PROGRAM FACILITATOR'S IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE
Money as You Grow
Book Club
Introducing children to important money concepts
through books
Ct. r.-- I Protection
Consumer Bureau
Financial
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What's inside
Introduction 4
Why a family financial literacy program? 5
Purpose 6
Program components 6
Children's books 7
Parent guides 7
Parent book club meetings 7
Instructions for hosting parent book club meetings 9
Duration 9
Materials 9
Structure 10
First meeting 10
Second and continuing meetings 11
One-to-one format 12
Choosing books by key ideas 13
Key idea matrix 14
Planning 16
Money 17
Me 18
Ice breakers for book club meetings 19
Ice breaker matrix 20
Space journey choices 22
Surprise money gift 23
10 things I like to do 24
Flying my flag 25
Piggy bank puzzle 26
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Mystery bag 28
Congratulations to me 29
Money decisions 30
Handouts for parents 31
How to read books with young children 32
Nine ways to keep reading fun! 33
Money milestones 34
Evaluating the book club 35
Parent book club meeting survey 36
Book return survey 37
Background research 38
What is financial well-being? 38
Growing into financial well-being 39
What can parents and other caregivers do? 41
Additional resources 43
Acknowledgements 44
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First nine books in Money as You Grow
Book Club program
Watch consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow for information
on new titles and guides. (ISBNs below are for paperback versions)
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday,
S by Judith Viorst
ISBN 41 0689/11999
A Bargain for Frances, by Russell Hoban
ISBN # 006444001X
• A Chair for My Mother, by Vera Williams
ISBN # 0688040748
Just Shopping With Mom, by Mercer Mayer
ISBN # 0307119726
Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall
ISBN # 0140504419
Sheep in a Shop, by Nancy Shaw
ISBN # 0395706726
The Berenstain Bears & Mama's New Job,
by Stan & Jan Berenstain
ISBN # 0394868811
The Berenstain Bears' Trouble With Money,
by Stan & Jan Berenstain
ISBN 41 03948591/0
The Purse, by Kathy Caple
ISBN # 0395629810
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Introduction
The Money as You Grow Book Club implementation guide is
Then Katie looked designed to help program facilitators set up and start a book
at the purse. "■ all club in their library, school, or other organization. Facilitators can
out of money again," be anyone interested in helping parents and young children start
she said. building positive attitudes and habits around money.
- The Purse,
by Kathy Caple This guide will:
• Explain the components of the program.
• Provide step-by-step instructions on conducting workshops,
including sample ice breaker activities and evaluation surveys.
• Help you understand the important role parents play in
shaping their children's knowledge about money.
Money as You Grow Book Club is a family financial education
program that uses children's books to help families talk about and
discover new skills. It helps children and their caregivers learn key
money concepts through reading, play, and quiet one-on-one talks.
Research shows that parents and caregivers have the most
influence on their children's financial capability. Many parents
know this, and are eager to build a good financial literacy
foundation for their kids, but parents also report lacking the time,
tools and confidence to teach financial skills.
Reading books with children is a creative way to learn about the
many sides of money management. Talking about the mistakes
Alexander makes with his money in Alexander, Who Used to be
Rich Last Sunday can help children more carefully consider similar
decisions. Talking about how Mom can help her children accept
"no" as the answer when they have the "I wants" in Mercer Mayer's
Just Shopping with Mom can help children understand and
better cope with a "no" in real life.
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It is easier to be more objective when talking about book
characters and their money decisions. After families talk about
what the characters could do, adopting some of the same
financial concepts into their own lives is easier too.
And, parents do not need to be money experts. Many of the building
blocks for good financial decision making—like patience, planning,
and problem-solving—do not require a lot of financial know-how.
Money as You Grow
Why a family literacy program? Book Club makes
Young children may not know anything about banks, credit cards, learning and teaching
easy and fun. It is based
or money. But, they are very good observers. They have constant
on the ideas of:
exposure to their parents and a desire to mimic their behavior, or
the behaviors of the community around them. Research by the • Families reading and
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and others indicate that planning together.
the personal traits, habits, and behaviors that lead to financial • Having positive
well-being in adulthood start to form as early as preschool? For discussions about
more on our background research, see page 38. money, rather than
negative ones.
