a budget. Make it concrete—give them choices and responsibilities so they can learn through experience.