Please Stop Saying Your Kids are Too Young…to start talking about money.

I often connect with parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, and caregivers caring for small children. They share that their kid is too young to learn about money.

Here’s the thing: Your kid has probably “wanted” something.

Maybe it was the candy in the grocery store line. A toy from a kid’s meal. So many others. That’s a great conversation starter of “wants vs. needs” instead of saying no, it’s great to highlight why.

We don’t say kids are too young to wear a seat belt or use a car seat because it’s a must (and a legal requirement).

Waiting until a child is a teenager to start talking about money is a recipe for disaster.

Here’s why: According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, research suggests that children are “developmentally capable” of saving by age five. A piggy bank or savings account gives them a hands-on way to build a savings mindset. And parents take note: your child may acquire a taste for financial planning that lasts well into adulthood.

Kids can learn about money at age 5 and have their financial habits set by age 13!

That’s 8 years to really instill solid money habits. It doesn’t have to be a formal conversation; it could be a discussion on the way to school, a conversation at the dinner table, or maybe even an activity in The Wealth Playground Activity Workbook.

Either way, the time is now! Talking about money to kids doesn’t have to be hard or complicated, see what other adults have shared, teaching 5-year-olds:

"Jasmine's Financial Literacy Workshop was incredible. She engaged students in a very positive way and helped them change their perspectives on money and money management. Her own personal stories of her financial journey inspired the students, and they left class feeling excited and empowered."

— Angelica Martinez, Educator

Jasmine knows exactly how to get kids excited about money. Money can be a boring topic when talking about it to people who haven’t quite learned what it is, but Jasmine really knew her stuff. Not only did she teach them what money is and how to save, but she did it in a quick, fun, and easy-to-understand assembly.

— Alexis Katan, Student