Teaching financial management to young kids

Our Money Habitudes materials help people teach financial management to adults and teens. Because the hands-on activity is used like money management games, people often ask if there is a version for young kids.
The Money Habitudes for Teens version is designed for high school students, typically ages 15-18. Cards necessitate financial decision-making, which may not be suitable for populations younger than high school. While stories exist of success with younger age groups, like junior high and even eight to nine-year-olds, we don’t recommend the materials for these age ranges. And at this point, we don’t have plans to develop a version of the teaching tool for very young kids. Still, many of the individual statement cards can serve as conversation starters across most ages.
While we don’t have a version to teach financial management to elementary school and junior high kids, we’re certainly interested in programs that reach this audience. After all, Money Habitudes is unique in helping teens and adults understand their habits, attitudes, values, and behaviors when it comes to money — and a big part of what influences our financial habits and attitudes is what happens in childhood.
There are more financial education curricula for teens and adults, but there are some that are used with much younger kids. One of those is Captain Cash from Purdue Extension. Recommended for third and fourth grade, it’s described as “an interactive educational program designed to teach basic financial management skills to your students.” It covers the following:

• Money behaviors observed and learned in childhood impact adult behaviors.
• Childhood exposure to money messages at home, in the community, and through media influences values and future money habits.
• Lack of critical money management concepts and skills hampers individuals and families in responding to economic disruptions.