Money & Family · 2 min read
Teaching Kids About Money
Age-by-age ideas for teaching children about money: counting coins, saving jars, earning, giving and smart spending.
Kids form money habits early, often by watching the adults around them. Small, age-appropriate lessons go a long way.
Ages 3–5: money is for trading
Play store, count coins and use clear jars so they can see savings grow.
Ages 6–10: save, spend, give
Try three jars: Save, Spend and Give. Let them make small choices, and small mistakes, with their own money.
Ages 11–14: earning and goals
Connect money to work with chores or small jobs. Set a savings goal for something they want and track progress.
Teens: real-world skills
Open a teen checking or savings account together, practice a simple budget, explain a pay stub and talk about credit cards before they get one.
Use our printable family money talk guide.
Updated November 15, 2026. General education only, not financial advice.