Recent research about Americans’ retirement saving habits shows an alarming trend. Americans of all ages, races and social classes are not adequately saving for their retirement.

“Most personal financial experts agree that when people reach their mid-30s, they should be already saving for retirement,”Suzanne Poole is TD Bank’s executive vice president for retail strategy and distribution. “However, according to a financial literacy poll TD Bank conducted this summer, a major reason for poor retirement planning and lack of financial literacy in general by consumers, is the absence of financial education at an early age.”

TD Bank surveyed 2160 people in the northeast, Florida, and mid-Atlantic. Around 81 percent of respondents wished they had started saving earlier. About 55 percent felt they didn’t learn enough about money when they were young.

These are some suggestions for parents who want to help their children understand how to save money and manage their money.

* Become a role model. According to TD Bank, over one quarter of consumers had difficulty identifying financial role models. Parents must do all they can to make sure their finances are in order. After they are done, they can sit down with their children and discuss how to balance bank accounts and create a household budget.

* Use a piggy bank. Piggy banks are one of the best tools for parents to teach their children about saving money.

* Take kids to the bank. Bank visits should not be reserved for adults. Many banks have fun features that kids can enjoy at their locations.

* Open a savings account. A great way to teach kids financial literacy is to walk them through opening their first savings account, making the first deposit, and explaining everything to them.

* Enroll in financial literacy programs. Parents can search for financial literacy programs in their locality by doing thorough research. Parents should check with their local libraries and schools to verify their eligibility. Then, parents might inquire if their bank offers this program.

TD, for example, offers a program called “WOW!Zone”It helps children aged 5-18 to develop strong financial skills. It

Available online at www.tdbank.com/wowzone. Bank instructors can also visit schools, after-school programs and weekends for free.