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In this issue: Introducing kids to media literacy, sitting on the same side of the table and becoming "professional" parents.

"Working to help parents raise money-smart kids."

​​3 Ideas to Share & Save​
​(Click the link above 👆 to read this week's edition on the web.)

Hello, friends!

I have several interesting ideas I want to share with you this week.

So let's dive right in!

— 1 —

Media Literacy Matters: All someone needs to do is mention Lucky Charms around me, and I reflexively sing, "They're magically delicious!" ☘️

Sugary sweet songs entice young brains, and that one burnt itself into mine ages ago. Advertising's power is astounding, so the money-smart journey must include introducing kids to media literacy. We need to arm our kids for battle in the marketing arena because we want them to learn both money and media empowerment.

I recently interviewed renowned expert Erin McNeill, the founder and CEO of Media Literacy Now. I'll release her full Art of Allowance Podcast episode in a few weeks, but I want to share this nugget now to help you start important conversations while your kids are home for the summer.

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Erin's key message is that our kids want to discuss media manipulation. So we shouldn't be afraid to bring up this topic.

— 2 —

Same Side of the Table: Facing questions across a table can be intimidating. (Just ask Perry Smith and Dick Hickock of In Cold Blood.) There's a reason why the interrogation process is designed the way it is. It establishes a power hierarchy and forces the interviewee into a defensive posture. In other words, it's not designed for cooperation.

Becky Kennedy, who wrote Good Inside and is affectionately known as "Dr. Becky," joined Shane Parrish on The Knowledge Project to share useful tactics to help struggling kids. She suggested that rather than sitting across the table like modern-day Sam Spades, we should change the dynamic by moving to their side.

Whether done literally or metaphorically, sitting on the same side of the table is a useful approach to connect with kids who are struggling on their money-smart journeys. Several of my own podcast guests have shared ways they've taken this approach with kids and students.

​Kirk Drake realized his expertise was casting a shadow over his kids' entrepreneurial drives:

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​Colin Ryan made budgeting more appealing by working alongside his students:

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And rather than tell his daughter not to make money mistakes, Joe Saul-Sehy used his "circle back" technique to help her learn from her own experiences:

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— 3 —

Weekly Wisdom:

I used to play and watch a fair amount of golf. (Now I spend that time long-distance training.) A big distinction between pros and duffers (like me) isn't that the former group doesn't make mistakes. Rather, it's that pros have bigger toolkits to extract themselves from seemingly impossible positions like massive tree trunks, insanely thick rough or cavernous sand pits.

Similarly, over time we become "professional" parents, learning from experiences and developing our own impressive toolkits to help us overcome mistakes. (Like realizing that what's said to our children can't be unsaid. 😬)

This newsletter is dedicated to helping you make wrong decisions work in your favor and to making better decisions going forward. That's why I enjoy sharing useful ideas like those from Erin McNeill, Dr. Becky and our other podcast friends. I hope these suggestions help you and your family on the road to money empowerment.

As always, enjoy the journey!

John,
Chief Mammal

P.S. Please consult with a financial or investment professional before making any decisions that might affect your financial well-being.

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