Parents are commonly the biggest financial influence in their
children's lives, and children learn important money lessons • Using play and fun
simply by watching parents earn, spend, save, share and borrow. activities to help
young children learn
This process is called financial socialization. Parents can positively
and build good
influence the financial socialization of their children by money habits.
• Having more family interactions related to money. • Empowering parents
to talk to children
• Modeling positive behaviors during everyday routines, such as
about money and
comparing prices and products, and sticking to a shopping list. household decisions.
• Including children in family financial decisions, planning, and
saving for goals.
A 2003 evaluation of the University of Nevada Cooperative
Extension's Money on the Bookshelf program showed that
participating parents:
• Talked more with their children about things related to money.
1 Dreyer. A.I., Odders-White, E., Kalish, C.W., Else-Quest, Hoagland, and
Nelms,■. (2015), Foundations of Financial Well-Being: Insights into the Role of
Executive Function, Financial Socialization, and Experience-Based Learning in
Childhood and Youth. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 49: 13-38. doi: 10.1111/joca.12068
5 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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• Included children more in talks about how family money is used.
• Used everyday events as opportunities to talk with their
children about money.
Parents with lower household incomes, and lower levels of
education showed more significant gains in these behaviors.
The evaluation looked at parent surveys taken before the first
workshop and after the last workshop. At the time, 110 parents
As a Money as You had participated in the program.2
Grow Book Club
member ...
Purpose
Parents help children:
The discussions and activities in the Money as You Grow Book
• Develop skills like Club are designed to:
planning for the future,
setting goals and • Create interest in money and its use.
sticking to them.
• Encourage parents and children to have positive conversations
• Build good habits and about using money.
attitudes about money.
• Provide access to information and concepts intended to build
• Grow in financial well-being.
independence.
• Encourage family money management.
• Build opportunities
for children to ask Secondary goals include:
and explore questions
about money. • Improving family literacy.
• Enjoy reading and • Helping parents teach life skills such as communication,
have fun. problem solving, and cooperation.
Children learn:
• To provide support, encouragement and a sense of
• Basic money skills. empowerment to parents.
• How money is earned
and used.
Program components
• How to have friendly
talks with parents • Children's books
about money.
• Parent discussion guides
• By doing.
• By having fun. 2 Behal, ■., Bennett, K.K., Crites,.., Weigel, D. (2003), Money on the Bookshelf:
Using Children's Books to Reach Limited Resource Families with Money Management
Education. Journal of Extension, 41: 3. Ideas at Work.
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• Parent book club meetings
• Ice breakers
• Modeling reading books and doing activities
• Other take-home materials for parents
• Evaluations
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Program structure
Your organization will need to have children's books from the
Money as You Grow Book Club on hand. The inclusion of books
in the Book Club should not be considered an endorsement
or recommendation by the CFPB. This initial set of books was Parent book club
meeting or one-on-one
part of the original Money on the Bookshelf program, and was
introduction to books,
selected based upon the financial concepts they include and reading tips, key ideas,
their age levels. The University of Wisconsin-Extension Family and activities.
Living Programs and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center
for Financial Security are selecting additional books that will be
added to the program.
Parent and child take
the book and discussion
PARENT GUIDES guide home and enjoy
A parent discussion guide goes with each book in the Book Club. quiet reading times
The discussion guides are easy to understand and include: together.
• A brief summary of the story.
• Key ideas that direct parents to the financial concepts and
0
Parent and child do
learning objectives for each book. activities and discuss the
key ideas in the book.
• Suggestions for things parents could think about as they read
the stories to their children.
• Tips for parents about how to read to their children. Parents come back for
another weekly meeting,
• Ideas for things to talk about as they read the story with discuss what they did
their children. and get new books and
discussion guides.
• Activities that help families practice what they learned.
PARENT BOOK CLUB MEETINGS
Group meetings or one-to-one sessions also help parents
or other caregivers build confidence in reading the books
and discussing the financial concepts with their children. We
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recommend that parents attend at least the first book club
meeting to learn about the program and how the discussion
guides work, but encourage parents to participate in multiple
group meetings, just like other book clubs.
