My experience with my son Josh has shown me by experience that the school system does not cater for all kids. “Hyperactive” children don’t fit well, and if care is not taken, their creativity can be crushed. Sitting down and receiving lectures does not suit all temperaments. While some get it, others are bored to death. They are forced to resort to cramming to pass exams. Josh seems to fall into this group. He has been labeled hyperactive, does not sit still for long, is always on the move, and is the chairman of noisemakers.
I could not put my finger on what was wrong until last year while on vacation in the UK when we visited the Elim Church in Coventry. The kids had to join the children’s section. After church service, Josh refused to leave. It took a lot of persuasion, cajoling, and promises to get him to come with us. On our last Sunday, Josh created a scene, with tears rolling down his cheeks as he asked to be left behind. He did not want to go back home to school and the children’s church in Nigeria. I had to find out why.
The answer lay in the method of teaching. The Montessori method was the key. Learning was fun. Josh was like fish that finally found its way back to the water. As we headed back home at the end of the vacation, Josh vowed that he will attend the University of Coventry. In his mind, the folks in Coventry understood him.
Josh has taken the lead in his financial education. He has flourished as I let him loose on the Rich Dad series. He is currently reading Rich Kid, Smart Kid. One of his concerns is whether there will be any land left in Lagos when he grows up and is ready to roll. We have assured him that even if Lagos runs out of land, he can buy an existing property, pull them down if need be, and build his dream.
As I watched the 3rd DVD of Rich Dad’s Teach to be Rich series, the light bulb came on in my head as Blair Singer, one of the Rich Dad’s Advisors came on stage to tell the story of his ten-year-old son Ben. Like Josh, Ben is hyperactive, can’t sit still, has issues with maths, etc. Blair introduced Ben to Rich Dad’s cashflow game for kids. Ben got bored easily and opted for the adult version. The Rich Dad cash flow game has two tracks, the rat race and the fast track.
The objective of the game is to exit the rat race and get to the fast track where the rich invest. It takes adults about 4 hours at the first attempt to exit the rat race. It took Ben 20 minutes. He has since played the game 20 -25 times, is now doing well in maths and other subjects, and unlike his friends who spend their money on consumer items, Ben invests in precious metals. He buys silver.
Studies have shown that the least effective way to teach is by reading and lecturing, and the most effective way is hands-on, through games that simulate real life, or actually doing it in real life. Josh loves games and practically lives inside them. I have thrown in some educational games like Brain Academy into his mix of Nintendo Wii games. I have decided to buy the Rich Dad’s Cashflow games 101 and 202 for me and Josh. I will not be ashamed if Josh exits the rat race before me. My prayer is that in real life, unlike his dad, Josh will not spend one single day in the rat race.
