Scribd
Upload
30 views

Think Like A Kid

The document discusses how to teach children financial literacy by thinking like a kid and understanding what they want to know. It provides examples of resources that effectively teach kids about earning, saving, and managing money, including books, TV shows, and websites focused on starting businesses and learning good financial habits.

Uploaded by

dkay3kscribdmoonshine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views

Think Like A Kid

The document discusses how to teach children financial literacy by thinking like a kid and understanding what they want to know. It provides examples of resources that effectively teach kids about earning, saving, and managing money, including books, TV shows, and websites focused on starting businesses and learning good financial habits.

Uploaded by

dkay3kscribdmoonshine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Think Like a Kid - Print Version - Kiplinger http://www.kiplinger.com/printstory.php?

pid=18966

Think Like a Kid


The best way to teach children financial literacy is to figure out what they want (and need) to know.
Here's help.

By Janet Bodnar

November 30, 2009

One of the perks of my job is that I’m often


invited to speak to various groups on financial
topics. I hope the people who come to listen can
benefit from my experience as an editor, a parent,
a consumer and an investor. I know it certainly
works the other way around: I learn as much from
them as I hope they learn from me.

Recently, I’ve spoken to two groups of educators


on the subject of financial literacy. These are the
folks in the trenches who preach the gospel of
fiscal responsibility to both adults and children.
It’s a tall order, especially for kids, whose eyes
glaze over unless you can find some way to pique
their interest and get them involved.

After writing about kids and money for nearly 20 years, I’ve concluded that the best way to do that is to
think like a kid. That was the theme of my talk to 260 teachers at a conference sponsored by the
Jump$tart Coalition. For guidance I relied on real questions I get from kids themselves (see What Kids
Want to Know About Money and More Things Kids Want to Know About Money.

In their own words, here’s a rundown on what kids want (and need) to know, plus a list of resources that
do a good job of capturing their attention.

Kids are clueless about how to earn money. “Where can I find a job that lets me make heaps of money
and have fun at the same time?”

There’s probably no easy answer to that one. But the book Isabel’s Car Wa$h, by FDIC chairwoman
Sheila Bair, gives elementary-age kids an introduction to starting a business, including how to raise capital
by finding investors. The book won an Excellence in Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) award from
the Institute for Financial Literacy.

Also an EIFLE award winner: The Millionaire Kid$ Club, a series of books published by Money Savvy
Generation. Authors Susan Beacham and Lynnette Khalfani-Cox offer moneymaking ideas, but they also
tackle tough issues, such as mortgages and foreclosures, and present some fascinating answers to the
question, “What can you do with just one penny?”

Biz Kid$ targets 9- to 14-year-olds and has produced 39 shows on entrepreneurial themes for PBS
stations. Its Web site also covers other financial topics. I particularly like the video in which a young girl
ditches a credit card in favor of a debit card -- one of my favorite themes.

Kids are clueless about managing money. “How do you save your money and not spend it? I usually
can’t do that.”

Right on the Money, a curriculum developed by the Penn State Cooperative Extension and the

1 of 1 30/11/2010 18:24

You might also like