At the workshops, you can model using the guides by reading the
children's books out loud with the parents and showing how to
use the guides. Consider having them practice an activity.
Also, libraries or other organizations could have related personal
Gamify your finance books available for check-out, or fliers, tip sheets or
book club other materials available for parents to take home. Libraries and
other organizations can order free financial education materials
You may want to at promotions.usa.gov/cfpblibraries.html. See page 43 for
encourage collecting
additional resources.
all the parent guides
using a badging Book club meetings should also:
system or other form
of gamification or • Provide time in the beginning for parents to meet, chat, share,
rewards. Points could and network on their own.
be awarded for the
number of books • Give parents tips on how to read with their children.
read, activities
completed, workshops • Provide time to practice those skills.
attended, etc.
• Provide opportunities to discuss reactions to the book and the
parent guide.
• Introduce families to financial capability concepts and related
materials they can take home, including other books they can
check out for reference or to learn more.
• Provide time to discuss the concepts and practice using them.
When the workshop is over, the parents can borrow a children's
book to read and take the accompanying parent discussion guide
home. You can order parent discussion guides free, so parents
can keep and collect the guides over time.
A similar format can be followed in a one-to-one parent meeting.
Libraries, schools, Cooperative Extensions, and others also may
want to develop and provide evaluation forms that parents could
fill out when returning the books to the program site. A few
suggested evaluation forms are on page 35.
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Instructions for hosting
parent book club meetings
Be prepared
Duration Parents are more likely
to do the activities
Money as You Grow Book Club meetings are designed for one- if the materials are
hour sessions. However, the facilitator may make adjustments nearby.
to accommodate the time available and interest of each group.
Facilitators may want to allow one-and-a-half hours for discussion
and reaction to the material.
At least two parent meetings are recommended. This gives two
opportunities for the parent to learn how to use the parent guides
with the matching books. Each meeting could also feature a
different book and activities.
Materials
Following is a checklist of materials needed to conduct a Money
as You Grow Book Club parent meeting:
• Copies of the parent guide for the book being modeled
• A room with tables and chairs
• Materials for the featured activities
• Sign-in sheet
• Pencils
• Books for check-out
Choose a book to use in your demonstrations during the meeting.
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Structure
FIRST MEETING
1. Have parents sign in.
2. Do an ice breaker and introductions. (Ice breaker activities
begin on page 19.)
3. Explain the program. Tell parents that:
• They are the number one influence on their children's
Describe, do, review future financial capability.
• They don't have to be financial experts to help their kids
When conducting
build good money skills.
demonstrations, follow
these steps: • Many skills, like patience, planning, persistence and
problem solving don't require a deep understanding of
• Describe what you
personal finances.
are going to do
• Do it 4. Show the books and discussion guides used in the program.
Also show the parents reference books, other personal
• Answer questions
finance books available for checkout, as well as fliers,
about what was
demonstrated worksheets or other information they can take home to
continue their learning.
S. Hand out the parent guide for the book you are
demonstrating and explain that it will help the parents
remember what they practice in the meeting. Invite them to
use it for notes and ideas.
6. Identify the key ideas for the book you are modeling and
give examples from the book. Ask parents to give real life
examples for each concept. Turn to page 14 for the full list of
key ideas, what they mean, and how children can demonstrate
these concepts.
7. Model how to read the book with children rather than to
children. Ask for two parents to volunteer to pretend to be the
children. The facilitator acts out the parent role. (See tips for
how to read books to young children on page 32.)
8. Ask the parents to choose an activity from the parent guide
to practice. Or, divide parents into two teams. Have each
team prepare and lead one activity for the entire group.
The parents are more likely to use the activities if they have
practiced them.
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9. Explain that each book is used in a similar manner and that
the parent guide includes definitions of the key ideas covered
in the book. It will also help with ideas for questions and
activities. Discuss the tips for reading with children.
10. Have parents choose and check out the book they want to
take home to read with their children. Give each parent the
corresponding parent guide for the book selected.
11. Review the key ideas featured in the books being checked
out. (Turn to page 14 for the full list of key ideas.)
