Need It or Want It?
Help children understand the difference between needs and wants.
What’s the difference between buying something you want and buying something you really need? Young children may not know yet. It’s helpful to point out the difference between needs and wants when making choices.
- Explain the things that people need. (“All of us need nutritious food, water, shelter, and clothing. These are things that keep us healthy and safe.”)
- Then explain the things that people want. (“Sometimes we want to buy an extra thing, like a new toy or special snack. Those extras are not as important as the things we need. It’s OK if we have to wait to get them, or choose not to get them at all.”)
Money Talk
Learn how you can answer kids’ questions about money.
V Is for Value
Learn how to explore the meaning of value with children.
Making Choices
Learn the importance of talking about choices with children and how it relates to financial decision-making down the road.
Guest Post: Helping your child’s money skills grow
Learn ways to start your children’s financial futures off strong
Building Financial Skills in the Classroom
These classroom activities emphasize the key financial concepts of choices, value, and financial literacy skills: spending, saving, and sharing.
For Providers: Spending, Sharing, and Saving
Help kids learn the value of money when they spend, share, and save.
