How Tya Ariestya teaches financial literacy to children

Tya Ariestya's family (Instagram @tya_ariestya)

JAKARTA - Artist Tya Ariestya has a unique way of educating her eldest child, Kanaka, who just celebrated his eighth birthday. Tya started introducing the basic concept of economics and the value of hard work to her child through creative activities that generate money.

"Kanaka is a painting service for the casing, and then the tumbler. He uses pilox as capital and then he makes it. At first, the service was paid 25 thousand, but it turned out that it did not cover the cost of buying pilox again, it finally rose to 50 thousand," said Tya Ariestya in South Jakarta, Tuesday, August 11.

For Tya, this activity is not just a toy business, but a media for learning mathematics and capital management. He wants his children to understand that everything requires careful calculation.

"Actually it's not a business to get money, but more to learn how to count. I'll tell you, 'Kak, how much did you buy pilox? Oh, 15 thousand'. Oh yes, that means your capital is that much. Later he will decide how much the profit will be," explained Tya Ariestya.

Irfan Ratinggang's wife also trained Kanaka to be disciplined in recording every incoming and outgoing money. This is done so that the child does not take the value of the money earned by his parents for granted.

"I ask him to make a note. So today the money is used for snacks. Let's train a little bit at a time, so that you can appreciate the money. Don't think money is easy," added Tya Ariestya.

Not only about records, Tya also invited Kanaka to remain simple by tasting street food such as Gultik in the Mahakam area. He used that moment to explain the difference in the price of food at school and on the side of the road.

"Kanaka asked, 'How much is this one?'. I answered, 'This costs only 7 thousand Kak. He was surprised, 'Oh 7 thousand? How can you do that, Mother?'. Yes, I explained because he didn't rent a place, didn't pay for the AC, so I could give a cheap price," recalled Tya Ariestya.

This parenting pattern is applied by Tya because she realizes that life is not always filled with luxury. She wants her child to be able to adapt and get along with all walks of life without feeling awkward.

"Life's journey is long, if it is not nurtured from childhood, it cannot be. Kanaka still learns as simply as possible. He must be able to eat at a pinter warung. We have to be able to because it is not always luxurious," said the mother of two children.

Closing the discussion, Tya emphasized that simple memories are often more memorable than luxurious gifts. This is what he tried to build for the future of his children.

"Sometimes we think buying expensive toys will be the memory he remembers the most, it turns out it's not. The memory he remembers is probably eating Gultik. That's what he'll remember until he grows up," concluded Tya Ariestya.