12. Discuss children's understanding and use of money by age
level. (See page 34 for a list of money milestones.)
13. Ask the parents in the meeting for questions and concerns
about using the books at home. Discuss each question and
concern with the group.
14. Remind parents to return the books in one week. (Parents
keep the parent discussion guides.)
15. Have parents practice reading with another person.
SECOND AND CONTINUING MEETINGS
1. Have parents sign in.
2. Check in the books from the previous meeting.
3. Do an ice breaker activity.
4. Ask about experiences with the previous week's book
and activities.
S. Guide discussion with questions such as:
• What did your child like about reading the book with you?
• What was your child's favorite part of last week's book?
• Give an example of how you knew the child did or did
not understand the financial concept.
• Which activities worked best? What suggestions do you
have for making the materials better?
6. Review tips for reading with children on page 32. Then, model
a different book or have a parent model one they read.
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7. Practice an activity that helps teach one concept featured in
the book.
8. Show all the books again. Also, again show the parent
reference books and materials they can check out or keep.
9. Have parents choose and check out the book they want to
take home to read with their children.
10. Review the financial literacy concepts featured in the books
being checked out. (See pages 13-18 for the key ideas.)
11. Ask the parents in the meeting for questions and concerns
about using the books at home. Discuss each question and
concern with the group.
12. Remind parents they need to return the book in a week and
that they can check out other books from Money as You Grow
Book Club any time.
13. Have parents practice reading with another person.
ONE-TO-ONE FORMAT
To conduct the parent training one-to-one, cover the same
information used in the group meeting format but in a less
formal style.
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Choosing books by key ideas
Each parent discussion guide contains a set of key ideas.
There are 12 key ideas in all, grouped into three main
learning areas:
CI Planning
Money
Me
By the time the parent and child complete reviewing and
discussing the story, the child should be able to point to
examples of the key ideas in the book, and in real life. There
are also milestones that parents can watch for, or ask their
children to do.
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Key idea matrix
Use the key idea matrix to help you select titles based on key ideas.
Alexander, Who The Berenstain
A Chair for My Used to Be Rich Just Shopping Bears & Mama's
Mother Last Sunday with Mom New Job
O Planning
Setting goals ✓ ✓
Prioritizing ✓ ✓
Solving problems
Making decisions ✓
O Money
Earning ✓ ✓
Spending V ✓
Saving ✓ ✓
Sharing &
borrowing
• Me
Self-control
Follow-through ✓
Staying true
to yourself
Flexibility
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The Berenstain
A Bargain for Bears' Trouble
Ox-Cart Man Sheep in a Shop The Purse Frances With Money
V V
V
V V
V ✓ ✓ V
✓
✓
✓ ✓
✓
✓ ✓
✓
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LEARNING AREA
0 Planning
KEY IDEA WHAT IT MEANS HOW CHILDREN SHOW IT
Setting goals A goal is something you want to do or Can follow a multi-step plan to
to have. When you set a goal, you make reach a goal (with a little help
a plan to reach it by a certain time. You and encouragement).
then follow the plan until you succeed.
Reaching a goal feels good. Celebrate
your success and the successes of others.
Prioritizing Sometimes we need to make choices Can prioritize choices when
about what we want or do. These choices they want two or more things at
can change from day to day. Prioritizing the same time.
is arranging things in order of their
importance to us.
Solving When problems come up, we try to deal Can describe problems and
problems with them. Solving problems means come up with a few ideas to
finding what works best for us and taking make things better.
action to make things better.
Making Many times there are different ways Can look at a few choices and
decisions to use money. Taking the time to ask select one that will bring the
questions, learn about different best results.
choices, and compare what's good
and bad about each choice helps you
reach good decisions.
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LEARNING AREA
0 Money
KEY IDEA WHAT IT MEANS HOW CHILDREN SHOW IT
Earning People use their time and skills to get Can identify the different jobs
money. Paper money and coins have people in the family and in the
different values. community do to earn money.
Has a safe place to keep
money and keeps track of how
much they have.
