Children can benefit from financial education at an early age. Researchers share it’s crucial to start primary finance education by age 3. A study from the University of Cambridge, “Habit Formation and Learning in Young Children,” found that money habits are formed by age 7.
Children pick up money habits quickly, so giving them the right direction is crucial.
- Start with basic currency literacy. A study from Yale University found that children can recognize and remember coins by age 3.
- Educate your children about the different coins and dollar bills.
- Consider teaching them about foreign currencies during vacations. This will expand their minds and help them learn more about the countries you’re visiting.
- Create money jars. Money jars are a fun and easy way to educate your child.
- You can create three types of money jars for spending, saving, and giving, covering the fundamental lessons of understanding how to use money.
- Teach your children the three jars and why they’re essential.
- Use the jars to separate money after birthday gifts or allowance payments. Children will learn how to save for the future.
- Use the giving jar for charities. Children will learn about giving and understand how they can help others with their money. They can donate the funds to local animal shelters or food pantries.
- Use coupons. Coupons can provide an essential lesson on saving.
- Cut coupons with your children’s help and leave them in charge of handling the papers at the store.
- According to the Children’s Financial Network, kids as young as five can benefit from learning how to use coupons in a store. They will see how to save money and make wiser shopping decisions.
- Set a money goal. Children can set a money goal to purchase a favorite toy or other item.
- Money goals are an easy way to teach children financial patience. They also provide a lesson on how to save money.
- Setting realistic goals is essential, so children will be motivated to stay on a savings plan. If the toy they want is expensive, reaching their goals can take a while. Will they stay interested? Picking smaller and less costly targets is better.
- Go shopping. Let your children use their spend jars at the store to make purchases.
- How will your children spend their money? Will they use their entire jars at one store or spread them out over many shopping trips? Shopping provides an easy lesson setting.
- An outing to the local toy store also lets you discuss comparison shopping. Point out different prices on similar items and teach your children about finding inexpensive options.
- Evaluating the results of the shopping trip will help them understand their choices. How will they restock their spend jars?
- Use yard sales. Yard sales offer another way to educate children about finances.
- Yard sales can help you clean out your children’s rooms and teach them about money at the same time.
- Ask your children if they want to participate in the yard sale by selling their old toys or clothes. Help them select items they no longer use and find reasonable prices. They can use the experience to refill their money jars.
- Older children can help sell items at the sale. They can keep track of change and watch customers. This is also a valuable opportunity to learn about price negotiations with customers.
Finance education can begin before your children are in school. They need to understand basic money rules and form the proper habits.