For Parents
Tools, tips, and strategies to help you teach your children about money using Little Money Makers
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You are your child’s first and most important teacher about money. Little Money Makers provides the perfect foundation to start these crucial conversations in a fun, engaging way that children can understand and remember.
How to Use Little Money Makers with Your Child
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Read Together
Make it a special bedtime story or family reading time. Let your child follow along and ask questions about what the characters are doing.
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Discuss & Connect
Ask your child what they would do in similar situations. Connect the story to real experiences they've had with money.
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Practice & Apply
Use real-life opportunities to practice the concepts from the book. Turn everyday money situations into learning moments.
How to Use Little Money Makers with Your Child
Use these questions to spark meaningful discussions about money with your child
- After receiving birthday money
- What are some different things you could do with this money?
- How do you think saving some of it might help you in the future?
- What's something special you've been wanting that you could save for?
- When shopping together
- Do you think this is something you need or something you want?
- How can we compare prices to make sure we're getting a good deal?
- What would happen if we saved this money instead of spending it?
- During pocket money discussions
- How do you think you could divide your pocket money between saving, spending, and investing?
- What goals could you work towards with your saved money?
- How does helping the family with chores connect to earning money?
Fun Learning Activities
Hands-on activities to reinforce the concepts from Little Money Makers
- The Three Jars Activity
Set up three jars labeled 'Save,' 'Spend,' and 'Invest' to help your child practice dividing their money.
- Materials Needed:
- 3 clear jars
- Labels
- Stickers for decoration
- Steps:
- Decorate jars together with your child
- Explain what each jar is for
- Help them divide any money they receive
- Celebrate when they reach savings goals
- Needs vs. Wants Game
Play a sorting game with pictures or items to help children distinguish between needs and wants.
- Materials Needed:
- Magazines
- Scissors
- Two boxes
- Steps:
- Cut out pictures of various items
- Sort them into 'need' and 'want' boxes
- Discuss the reasoning behind each choice
- Talk about how this applies to spending decisions
- Family Money Goals
Work together on a family savings goal to show how money management applies to everyone.
- Materials Needed:
- Large poster
- Markers
- Stickers
- Steps:
- Choose a family goal (vacation, new bike, etc.)
- Create a visual savings tracker
- Let everyone contribute ideas for saving money
- Celebrate milestones together
Age-Specific Guidance
Tailor your approach based on your child's developmental stage
Ages 5-6
- Focus on the basic concept of saving vs. spending
- Use concrete examples they can see and touch
- Make it fun with colorful jars or piggy banks
- Keep conversations short and simple
Ages 5-6
- Introduce the concept of investing as 'growing money'
- Start comparing prices when shopping
- Begin setting small, achievable savings goals
- Use the book's characters as examples
Ages 5-6
- Discuss more complex saving goals
- Introduce the concept of earning money through work
- Talk about how investments can help money grow over time
- Encourage them to make their own money decisions with guidance
