Preschool & Elementary School Financial Literacy

Students | Parents | Educators

79% of parents see themselves as positive money role models for their kids, yet only a small percentage are taking advantage of day-to-day learning opportunities to arm their teens with practical money skills. (Capital One, June 2006)

Money is a part of our children's everyday life. Youth observe money habits of adults, starting from very young ages, through out their entire life time. It is important to help youth develop a strong financial literacy foundation, to encourage wise financial decision making and success in today's world.

Take advantage of these educational tools and resources to help strengthen individual and family financial literacy:

For Preschool & Elementary Students

• Minnesota Council on Economic Education – University of Minnesota (Web site) Economic and financial understanding to function effectively in a complex, global environment.
• Consumer Savvy – National 4-H Curriculum (PDFs and interactive web) Youth spend $175 billion annually. Help them become informed and responsible consumers.
• Money on the Bookshelf – University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (online guide) Read children’s book with your child and use Parent Guides to discuss money.
• Money Savvy Pig® Tales – Money Farm (video) Learn to make smart money choices: save, spend, donate, and invest.

For Preschool & Elementary Parents

• Teaching Children Money Habits for Life – University of Minnesota Extension (publication) How to teach children about money starting when they are young.
• Allowance and Alternatives – University of Minnesota Extension (publication) Be consistent with children about earning, spending, sharing, saving, and borrowing money.
• Dollars & Cents for Youth – University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (online parent self-study course) Helps parents and other adults teach basic money management principles to children.
• Consumer Savvy – National 4-H (PDFs and interactive web) Youth spend $175 billion annually. Help them become informed and responsible consumers.
• Money on the Bookshelf – University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (online guide) Read children’s book with your child and use Parent Guides to discuss money.
• Money Sense for your Children – University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (home study) Lessons: allowances, where money comes from, children and advertising, saving, spending plans.
• How to Raise a Money Smart Child: A Parent's Guide – Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy (booklet) Includes articles on budgeting, allowances, needs and wants, banking services, savings accounts, ...
• Thrive by Five – Credit Union National Association and Washington Early Learning Fund (Web site) Goal is for children, birth to five, to experience positive early learning.
• Money Savvy Pig® Tales – Money Farm (video) Learn to make smart money choices: save, spend, donate, and invest.
• Money Savvy Generation (Web site) Helping parents, grandparents and educators teach children how to be smart about money.
• Credit Union National Association (Web site) Premier national trade association serving credit unions. Includes Financial Literacy.

For Preschool & Elementary Educators

• Teaching Children Money Habits for Life – University of Minnesota Extension (publication) How to teach children about money starting when they are young.
• Allowance and Alternatives – University of Minnesota Extension (publication) Be consistent with children about earning, spending, sharing, saving, and borrowing money.
• Minnesota Council on Economic Education – University of Minnesota (Web site) Building economic and financial understanding for life
• Consumer Critter Crew – Texas AgriLife Extension Service (Leader's Guide) Program teaches children about the value of money and how to be wise consumers.
• Consumer Savvy – National 4-H (PDFs and interactive web) Youth spend $175 billion annually. Help them become informed and responsible consumers.
• National Council on Economic Education (Web site) Promoting economic literacy with students and their teachers.
• Financial Fitness for Life – National Council on Economic Education (school-based curricula) K-12 students apply economics and decision-making skills to the  real world of managing money.
• Elementary School Lesson Plans – National Council on Economic Education (store) Lesson Plans for teaching economics, personal finance and entrepreneurship to k-12 students  
• Money on the Bookshelf – University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (online guide) Read children’s book with your child and use Parent Guides to discuss money.
• Money Savvy Kids – Money Savvy Generation (Curriculum, K-5) Basic personal finance curriculum for elementary grades.
• Money Sense for your Children – University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (home study) Lessons: allowances, where money comes from, children and advertising, saving, spending plans.
• Thrive by Five – Credit Union National Association and Washington Early Learning Fund (Web site) Goal is for children, birth to five, to experience positive early learning.
• Junior Achievement (Curriculum) Students learn the basic concepts of business and economics, through hands-on experience.
• Jump Start – Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy (Web site) Ensuring that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12.
• Credit Union National Association (Web site) Premier national trade association serving credit unions. Includes Financial Literacy.
• Money $marts – Girl Scouts (Web site) A personal finance project resource guide: earn, save, spend, invest.

Research

• Youth and Money University of Minnesota Extension (Web site) Find a wealth of on-line resources to teach financial education to youth.
• Teacher Resources Education Search Tool Federal Reserve Education (Online Store) The curriculum search tool facilitates integrating Fed education materials into the classroom.
• Jump $tart – Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy (Web site) Ensuring that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12