Spending You need money to buy things. These Makes spending choices
things have different prices. Money with their own money (real
can be spent only once—after buying or play money).
something, a person needs more money
to buy something else. Ages 7+: Can tell the value of
different coins and bills.
Saving Some things cost more money than we Keeps money in a safe place
have at one time. Saving means putting and keeps track of amount
some money aside until we have enough saved for future spending.
to buy what we want.
Ages 7+: Can explain why
money saved in a bank or
credit union is still a personal
belonging.
Sharing 8( There are two kinds of sharing: Can explain the difference
borrowing giving and borrowing. A gift doesn't between lending and giving
have to be paid for or returned. something away.
Something borrowed, like a library
book, must be returned. Ages 7+: Can explain why
we pay for some things and
not others.
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LEARNING AREA
Me
KEY IDEA WHAT IT MEANS HOW CHILDREN SHOW IT
Self-control Sometimes we can't have what we want Can talk about times when they
right away and need to wait. Choosing were able to wait and how they
not to spend money can sometimes be a were able to do it.
good decision.
Follow-through Sticking with a plan to reach a goal Can identify who they can turn
can be hard. It takes effort, skill, and to for help reaching a goal, or
sometimes help from others. what tools or tricks might help
them stick with a plan.
Staying true to Sometimes we might feel left out if we Can name one special thing
yourself don't have what other people have. they like about themselves
Not comparing yourself to others and and one thing that makes each
knowing what's important to you can family member special too.
help you feel good about your decisions.
Ages 7+: Can discuss why it's
okay that different people use
their money for different things.
Flexibility It's important to learn from mistakes. We Can talk about a time when
can change our plans and try something their plans didn't turn out how
new if our first idea isn't working. they wanted and what they
did instead.
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Ice breakers for book club
meetings
Ice breakers are a good way to introduce parents and
caregivers to the topics covered in the books and make
them more comfortable about the key ideas and other
money issues that may come up.
The following pages contain eight ice breaker activities:
Space Journey Choices
Surprise Money Gift
• 10 Things I Like to Do
Flying My Flag
Piggy Bank Puzzle
Mystery Bag
Congratulations to Me
Money Decisions
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Ice breaker matrix
This matrix can help you match the ice breaker to the book and key ideas you
plan to introduce.
Alexander, Who The Berenstain
A Chair for My Used to Be Rich Just Shopping Bears & Mama's
Activity Mother Last Sunday with Mom New Job
Space Journey
i
Choices
Surprise Money
Gift
10 Things I Like to
i I/
Do
Flying My Flag i V
Piggy Bank Puzzle i
Mystery Bag
Congratulations
i V
to Me
Money Decisions V
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The Berenstain
A Bargain for Bears' Trouble
Ox-Cart Man Sheep in a Shop The Purse Frances With Money
I/ V
V
V
V V
V V V
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ICE BREAKER
Space Journey Choices
Key idea: Making decisions Next, ask the group to open their eyes. Move
around the group asking each person what they
Getting started: decided to take into space. Ask the group if it
was difficult to choose only three items to carry
1. Greet the group and ask the members to into space. How did they decide?
introduce themselves.
Remind the group that decisions are never easy
2. Explain that today's session will begin with
when time, space or resources are limited. Ask
an exercise that will help us recognize how
the group to look for decisions in today's story.
we make decisions about using resources.
You might want to use the definition for
making decisions in the Key ideas table,
see page 16.
Activity:
To begin, ask the group to close their eyes
and imagine taking a trip to outer space. Have
them think about all the choices they have for
cargo. Ask each person to decide on only three
choices of things to take that will bring the best
results for their space trip. Give the group a
couple of minutes to think.
SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
Alexander, Who
Used to Be Rich A Bargain for
No. Sheep in a Shop Last Sunday Frances
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ICE BREAKER
Surprise Money Gift
Key idea: Prioritizing were going to save their money? How many
were going to use the money on something
Getting started: they needed? How many were going to use the
money to buy something they wanted? How
1. Greet the group and ask the members to might they have spent the money differently if
introduce themselves. they had worked to earn the $100 or if they had
2. Explain to the group that today's session will borrowed the $100?
start with an activity to help us recognize
Use the discussion to get the group to notice
how we prioritize our money choices.
how they prioritize their choices when they have
Explain that prioritizing includes deciding
limited money resources.
how best to use our limited money or
other resources. You might want to use the
definition for prioritizing in the Key ideas
table, see page 16.
