Most of us learn about money management and investing too late in life, and then it’s a mad scramble to prepare for retirement or large purchases. Giving your kids the gift of financial education will be a gift they will appreciate more and more as they – and their wealth – mature.

Here’s what you need to know to make investing a fun and festive gift:

To get kids of any age excited about investing, make it fun. Start with a gift of a stock share and encourage them to play online investing games that teach investment basics and get kids excited about building wealth in the real world.

1. Direct Investment Plans (DRIPs) are low-risk, commission-free investment options perfect for small investors. I have been using, and recommend, www.directinvesting.com. In a DRIP, very dollar you invest buys shares instead of broker commissions and fees. DRIPs allow you to involve your children at a very early age.

For example, if you give your 5-year old child a gift of $50/month which is $600 this year, that investment could be worth over $1 million by the time your child is of retirement age, and that’s if you didn’t add to that investment! If you were to invest $600 each year until your child turns 18, your total investment would be $10,800 – a relatively modest investment that would yield over $6 million by the time your child retires! These are numbers to get excited about!

2. In lieu of Secret Santa gifts for the adults, consider pooling your money to create a family LLC that invests in real estate and other assets. If everyone contributes a set equal amount each year, the pot will grow quickly and every contributor will benefit. If everyone contributes just $50/month (or an amount that allows everyone to contribute), this will result in significant growth over time!

Even if you aren’t among the 1% who routinely gift their children and grandchildren with stocks and bonds, you can still give them what may be the most valuable education they will ever receive: how to manage and grow their money!