For parents

Using MyKidsMoney

"MyKidsMoney isn't designed to replace real-world money experiences. It's designed to help children understand them."

The strongest financial education combines conversations, real money and age-appropriate learning.

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Real money

Experience it

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Lessons

Understand it

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Game

Practise it

Coming soon
Where it starts

Start with real money

For younger children, start with physical money — coins, jars, pocket money, savings goals, real purchases. Children should experience the concepts rather than simply read about them.

57 lessons, one at a time

Use the lessons

The lessons are designed to build knowledge progressively — but don't sit a child down and make them complete dozens in a row. Instead: choose a topic, read it together, discuss it, connect it to something happening in real life, and let the child try it.

Real situations, real lessons

Match lessons to real life

Your child wants a new toy

Then let them actually save for it.

Your child earns money

Then let them decide what to do with their earnings.

You're going shopping

Talk through a real purchase.

Your child receives money

Put the physical money into the appropriate jars.

A guide, not a rulebook

Follow the learning journey

MyKidsMoney has a recommended pathway that starts with simple concepts and gradually introduces more complicated ideas. Parents don't need to force children to follow every lesson in order — the pathway is a guide.

A rough guide

Different ages

Ages 5–7

MoneyCoinsSpendingSavingGivingNeeds vs wantsSimple earning

Ages 8–10

BudgetingBank accountsInterestDigital moneyEarningPlanning

Ages 11–13+

BorrowingDebtMortgagesInvestingSharesTaxInflationKiwiSaverInsuranceCryptocurrencyTradingScams

These are guidelines only. Children develop differently.

Set the tone

Don't turn it into homework

MyKidsMoney should feel like exploration, not schoolwork. Keep sessions short — one idea at a time. Ask questions. Let children disagree. Use real examples. The goal is understanding, not completing the most lessons.

Better than a lecture

Ask questions

"What would you do?" "Why?" "What would happen if...?" "Would you still buy it?" "How long would you need to save?" "Is it worth it?" "What could go wrong?"

This encourages financial thinking rather than memorisation.

Part of the process

Make mistakes safe

Children should have opportunities to make small, manageable money mistakes. Spending $5 on something they don't really want can teach more than a lecture about impulse buying. The aim isn't to prevent every mistake — it's to help children learn from them.

Coming later

The game

MyKidsMoney also includes a financial game designed to make learning interactive. The game is currently under development — it will eventually complement the real-world lessons, not replace them.

🎮 MyKidsMoney Game — Coming Soon
Keep it flexible

A simple weekly routine

SundayPocket money + jars
During the weekReal-world money conversations
Once a weekOne MyKidsMoney lesson
OccasionallyUse a lesson to explain something happening in real life
As they growGradually introduce banking and digital money

Don't worry about teaching everything.
Teach the next thing.