Teaching Financial Literacy To Kids with Chelsea Sarae Addison & Jazmin
On this episode of Financially Naked: Stories from The Financial Gym, our host is Jazmin Higgins, Level 2 Certified Financial Trainer. Today, we have a special episode focused on an essential aspect of financial education: teaching kids about money. Joining us is a phenomenal guest who has dedicated herself to this cause, Chelsea Sarae Addison. She is an author and advocate for financial literacy, and she's here to talk about her new book, Savannah's Savings Jar.
Savannah's Savings Jar is more than a children's book. It's a powerful tool that harnesses the magic of storytelling to impart invaluable lessons about money to kids and adults. Sarae's book invites us all into the captivating world of Savannah and her friends, who are here to share their lessons.
Podcast Notes
This book was inspired by Sarae's former second-grade students. One year, they finished all of the core subject matter, and when she asked them what they wanted to learn, they chose money.
When she looked for resources, she couldn't find any that felt like a good fit for her students. They either weren't as rigorous as she wanted or did not represent her students. Instead of complaining, she decided to create a solution. The Financial Friends book series was born.
Teaching children about money has the power to change a family's trajectory. Intervening at a young age can impact future generations and family legacies.
How did you decide how to format the book?
Sarae does not find lectures engaging, so when she started writing the book, she aimed to approach these lessons in a compelling format.
She remembers reading stories about honesty and other virtues as a kid, which taught lessons without it being the main focus. It was always about the story, which is why she remembers them so vividly. She wanted to apply those principles to financial lessons.
Her goal with the book is to help normalize having these conversations at home with the family. She wants students to value the importance of having intergenerational discussions about finance.
What lessons can be found in the book?
These stories pack a lot of information in a short amount of time with fun resources catered to the needs of teachers and parents.
The book has a glossary in the back. Plenty of terms are there to accompany the story and be a resource for parents and kids.
Some lessons Savannah learns include:
It's okay to work by yourself, but there is value in working with others
How to budget
How to save money before you spend it
How to be mindful and make intelligent decisions
Who you keep in your company is important and can impact your financial health
How can I start having money conversations with my kids?
Start having age-appropriate money conversations as early as you can with your kids. Help them learn and build good financial habits while they are young.
You do not have to be an expert in personal finance to talk with your children. Start with what you know, but don't shy away from topics that seem intimidating. You can learn along with your kids. Start with Savannah's Savings Jar and read it together if you're intimidated.
Create teachable moments and hands-on experiences for your kids. When you go on a trip, help them plan. Show them different prices when you go shopping. There are many opportunities for you to get the kids involved.
If you want to work with a Certified Financial Trainer to learn about financial literacy so you can share that knowledge with your kids, schedule a free warm-up call today! If you have any ideas or questions for the show, send an email to trainerpodcast@fingyms.com.
Resources
Connect with Sarae
Buy the book & get notified for pre-orders: Savannah’s Savings Jar
Instagram: @Chelseasarae
LinkedIn: Chelsea Sarae Addison