The Invest in ME Reads program provides these resources to help you support your student or child on a path toward lifelong financial wellness.
Featured Book:
The Know-Nonsense Guide to Money: An Awesomely Fun Guide to the World of Finance!
In January, all Maine third graders attending public school receive The Know-Nonsense Guide to Money: An Awesomely Fun Guide to the World of Finance! This fun book explains the basics of saving, spending, and money lessons in a way that kids will understand.
Use this reading guide to make the most of the lessons from this book. [Coming January 15, 2025]
Activities and Tips
Financial Skills
Developing habits like planning, saving, and setting goals helps your child build lifelong financial skills and work towards milestones such as:
- Understanding the concepts of “time” and “future”
- Planning ahead and saving for what they want
- Understanding saving and spending, how money is earned, and the power of giving
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- Bring your child to the grocery store and ask them to help you compare prices. Be sure to talk with them about store brand vs. name brand and unit pricing.
- Help your child plan and set aside their allowance or gift money for spending, saving, and giving. A general rule is that 1/3 of the total amount could be set aside for each category.
Lessons and Games
- BizKid$ – Fun games to help you learn about money
- MyCreditUnion.gov – Test your financial knowledge with these fun games
- Thinking Money for Kids – Activities and games on various financial topics
- Board games to play a hands-on activity with children:
- The Game of Life
- Pay Day
Education and Career Exploration
The earlier your child begins to explore education and careers, the more likely they will be to achieve their goals and work toward milestones such as:
- Having conversations about future goals
- Understanding that college costs money
- Identifying places where they could go to college
- Discussing various jobs and related duties
- Learning that skills are valuable tools
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- If you or another family member attended college or training, share that experience with your child, including the college or training program attended.
- Encourage your child to interview a family member about their chosen career. Talk with them about what they learned.
Lessons and Games
US Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Exploration – Learn about education and skills needed for various careers
Cash and Max Activity Books – Learn about education and future careers
MAGtown – Learn about future careers
MyPlan – Create a plan to “do, save, learn”
NCES Kids’ Zone – Learn about education and skills needed for various careers
Read the Official Rules for more information.
