How can I help my young child with counting and simple numbers? Children begin to learn simple maths from an early stage at nursery and at school, and most parents like to help as much as they can. You do not have to be an expert - all you need to do is to encourage your child to think about numbers and to try things out. There are ways of increasing your child's confidence with numbers, many involving everyday activities, which won't be a drain on your time or resources. You may already be doing some of these things. Click here for some suggestions for you to try out - we hope they will increase your child's confidence with numbers and be fun for both of you.

The Child Trust Fund: information for parents on the Child Trust Fund - a new initiative from the Government to encourage long term saving.

Moneyopolis is an interactive onine game with a teacher and parent area.

Money Week is a new resource for use in primary schools, for teaching financial capability through a themed 'Money Week'. Go to the download page and take a look at the PowerPoint for parents and see if your child's school could do a 'Money Week'.

Raising kids is a website dedicated to parents containing useful personal finance information.

Lead by example to win the pocket battle is an article which explores how to get your children into good pocket money habits. Here are the experts' top tips for the financial fledgling -

• Specify everything your child's pocket money has to cover. This will focus their mind on budgeting.
• Get your child to work for their pocket money. They will soon appreciate its value.
• If you decide to give them a rise, make sure they do something to earn it.
• Give them the cash in coins - making it easier for them to put one or two away.
• Alternatively, for older children, put their money in an account so they have to make an effort to withdraw it.
• Avoid topping up or advancing their allowance. If they blow it all at once, tough. Be cruel to be kind and let your child learn the hard way.
• Avoid interfering with how your son or daughter spends their pocket money. They will be more inclined to save some of it if they believe they can spend the rest however they like.
• Identify something that they really want and can realistically save for. Children (like ourselves) respond better to tangible goals than vague expectations.
• Once you've identified an object of desire, break up the savings required to buy it into smaller chunks. Each time one of these milestones is reached, congratulate your child and mark the occasion. This will help to make saving for something fun and attainable.
• Finally, consider offering to match funds. Make a pact that for every £1 they save you will contribute a certain percentage as well. They will feel supported as well as inspired. And, come to it, so might you. Piggy bank, anyone?


Barbara Oaff, The Observer, 21st November 2004