Children should acquire financial literacy because it can help them make wise financial decisions throughout their lives. But many parents and educators might not be aware of how to engage kids in learning about money in an enjoyable way.
For this reason, we’ve put together a list of some of the top financial education resources for kids, like books, games, websites, and podcasts, for kids interested in learning about money.
These tools can assist children of all ages in learning about entrepreneurship, budgeting, investing, and other topics. You’ll find something in this article that is appropriate for your child’s needs and interests, whether you want to teach your preschooler the fundamentals of money management or assist your teenager in getting ready for college and beyond.
In a Nutshell | Financial Education Resources for Kids
- Children need financial education to develop financial responsibility and literacy.
- Children can learn about numerous financial issues through a variety of financial education resources for kids, including books, games, websites, and podcasts.
- The financial education resources for kids are divided into age groups, ranging from preschool to high school, and they cover a variety of subjects, including entrepreneurship, investing, budgeting, and saving.
- The materials are entertaining and interesting, and they can give kids a hands on, participatory way to learn financial concepts.
Million Bazillion (Podcast) | Financial Education Resources for Kids
How did our money based economy start? Why does pizza cost what it does? Why do you see ads when you watch TV or go on YouTube?
Listeners can answer some basic questions about how the economy works and the smart use of money by tuning in to “Million Bazillion,” an entertaining podcast from children’s debit card Greenlight. The show tries to make these topics fun, with trivia and celebrity cameos in each episode.
The more you learn, the more you earn.
Warren Buffett
Some of the show’s topics are conveniently related to its sponsor, such as the episode in which a high school student talks about using the Greenlight app to save money for a sports car. That doesn’t make those kinds of skills any less useful for younger kids, who are still learning how to use their money responsibly. In fact, you can point them to the product plug and start making them aware of the advertising.
Money with Mak & G’ (Podcast) | Financial Education Resources for Kids
If you’re looking for fresh content, “Money With Mak & G” won’t disappoint. The weekly podcast offers explanatory segments (e.g., what exactly is the S&P 500?) and money tips, such as understanding the cost of owning a pet and how your health can affect your finances in the future. And, at less than 10 minutes each, those episodes won’t tax your child’s attention span too much.
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The podcast is hosted by Ben Jones, a certified public accountant (CPA) and certified financial planner (CFP), who is joined by his twins, Makenna and Grant, who started podcasting with their dad at age 10 and are now 13. Sure, the presenters’ lighthearted banter can get a little corny at times, but most kids will learn valuable things about money management. And a dad joke or two.
76% of Generation Z | Financial Education Resources for Kids
The percentage of Generation Z respondents in a 2019 Experian survey who said yes when asked if they wished they had had a financial literacy class in school.
Savings Spree (App) | Financial Education Resources for Kids
There is no shortage of great apps to help young children learn financial literacy. For younger children (under 10 years old), Savings Spree is especially good. The app, available on Apple devices, teaches kids the long term consequences of how they manage money. They learn how to save money for short term purchases, invest a portion for long term needs, and even donate a portion to charity. The download costs $5.99.
The Children’s Money Book: Earn It, Save It, Watch It Grow’ (Book) | Financial Education Resources for Kids
Is your son or daughter more of a reader than a podcast listener? The Everything Kids’ Money Book, by Brette Sember, is a great way to help them learn the basics of economics and become more responsible with their money.
Aimed at children ages 7 to 12, the easy to read book contains sections explaining how paper money is made, how credit cards work, and how stocks can make money grow. Sember explains these complex topics in a way that reaches an elementary school audience, which is no small feat. Published by Simon & Schuster, the print edition has a list price of $9.99, and is also available as an e-book and audiobook.
Federal Reserve Educational Comics | Financial Education Resources for Kids
A group of daring explorers travels the universe in search of… an investigation into monetary policy? This series of comic books, made by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is not your typical action hero story.
Still, you have to hand it to him: He has managed to teach economic and financial concepts in a way that kids can appreciate. If it takes UFOs and four eyed aliens to get kids interested in purchasing power or monetary policy, here it is. The series is largely intended as a teaching resource for teachers, although parents can get a free download or even a print copy from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website.
The Future in Your Hands (Web site) | Financial Education Resources for Kids
Whether they go to college or find a job right out of high school, stepping foot in the real world can be a dizzying experience. The Future in Your Hands website, aimed at older children and young adults, can help them improve their balance.
Through free, easy to digest articles and videos, the Wells Fargo sponsored site tackles everything from comparing college student loan offers to paying taxes and using credit cards wisely. It’s a toolkit many parents wish they’d had when they were starting to leave the nest.
Juni (Online classes) | Financial Education Resources for Kids
If your children are interested in gaining hands on experience in the stock market or running their own business, Juni’s online classes may be the solution. These individual, project based courses provide a simulated environment in which children ages 9 to 18 learn the fundamentals of investing, entrepreneurship, and credit building.
