Personal Finance Activities For Kids
As students bounce out of school for a few months, they have plenty of time to enjoy the miracles of rock pets and swimming pools. While the little ones should be given plenty of time to frolic, summer is also a wonderful time to explore subjects with your children that they may not be learning about in school, such as personal finance.
You know the importance of money sense and personal finance skills, but how do you instill those values and skills in your children? Here are some fun personal finance activities for kids to get the ball rolling this summer!
1. Read a book
There are tons of children’s books about personal finance. How the Moonjar Was Made by Eulalie Scandiuzzi tells the story of young kids learning to save, spend, and share using a moonjar. As a bonus, you can order a “moonjar” for your own kiddo after reading!
You can also check out the wonderful Pretty Penny Series by Devon Kinch. The books explore money and money management through engaging stories, and his website offers a series of projects you can do alongside reading the books.
Middle schoolers might enjoy How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000: Earn! Invest! Save!. The book is written by the creators of Biz Kid$, an online tool that features financial literacy games, stories, and comedy sketches. High schoolers could begin to delve into more advanced books, such as I Want Pizza: Real World Money Skills for High School, College, and Beyond. The book uses the pizza model to explain saving, spending, prioritization, investing, compound growth, and other related topics.
2. Go online
It can be hard to tear your child away from the iPad or computer, so why not turn game time into an educational experience? You can use the Jump$tart Clearinghouse to search for online financial literacy games. You can filter games by age group, price range, and other factors. You can also use the Clearinghouse to find financial literacy lesson plans, books, and more.
You can also check out H.I.P. Pocket Change from the U.S. Mint where kids can get a better understanding of money and money management. For your sports lovers, check out Financial Football where you have to answer money and finance questions to win the game.
3. Play a board game
We all know the classic options such as Monopoly and Life, but what other games help players better understand money?
Pay Day asks players to manage their pay check through bills, loan payments, and other obstacles until you’re paid again the next month.
To win Charge Large, players must ensure they eliminate all of their debt and amass cash by the end of the game. Players learn to be savvy with their use of credit and to be careful about amassing debt.
What will you do? Let us know about the fun ways you are engaging your kids with personal finance this summer!
