Kids Count: Teaching Children about Money

In today's economic environment teaching kids about money, financial management and financial literacy has never been more important. More people will file for bankruptcy this year than will graduate college and U.S. consumers owe more than $970 billion in total debt and almost $9,000 per household in credit card debt.

A national survey of U.S. teens found that only 35 percent reported learning money management in school and more than 40 percent of parents believe that schools should be doing more to educate kids about money. Research conducted by Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University indicates that 80 percent of K-12 teachers think it is important to teach financial literacy.

To help teach children about money and financial management, Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University has developed the Kids Count curriculum to provide teachers with online access to lesson plans mapped to standards in all 50 states for grades three thru five. Teachers simply enter the appropriate grade level and the state they teach in. The My Money Counts board game provides additional opportunities for teachers to integrate financial literacy into the classroom.

Kids Count provides financial management and financial literacy activities that relate to the age and experiences of third through fifth-grade students. The curriculum offers teachers a time-saving resource that combines reading, social studies and economics with money management skills delivered in an integrated curriculum. The Kids Count curriculum allows students to evaluate, create analyze and apply each lesson.

To learn more about the Kids Count curriculum from Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University watch this accompanying video: http://www.yourupdate.tv/moneyandfinance/kids_count.html or go to: http://www.nfikidscount.org/