The courses cost $62.50 per session, billed at $250 per month, although the first class is free. It may be more than most parents want to pay, but the free class will tell you if it’s worth it.
Wrap Up | Financial Education Resources for Kids
The knowledge and abilities required to handle their money properly and accomplish their goals may be provided to children through financial education, which is a priceless gift that parents and educators can give to their students. You can assist your child in learning financial ideas in a way that fits his or her age and personality by using the financial education resources for kids we’ve recommended in this article.
You can select a resource that piques your child’s interest and curiosity about money, whether you want to read a book together, play a game, visit a website, or listen to a podcast. These financial education resources for kids are intended to encourage you and your child to have engaging financial discussions and form a lifelong habit of financial learning and progress.
FAQs | Financial Education Resources for Kids
Children should receive financial education since it can aid in the development of their future employability skills, including responsibility and financial literacy. Children can benefit from financial education by learning the value of money, the necessity of saving and investing, and the effects of their financial choices.
A range of financial education resources for kids, including books, games, websites, and podcasts, can be used to teach your kids about money. These tools can make learning about money interesting and exciting.
You can also help your kids make their own financial decisions, such as those related to banking, purchasing, and budgeting, and you can help them understand why they made certain selections. You can also motivate your kids to set their own financial objectives, such as saving money for a vacation or a gift, and support them in monitoring their progress and acknowledging their successes.
A variety of subjects can be included in financial education for kids, depending on their age and interests. Some of the subjects covered include:
The fundamentals of money, including its nature, operation, and methods for earning, spending, and saving.
The ideas of investing and saving, including why they are crucial, how to go about it, and the associated risks and benefits.
Budgeting and planning abilities, including the ability to make and stick to a budget, rank needs and wants, and control income and expenses.
The fundamentals of innovation and entrepreneurship, including how to recognize challenges and find solutions, how to develop and market goods and services, and how to run a firm.
The principles of generosity and social responsibility, including how to give and share money, how to help organizations and communities, and how to handle money ethically and with respect.
The advantages of financial literacy for children include:
Improving their academic achievement since learning about finances can help them become better readers, mathematicians, and critical thinkers.
Increasing their self worth and confidence by making them feel more independent and capable with money.
Encourage their ingenuity and curiosity, since financial literacy can motivate them to investigate novel financial alternatives.
Get them ready for adulthood by providing them with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to handle opportunities and difficulties related to money.
Some of the programs and organizations that are committed to promoting financial education for children have websites that you may visit to gain more information on financial education resources for kids, including:
The Council for Economic Education (CEE), which offers guidelines, a curriculum, and opportunities for professional growth in economics and personal finance for educators and students.
The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, a network of organizations working nationally to promote financial literacy among children and adolescents from preschool through college.
The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), which offers grants, research, and education to enhance Americans’ financial security.
The Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC), a federal interagency organization, oversees and supports government and public activities to promote financial literacy.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a government organization that shields customers against unfair, dishonest, or abusive activities in the financial industry and offers resources and financial education to customers of all ages.
There are countless options, many of them very good. For younger kids, Savings Spree, Unleash the Loot! and Kids Finance help children learn important financial concepts, such as deferred gratification. For teens, apps like Investmate teach the basics of stock trading. And World of Money, for example, has lessons for kids of different ages.
While not exclusively a financial education platform, Juni has project based courses that teach children about investing, entrepreneurship and basic money management. Other virtual education providers with financial education offerings (and lower prices) include EVERFI and Outschool.
That depends on your child’s age, your goals, and your budget. For self motivated kids, publications like The Everything Kids’ Money Book are a good introduction to various financial topics. For kids who need a little more interaction, online courses, such as those from Juni or Outsource, can help.
And if they’re short on time, playing a podcast like Million Bazillion or Money With Mak & G can expose them to financial topics, even if you’re in the car.
Article Sources for Financial Education Resources for Kids
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- Experian | Financial Education Resources for Kids – Survey: Generation Z Keen on Learning About Personal Finance and Credit
- Greenlight | Financial Education Resources for Kids – Million Bazillion: The Podcast for Kids to Learn About Money
- EduCounting – Meet Mak & G
- Apple – Savings Spree
- Simon & Schuster – The Everything Kids’ Money Book: Earn it, Save it, and Watch it Grow!
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York – Educational Comic Books
- Hands on Banking – All the Tools You Need to Help You Become Financially Savvy
- Juni | Financial Education Resources for Kids- Empower the Entrepreneurs & Investors of Tomorrow
- Soft 112 – Green$treets: Unleash the Loot!
- Prometheus Technologies – Kids Finance
- Capital.com – Investmate
- World of Money – Developing Financially Responsible Adults; One Child at a Time
- EVERFI – The Era of Impact-as-a-Servic Has Arrived
- Outschool – Where Kids Love Learning
