Smart$ense
It’s never too early to teach kids about money and help them build financial knowledge. Get the conversation started with Smart$ense—our age-appropriate resources to help kids learn financial basics. Share these links with your kids, grandkids, friends, or anyone you think is ready to learn.
Ages 6–8: learn about money and about saving vs. spending
At this age, kids may not know what money is. Make it fun to learn about money by watching this video with them and reading this comic book to reinforce the lesson.
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Video | What is money?
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Comic book | Manny and Liv
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Ages 9–13: needs vs. wants
Life is full of needs and wants—and what kids think they need is often just something they really want. Help them understand the differences by sharing this video with them. Then they can also complete an activity to help them learn how they can make their own choices.
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Video | Needs and wants—what's the difference?
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Handout | How do you know if you want something or if you need it?
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Ages 14–18: debit vs. credit
Paying with debit and credit cards and other digital methods is now the norm. Kids see you tap and swipe to pay for items every day—but do they really know what they are and how to use them? Help kids understand the differences between debit and credit cards by sharing this video with them, then use the handout to help them practice deciding what’s right for them.
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Video | Debit cards and credit cards
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Handout | Wondering about debit and credit cards?
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The commentary in this publication is for general information only and should not be considered legal, financial, or tax advice to any party. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals to ensure that any action taken with respect to this information is appropriate to their specific situation.