Talking Cents to Our Children

A unique resource introducing young children to financial basics

From the time they are very young, children pick up knowledge of finance and business through simple everyday tasks like visiting the ATM with their parents, sorting pocket change, and watching customers and cashiers exchange money. Understanding certain financial basics helps children form the foundation to become smart spender and savvy investors as adults. Introducing young children to the tools that can lead to good financial habits, leadership, and life skills is an excellent way to help build this foundation early.

The Talking Cents resource breaks down the ten essential building blocks with activities -- preschool style -- that help parents introduce financial basics in ways that are simple, age appropriate, and fit into the daily activities that young children often enjoy. The activities take everyday activities, such as a trip to the grocery store, and show how they can become a lesson on pricing or comparing costs. Playing with loose change becomes a way to introduce coin values. Through these building blocks, children can discover and understand the idea that objects can have different values, the concept of saving, why people work to earn money, how waiting can sometimes pay off, that money exists around the world in different ways, and even how giving to others can enrich children’s sense of compassion and generosity. There are even samples of frequently asked questions that children often ask about money that are not easy to answer.

This resource is the beginning of a process that allows families and caregivers to share in fiscally sound practices that will last a lifetime.



Our Funding Partners:

Merrill Lynch Foundation