Alyson Schafer - Parent Expert

Find Alyson's Help at BMO SmartSteps For Parents

Growing up, I always had an allowance. In order to get that allowance, my brothers and I had to submit a budget for approval.  Here is one of my earliest. 50 cents a "mouth" (sic) for savings.  Nice goin' Alyson! 

As a parenting expert, I get lots of questions about kids and money:

    When should I start allowance?  

    Should it be tied to chores?  

    My parents gave my daughter $100 for her     birthday. That's too much! Can I force her     to put it in savings?

There is a vast amount our children will have to know about saving, spending, budgeting, learning concepts around value, learning altruism, compound interest, online transactions, how to read a bankstatement, how to use a debit card, borrowing with interest, and more.  How do you teach it all?

Well, I'm thrilled to announce that all you have to do is follow me over to a newly launched site created by Bank Of Montreal. I am one of the experts working with BMO to create the BMO SmartSteps for Parents site just for parents like you! I will be blogging, answering your questions, helping BMO pick the best activities to help kids learn financial literacy and show you webisodes of how others families are managing these lessons too.  Here's a little taste of what we're all about.  See you there!  www.BMO.com/smartparents 

Poetry Slam - An Adult Survivor of Childhood Ritalin Shares A Great Story

This is my buddy Ian French (who performs as "IF") who I admire for so many reasons.  Many of us forget how hard school and adolescence can be.  Ian reminds us how dark those days can be and how far off the rails one's early life can go.  Now a father of a teen son himself, Ian is sharing his own story of how he rose above it all.  Ian sends a positive message about a better day that parents and youth will be encouraged by.  Great contribution Ian!

(Ah - foul language warning - just in case that makes you squeamish.)

 

Book Launch Party for Ain't Misbehavin' - March 8th 2011

I'm having a party.  Yup, its time to celebrate the launch of my 3rd book, Ain't Misbehavin' since its been in the top 100 best sellers on Amazon.ca since its release and the early reviews have been so awesome.  Come join host Kathy Buckworth as she toast ( or dare I say roasts) my big day!  Its like having a sweet sixteen for authors, I swear to god I'm tickled about this! 

Here are the details and if you can join me, please do - but RSVP to ekelly@wiley.com. Spaces are limited (sorry) so let her know right away!  

What:  Alyson's Book Lauch for Ain't Misbehavin' 

Who: Host Kathy Buckworth will lead the cheer! 

Where: Ben McNally Books 366 Bay Street Toronto, ON 

When: 6-8pm Tuesday March 8th 2011

There will be prizes and yes - bring your parenting questions! I'll be doing a Q&A too! There will be a tweet up at the Irish Embassy ( 49 Yonge Street) following the launch.  See you there!