Top financial education resources for kids

Money may not grow on trees, but the lessons we teach our kids about it can grow into something priceless. Financial literacy is a crucial life skill and teaching kids about budgeting, saving, and investing at an early age can set them up for future success.

Unfortunately, financial education is often overlooked in schools, leaving much of the responsibility to parents.

The good news? There are plenty of tools and resources to help you instill these lessons in a fun and practical way. This guide covers some of the best financial education resources for kids — from interactive courses to engaging books and podcasts.

Books to build financial knowledge 

Books can provide kids with a deeper understanding of money. Here are a few excellent options:

1. Little Critter: Just Saving My Money by Mercer Mayer 

This Easy Reader children's book follows Little Critter as he learns the value of saving money. Just Saving My Money teaches young readers, ages 3 to 6, important financial lessons through a relatable and engaging story. With charming illustrations and a simple, easy-to-understand narrative, this book introduces kids to important financial basics.

2. Money Ninja by Mary Nhin 

Geared for kids ages 4 to 10, Money Ninja introduces essential financial habits in a way that's both fun and easy to grasp. Through its simple, illustrated format, the book covers key concepts like saving money, starting small businesses, and the importance of giving back to others. By making financial knowledge accessible and engaging, Money Ninja helps lay the foundation for responsible money management skills that kids can build on as they grow.

3. Little Daymond Learns to Earn by Daymond John 

Written by Shark Tank’s Daymond John, Little Daymond Learns to Earn follows Little Daymond as he comes up with a business idea and works together with his friends to grow the business so he can earn enough money to buy a music poster he wants. Young readers are introduced to core money concepts while being motivated to explore entrepreneurship and chase their dreams through hard work and creativity.

Be a financially smart family!

Be a financially smart family!

From saving for the future to understanding credit, see how families are thriving with Greenlight.

Try Greenlight today

4. The Everything Kids’ Money Book by Brette Sember 

Written for ages 7 to 11, The Everything Kids' Money Book introduces key money concepts to kids. From learning how banks operate and how credit cards work to exploring the basics of saving and starting to invest, it covers essential financial skills for young readers. Complex topics are broken into simple, relatable explanations that empower kids to build a strong foundation in money management.

5. Finance 101 for Kids: Money Lessons Children Cannot Afford to Miss by Walter Andal 

Finance 101 for Kids is geared towards kids slightly older, ages 8 to 11, and focuses on more complex financial topics, such as credit, the stock market, economics, currency, and foreign exchange. The book is chock full of financial lessons, broken down in a digestible way for kids to understand using relatable examples, clear explanations, and practical tips to help them build a strong financial foundation as they grow.

Podcasts for bite-sized learning 

Podcasts are great for teaching financial concepts in a low-pressure, ongoing way. Here are a few recommendations that kids will love:

1. Million Bazillion 

Marketplace’s Million Bazillion presented by Greenlight breaks down complex money concepts into digestible episodes. With humor, trivia, and fun stories, even tricky topics like taxes or credit are engaging and easy to understand.

2. Money with Mak & G 

Kids will appreciate the relatable hosting duo of Mak and G, 15-year-old twins who, with their father Ben Jones who holds a CPA, CFA, CFP, and MBA, make financial concepts like investing or budgeting entertaining. Short episodes (under 10 minutes) are perfect for busy families.

3. Popcorn Finance 

Popcorn Finance offers bite-sized episodes that tackle a wide range of financial topics in about the time it takes to make a bag of popcorn. Hosted by Chris Browning, who spent over a decade in finance as a financial analyst, bookkeeper, content creator, and producer, this podcast is perfect for both kids and adults, covering a plethora of financial topics. 

4. Money Talkers 

Money Talkers is a podcast designed to spark crucial financial conversations between parents and their kids. Hosted by Cody Laughlin, the show focuses on teaching money management, developing a strong financial mindset, and empowering kids to think entrepreneurially. With thought-provoking interviews and actionable tips, this podcast helps families create a foundation of financial literacy.

5. Planet Money 

Learning about the economy can help build a strong foundation of financial principles for your kids. Planet Money is an engaging and informative podcast from NPR that simplifies complex economic topics for listeners of all backgrounds. Whether it’s uncovering hidden market behaviors or breaking down financial systems, Planet Money explores how economics shapes our daily lives in surprising ways.

Websites and online resources 

Online tools and websites can provide interactive lessons tailored to your child’s age and knowledge level. 

1. Hands on Banking 

Developed by Wells Fargo, Hands on Banking offers a variety of free lessons and videos designed to teach essential financial skills. From creating a budget to understanding how credit cards work, this platform is an excellent tool for teens preparing for their financial futures.

2. Federal Reserve Bank comic books 

For something unique, the New York Federal Reserve offers free comic books that explain financial principles in a fun and engaging way — complete with aliens, adventures, and relatable stories. These educational comics make complex topics like monetary policy, inflation, and the role of the Federal Reserve accessible and entertaining for learners of all ages.

3. MoneyTime 

MoneyTime provides fun, interactive lessons to teach kids essential money management skills. Designed for flexibility, MoneyTime is perfect for teachers looking to integrate financial literacy into their classroom, homeschoolers wanting a structured curriculum, or parents seeking to add valuable life skills to their child’s learning at home. 

4. Khan Academy financial literacy course 

Khan Academy offers customizable financial literacy lessons that empower students with essential money management skills. Covering topics like budgeting, saving, and investing, these resources are designed to fit diverse educational needs and help students build a strong foundation in personal finance.

5. Level Up™

Level Up™ is Greenlight’s financial literacy game for kids and teens — with a best-in-class curriculum, educational challenges, and rewards that keep them coming back to learn more. Players cruise through bite-sized challenges that lock in learning using the latest research in academic and game design. Each challenge is packed with videos, minigames, and questions that empower players with money skills they can use today, tomorrow — and for life.

Games and hands-on activities 

Sometimes the best lessons come from hands-on learning. Board games like The Game of Life or Monopoly teach kids about managing money in a fun, relatable way. Other board games that focus on resource management, like Catan, can also help build skills that are useful in developing financial discipline. Likewise, creating a "mock store" at home where they can earn and spend play money can turn tricky financial lessons into enjoyable activities.

Real-world lessons 

Beyond resources, one of the best ways to instill financial literacy is through real-life practice. Give kids opportunities to manage their own money through allowances or chores. Help them set savings goals for something they really want, and discuss their spending and saving choices along the way. These activities reinforce theoretical lessons with practical applications.

Greenlight app for teaching kids about money 

If you’re looking for an accessible app to bring financial literacy into the household, Greenlight offers kids a debit card paired with a robust app where they can learn to spend, save, and invest. Parents can set controls, assign chores, and even approve all transactions, making it a fantastic hands-on tool for financial learning. Plus, the app's Level Up™ game makes money concepts engaging and fun.

Start now, for their tomorrow 

Teaching kids about money doesn't have to be daunting or time-consuming. With these apps, books, podcasts, and online tools, you can make financial education engaging and empowering. The earlier they start learning, the stronger their foundation will be for navigating life's financial challenges.

Reach $ goals together. Teach your kids about saving for life's big moments with Greenlight’s award-winning money app. Try Greenlight today — one month, risk free.†

This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.

†Valid for new customers only. Subject to identity verification and minimum load requirements. Your first monthly fee will be billed to your parent wallet seven days after successful registration. To receive a refund of your first monthly fee, you must request to close your account on or before the day immediately preceding your first Monthly Billing Date. See the ‘Account’ tab of Settings by tapping the gear icon on the Greenlight app home page to confirm when your risk-free trial ends. See Terms for details.