I invest a day's salary for my children every Christmas instead of giving them gifts. I make it as interactive as possible, and they've never complained.

Courtesy of Lel Smits

• Lel Smits and her husband invest in stocks for their children as Christmas gifts to build wealth.
• Smits prioritizes financial literacy and chooses stocks from familiar companies for her kids.
• She also creates stock certificates and drawings to help her children visualize their investments.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lel Smits, an entrepreneur, director, and mother of two in Sydney. The following has been edited for length and clarity.