COVID-19 Report: Financial Education is in Session!

COVID-19 social distancing at home?  This is a great time to teach your kids about finances! The last few weeks have been surreal in many ways. I was definitely not expecting was to become a homeschool parent. I was not surprised when schools closed a week before spring break, but it was  another thing entirely when we were told they’d be closed until the end of April. I don’t mind if my kids missed one extra week of school, but six weeks is too much.

Now what? 

While I talk to my kids a lot about school, I’ve never built an entire curriculum. “Reading and writing’ and rithmetic…” danced through my head a number of times, as I searched online learning options. One topic I wanted to be sure to include was finances.

Why? Financial literacy is only selectively being taught in schools, but it is something that will have a lifelong impact on my children’s futures. But what are the lessons and how can I teach them, while at the same time trying to maintain my own workload?

As with many other topics, the internet is filled with advice and tips. Frankly, there are so many options it is a little overwhelming, and I found myself down a financial education rabbit hole. Paring down the general advice blogs and “site not found” links, here are my favorite resources:

Websites

• Hands on Banking (FREE) provides financial tips and education for all ages from children to seniors. Below are the direct links for children’s courses by age, which they can potentially go through independently:

  • Elementary school

  • Middle school

  • High school

  • Young adults

• IXL.com (MEMBERSHIP) teaches money, economics and financial literacy, in addition to its vast online resources for math, social studies, science, and language arts. This site can help homeschooling parents with kids of all ages, but the financial literacy lessons are best for children in fourth through seventh grades.  

• Khan Academy (FREE) offers math lessons starting for preschoolers, but the course content really expands for high schoolers, and includes multiple courses in economics and finance.  

• High School Financial Planning Program (FREE) is geared toward high schoolers with lessons on Money Management, Borrowing, Earning Power, Investing, Financial Services and Insurance.  

Podcasts

• Money with Mak & G 

• NPR: Planet Money (my kids love this one)

• Money JAR (Junior Achievement Radio)

Sabrina Snow

Founder / Advisor

As important as any of these resources is YOU. It is never too early or too late to start talking to your kids about money, whether you struggle financially or are extremely wealthy. Some parents feel talking about money can make their children feel insecure, while others don’t want their children to feel entitled. However, not talking to your children about money is worse. Hopefully, these resources will help you start the conversation!

If you are curious about other learning resources during this pandemic, let me know and I’ll happily share some of my other favorites.