Parents advised to equip children with financial literacy

Financial planner Aliyah Natressya suggests that parents should equip their children with financial literacy to help them build healthier financial habits from an early age. The founder of DNA Finance Indonesia stated that financial education within the family can help children understand the value of money, develop saving habits, and appreciate the efforts parents make to meet their needs.

“This is a long-term investment that is often underestimated,” she told ANTARA on Friday. An alumna with an MSc in International Economic and Business Competitiveness from the University of Birmingham, she advised parents to use age-appropriate approaches when conveying financial information to children.

For younger children, parents can introduce concepts such as pocket money, saving, and the distinction between needs and wants. Older children can be taught to understand the broader picture of educational budgeting, including the mandatory costs incurred during their studies.

By applying a principle of proportional transparency, she noted, parents can help children understand that education is an investment requiring long-term financial planning and commitment from the family. “Children who grow up with financial awareness will more appreciate the investments made by their parents and be better prepared to face financial realities in adulthood,” she said.

Aliyah emphasised that financial education should be an integrated part of family habits—a consistent activity within the household—rather than something only addressed when the family faces significant financial pressures or needs. According to Aliyah, early financial management education within the family can help children build healthier financial habits as they enter their productive years.