Wealthy people do things differently than average people. They self-educate; they avoid nostalgia and they are typically selfish. Not surprisingly, they have different opinions when it comes to parenting.

Wealthy parents are famously pouring more and more into their children, widening the gap in who has access to piano lessons, math tutors, exclusive sports and enlightening world travel. The biggest investment the rich can make in their kids, though — one with equally profound consequences for the poor — has less to do with “enrichment” than the right mindset.

According to self-made millionaire Steve Siebold, who interviewed over 1,200 of the world’s wealthiest people and compiled his research into “How Rich People Think.” While average people teach their kids to survive, he finds, rich people teach their kids to be rich.

“The average family unconsciously passes down the same limiting beliefs they were taught about money from generation to generation,” Siebold writes. “These are the beliefs that have kept families at the same level of financial success for dozens, if not hundreds, of years.”

Rich people, on the other hand, not only teach their kids smart money habits, but they teach them that it’s fine to want to be rich, and that wealth is possible for anyone who thinks big enough.

“While the masses are content to play it safe, seek comfort, and avoid pain, the great ones are living large and teaching their kids to do the same. “To them, life is a game to be played boldly and fearlessly, and they always set the example for the little ones who watch their every move.”

Of course, the way in which the wealthy teach their kids about money is crucial, Siebold emphasizes. “They educate their kids on how to make money by solving problems and enhancing the quality of other people’s lives. This way the child learns to see money as a positive, productive force for good instead of a weapon of the few to use against the many.” They start to see money as their friend, while the average person sees money as an enemy to be conquered.

While many people have argued that this supports the idea of elitism, he disagrees. “People say wealthy parents are teaching their kids to look down on the masses because they’re poor, but it is not the case. “What they’re teaching their kids is to see the world through the eyes of objective reality — the way society really is.”

Sources: businessinsider.com, washingtonpost.com