8-year-old Desmond came running to his father one Saturday morning cradling his favorite remote-control car, now in two sad pieces. His eyes, wide with tears and curiosity.

“Dad,” he asked, “how much would it cost to buy a new one? And… how many chores would I have to do to earn it?”

It wasn’t the question itself that was shocking; it was the thinking behind it. Somewhere between bedtime stories and family time, young Desmond had started to understand the value of things, not just their price. He wasn’t just asking to have something. He was asking what it takes to earn something.

Desmond’s dad wasn’t rich, although he was well-to-do. He didn’t have a trust fund to pass down or a family business waiting in the wings. But he had love, vision, and an unshakable desire to give his child more than he had. A philosophy summed up in three simple things: Education, Opportunities, and Financial Literacy. 

And as you’ll see as this article progresses, these three concepts are life-shaping investments for any child, regardless of income or background.

Let’s unpack each one.

1. Education: The Foundation That Lasts a Lifetime

We often hear that education is the key to success, but it’s more than that—it’s the passport to possibility. It’s not just about straight A’s or perfect test scores. It’s about teaching your child how to think, not what to think. It’s about sparking curiosity, not just compliance.

It means asking: What kind of learner is my child? It’s enrolling them in schools that nurture their style, encouraging reading at bedtime, watching documentaries together, or simply letting them ask “why?” a hundred times without brushing them off.

And yes, it may mean making sacrifices—paying for tutoring when necessary or setting up a college fund even when the budget is tight. But remember: You’re not just investing in grades. You’re investing in grit, growth, and a greater understanding of the world. Because when a child learns how to learn, they carry that skill for life.

2. Opportunities: The Experiences That Shape Identity

Think back to a moment in your life that changed everything. Was it a school excursion? A mentor? A school play? A science class? Or even a chance to travel. Those weren’t just events; they were opportunities that revealed something about who you are and who you could become.

Opportunities are the experiences that feed a child’s potential and shape their identity. And while we can’t control every door that opens, we can make sure our children are standing in the right hallways.

Investing in opportunities means exposing them to new experiences—coding classes, art workshops, school excursions, volunteering, and youth leadership programs. It means letting them fail at something, because failure is often the best teacher.

It means saying “yes” when they ask to try something you don’t understand and sometimes saying “no” to protect their time and energy for what really matters.

Opportunities create range. And this range helps them discover not only what they’re good at but also what they love.

3. Financial Literacy: The Legacy Beyond Wealth

Now here’s the big one—the one most of us didn’t get growing up.

It’s not just about how much money you make, it’s about what you do with it.

Teaching your child about money is one of the greatest gifts you can give. It’s beyond saving money in a piggy bank (though that’s a great start). It’s more about instilling values—responsibility, planning, patience, and generosity.

Financial literacy is the armor that protects them from a world that often confuses wealth with worth. It empowers them to make decisions from a place of knowledge, not impulse. And it ensures that whatever success they achieve, they’ll know how to sustain it.

So, start small. Explain how budgets work. Let them earn and manage an allowance. Open a savings account with them. Talk about the difference between needs and wants. As they grow, you can then introduce them to advanced concepts like credit, investing, and entrepreneurship.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the beautiful truth: you don’t need to be wealthy to invest in your child. You just need to be intentional.

Every encouraging word, every thoughtful conversation, every chance you give them to try, stumble, and try again—that’s an investment. And it compounds in ways no stock market ever could.

So whether you’re saving for college, signing them up for extra lessons, or helping them open their first savings account—know this:

You’re not just raising a child.

You’re raising a thinker. A doer. And a dreamer.

And that? That’s the best investment you’ll ever make.

Bravewood provides Nigerian professionals with low-risk, high-return investment products, licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.