REAL MONEY, REAL FAMILIES
Online tools for kids’ financial literacy By Luke Erickson
W
ell, it’s back to school time and The National Financial Educators Council we’re all holding our collective recently shared, “…schools rarely teach breath. I don’t think there has personal finance for kids; we are failing to ever been a time when so many produce self-sufficiency among our younger parents – and kids for that matter – have been generations.” so ready for school to get back in session. It’s not so much that we’re trying to blame There are still many uncertainties with K-12 teachers. They already have quite a school, and education in general. There will bit on their plates. But the truth is that most likely be some big, semi-permanent changes school systems are not designed to devote to the way education will be delivered in the much time to non-core areas like consumer coming months and years, including staggered economics in normal times – let alone during schedules, more reliance on technology a national crisis. and distance education, and the very real The good news is that parents and teachers Luke Erickson possibility of kids staying home for days who understand the importance of financial literacy have a and weeks at a time if/when the COVID strikes a certain wealth of tools at their disposal. First, as a board member classroom or school. I think it’s safe to say that your local of the Idaho Financial Literacy Coalition, the local affiliate K-12 teachers and administrators will have their hands full of the national Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial this fall. That’s why it’s more important now than ever to Literacy, I can tell you that there are many great programs take the bull by the horns when it comes to personal finance and curricula out there that fit a variety of topics and education for your own children. settings. Visit https://jumpstartclearinghouse.org/ to see programs that have been developed by educators all over the country. Another terrific resource is this list of money management K-12 lessons from Maryville University: https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/ accounting/money-management-lessons-kids/ But who has the time to research these programs and Call the figure out which one to teach and how to teach it, especially if you’re not really an expert in personal finances yourself ? Well look no further than your land-grant university for fun and engaging personal finance programs for youth. Whether you are a parent, a youth leader, or a K-12 teacher, • FULL YEAR OF SERVICE FOR University of Idaho Extension has developed award-winning AS LOW AS $19/MONTH programs that teach basic personal finance concepts that • FREE INSPECTIONS are free and available to the public. Visit www.uidaho.edu/ • GUARANTEED RESULTS— nw-youth-financial-ed to view and download programs for if your bugs return, so do we — for free! personal or classroom use. And don’t forget, there are extension educators in every • Idaho owned and operated corner of the state who are qualified and ready to deliver these • Licensed through the Idaho Department of and other personal finance programs to classrooms and other Agriculture youth groups. Simply call your local extension office, or email • Specializing in eliminating: me at erickson@uidaho.edu, to arrange to have a personal Ants Wasps Cockroaches finance program delivered to your class or youth group. Spiders Yellow Jackets Ticks Earwigs Moths “But Mr. Erickson, what if we don’t want strange people Box Elders Crickets bringing COVID into our youth groups?” I’m glad I asked that question for you, but I resent you Schedule your free inspection at calling us strange. Most of our programs can be easily delivered online. Your kids don’t even have to physically be together, they can simply log into the program session or call Shawn Curry at 208-250-2358
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6 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 | Idaho Family Magazine
www.idahofamilymagazine.com
