Like adults, children have distinct money personalities.  From an early age, children give clear signals of how they think and feel about--and are therefore likely to behave--with money.

 We routinely try to change behavior patterns we think will hinder our kids' chances for success.  So why not work on their money habits, too?

The following are some guidelines you may want to use to help your children develop healthy money personalities:

 * Accentuate the positive.  Encourage the positive aspects of your child's money personality as much as you discourage the negative ones.

*  Rewards should not be financial in nature.  Base rewards on something that will reinforce your relationship, such as a trip to a favorite destination.  Or cook your child a special meal.

* Allowances send powerful conscious and unconscious messages.  Given to kids to recognize their active participation in the household, an allowance is an effective means of teaching the vital relationship between effort and earning: helping with family pets, washing the dishes, mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage.  This is more positive, and powerful, than children simply getting what they want on demand.

*  Teach positive money habits by tuning into your own behavior and the example you set.  Children learn from role models--by what they see their parents do vs. what their parents may say.  Parents, be sure to make more of an effort to understand your own attitudes and feelings about money, and the impact they have on how you save, spend and manage the family finances.

*  Kids aren't taught essential money skills in school.  You must teach them at home.  Without basic education and skills, kids will mismanage their money.

*  Become more comfortable talking about money with your children.  Money talk is often a taboo, and many parents feel awkward exposing their lack of abilities, skills and financial information.  This sense of secrecy is apparent in children who model the same behavior.  Instead, parents and children can learn together in the privacy of their homes.

*  By discussing money matters with your children, you'll be sharing values as well as information.  Whether the family has a lot of money or just enough to pay the bills, communicating with your children about it should be a priority.  Parental values are meaningful.  They can easily be introduced into family discussions and--more important--should be demonstrated through your actions.

*  Communicate some of the universal values that should be attached to money: thrift, charity, self-discipline, generosity, sharing.  Children need practical experience, not just explanations or lectures.  Incorporate lessons about money into lessons about life.

 The most critical thing to remember is to help your children develop a positive relationship with money.  Just like with your own savings, the best time to start is now.