Parents and Caregivers Teaching Kids About Money
Money Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Did you know? By age 3, kids can grasp basic money concepts. By age 7, many of their money habits are already set. Research shows that when children acquire an early understanding of how to manage money, it pays back in dividends. We know it’s important to reach kids and families in their communities, so our office hosts Money Minded Story Time at local libraries for children ages 3-5.
Parents and caregivers can help children build healthy money habits through everyday conversations and activities. These resources offer simple ways to talk about saving, spending, college planning, and financial decision-making at home.
Story Time for Ages 3-5
Our Money Minded Illinois program offers story times for ages 3-5. You can host your own early childhood story time using materials provided below, including a full lesson plan, story time activity packet, and a take-home packet. You can also request an Illinois State Treasurer’s Office staff member to visit your library and lead story time (subject to availability).
The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense
By: Stan & Jan Berenstain
Resources
- The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense: Story time lesson plans
- The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense: Story time activity packet
- The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense: Take-home packet
Children’s Reading Lists for Book Displays
Book displays can be a great way to encourage patrons to select a book about financial education concepts.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has created the Money as You Grow Bookshelf for Parents and Caregivers. The list labels books by age group and key ideas covered in the story.
- The American Library Association, in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, created a guide for librarians, Thinking Money for All Kids: Cents-ational Reads to Teach Young People About Money. It includes a reading list for different age groups and programming ideas.
- Digital games and additional resources can be found on the American Library Association website.
Parents and Librarians: Activity Packets by Grade
The Treasurer’s Office has created activity packets from content in our standards-based curriculum. Packets are organized by grade level (first grade through middle school) and include a cover page listing the topics. To cover a range of basics for 6th–8th grade, we created topic-based packets. Packets can be incorporated into a program (ex., game tables organized by grade level), placed next to a book display, sent home with families, and more.
Download materials from the Activity Packets:
- First Grade Activity Packet
- Second Grade Activity Packet
- Third Grade Activity Packet
- Fourth Grade Activity Packet
- Fifth Grade Activity Packet
- Middle School Budget Basics
- Middle School Banks and Interest Basics
- Middle School Credit Basics
- Middle School Risk, Investments, and Insurance Basics
Reading List
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has created the Money as You Grow Bookshelf for Parents and Caregivers. The list labels books by age group and key ideas covered in the story. Each book also comes with a parent reading guide to help you teach your child money management skills as you read.
The Treasurer’s Office has created activity packets from content in our standards-based curriculum. Packets are organized by grade level (first grade through middle school) and include a cover page listing the topics. To cover a range of basics for 6th–8th grade, we created topic-based packets. Download materials from the Activity Packets section below.
We hope these materials help you have engaging money conversations with your children during Financial Literacy Month and beyond.