Count Me In: Teaching Kids About Money and Finances

Is it ever too early to start learning how to save and spend money wisely? Answer this question in this week’s Homeschool Classroom, and discover some great tips for how and why to include financial budgeting in your homeschool curriculum, as well as excellent activities and resources for teaching children of all ages the value of money.

Teaching About Money

Should children earn an allowance for performing their family chores? Steve & Annette Economides of Money Smart Family share their thoughts here.

Financial guru Dave Ramsey offers a wealth of information on family finances, including how to talk to your kids about money, tips for introducing financial responsibility to kids of all ages, and how to raise “money-smart” kids.

Explore these 20 ways to teach kids financial responsibility at any age.

Activities and Resources

These free printables from Self-Sufficient Kids can help younger children keep track of their earning, saving, and spending.

Chelsea from Mama Fish Saves shares tips and tricks for teaching your preschooler about money.

This catchy song can help younger children remember the value of coins, and each verse presents a scenario in which the narrator must determine how much money he is spending on a given item.

If you’re looking for a new game for a family night, you might try one of these suggestions from Wise Bread. Discover six board games designed to teach about money, saving, and debt, in a fun, family-friendly way.

These interactive budgeting activities are a fun way for kids to get involved in family finances and can provide great motivation for you as you model financial responsibility.

Check out these free, online money counting games, with game options geared toward children in preschool through elementary school.

Money bingo is a fun, simple way for younger children to learn and remember the values of coins. Try these free printables from Let’s Explore or create your own cards!

This budgeting game from Design Mom requires a bit of a time investment on the part of the parent to set up, but can be an engaging way for teens to learn lifelong lessons about money management. It is easily customizable to reflect your teen’s interests, age, and evolving priorities.

Browse this list of mobile apps for the college-bound teen for some more high-tech options for tracking spending and saving into young adulthood.

Simple picture and story books can be a great way to introduce topics to younger children. These are just a few of many children’s books with themes focusing on money and saving.

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Just Saving My Money by Mercer Mayer

The Berenstain Bears Dollars and Sense by Stan and Jan Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears Trouble with Money by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock by Sheila Bair

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins

Arthur’s Funny Money by Lillian Hoban

The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill

The Nickel-Plated Beauty by Patricia Beatty (Kindle edition)

Do your kids earn an allowance or extra money for doing chores around the house? Share your thoughts in the comments below!