Parents Talk Q&A: The College Conundrum

College. It can create some of your fondest memories, but can also be a source of financial hardship.

Many parents wonder when they should start the financial preparation for college, some saving money even before their kids are born. Others simply can't, or choose to wait.

In a recent post on Fox Business, it was pointed out that this concern over when to start planning financially and academically doesn't just affect parents, but the children themselves.

Every parent wants the best for their children, especially when it comes to getting into college. And while it is a big decision that requires a lot of preparation – how early is too early to starting planning?

“What you don’t want to have happen is to have it get started so early with that child that by the time you need them to focus on college, they’re burned out,” says Lisa Sohmer, director of college counseling at Garden School. “You’d like them to develop a love of learning, so when the time comes to get ready for it, they’ve got those skills and they have a focus on wanting to do well and make this big step.”

Now it's time for our parents to speak up. How do you approach future college plans for your kids both financially and mentally? Do you start saving when they're just babies, or teach them to get through these financial lessons themselves?