Activity:
To begin, tell the group that each person has
just received a surprise gift of $100. Ask each
person to think about what she would do with
the money. You can have each person write
down her response or say it out loud.
Next, go around the group and ask members
how they would use the money. How many
SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
The Berenstain
Bears' Trouble
Ox-Cart Man with Money
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ICE BREAKER
10 Things I Like to Do
Key idea: Prioritizing and money to do only three things on their
lists. Which ones would they choose? Ask the
Getting started: group members to circle the three things most
important to them now.
1. Greet the group and ask the members to Next, ask the group members to choose the
introduce themselves.
three most important things to do in the next
2. Explain that today's session will start with
six months.
an activity to help us recognize how we
prioritize. Prioritizing means how we rank Ask volunteers to tell the group about their
things in order of their importance to us. Tell choices. Ask the volunteers how they made
the group that prioritizing is a concept we their choices. Why did they choose the
will be looking for in today's book. You might things they did?
want to use the definition for prioritizing in
Explain to the group that the activity had us
the Key ideas table, see page 16.
make hard decisions. Explain that limits on time
Activity: and money force us to prioritize. Remind the
group that prioritizing is a key idea they should
To get started, pass out paper and pencils and
be looking for in today's book.
ask the members to each write down 10 things
they like to do. Give the group a few minutes to
think about and write their answers.
When everyone in the group has finished
writing, ask them to imagine having the time
SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
Alexander, Who
Used to Be Rich Just Shopping
Last Sunday with Mom
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ICE BREAKER
Flying My Flag
Key idea: Earning these letters, the members should create words
describing their talents.
Getting started: Here is an example:
1. Greet the group and ask the members to J ... Just learned to type
introduce themselves.
... Interested in sports
2. Explain that the session will start with an
activity to help us recognize some resources M ... Makes terrific pasta
or talents we may not realize we have. Explain
to the group that we often have access to After the members have come up with talents
other resources besides money. Share the to match the letters of their names, ask them to
decorate their flags with the markers or crayons.
definition of earning in the Key ideas table,
see page 17. Notice that it includes time Give the group about ten minutes to complete
and skills (human resources) as important their flags.
resources we can use to earn money.
Activity:
Explain to the group that today's activity will
help us focus on some of our hidden talents.
Ask each person to use a piece of paper and
crayons or markers to create a flag to show
their talents. Have them start by writing the
letters of their first name on their flags. Using
SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
The Berenstain The Berenstain
A Chair for My Bears & Mama's Bears' Trouble
Mother New Job with Money
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ICE BREAKER
Piggy Bank Puzzle
Key idea: Saving Ask the group if anyone is currently saving for
anything. Ask the group why we try to save. Has
Getting started: the group heard the saying "saving for a rainy
day?" What does this saying mean? How do we
1. Greet the group and ask the members to know when it is a rainy day?
introduce themselves.
Use this discussion to relax the group and
2. Tell the group you are going to start today's
introduce today's book.
session with a group effort to solve a puzzle.
Activity:
Show the group the puzzle pieces. Pass out the
puzzle pieces. Give one puzzle piece per person
if the group is large; two or more if you have a
small group.
Give the group about five minutes to complete
the puzzle. Ask the group to name the
completed puzzle. (Right, it is a piggy bank.)
Ask the group what a piggy bank represents.
(Yes, it represents saving.) Tell the group
that saving is one of the Key ideas to look for
in today's book. You might want to use the
definition for saving in the Key ideas table,
see page 17.
SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
Alexander, Who The Berenstain
Used to be Rich Bears' Trouble
Last Sunday The Purse with Money
26 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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ICE BREAKER (PIGGY BANK PUZZLE, CONTINUED)
27 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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ICE BREAKER
Mystery Bag
Key idea: Solving problems • Ask each person to find a partner. Give each
team a pencil and paper. Give each team a
Getting started: chance to examine the bag. Each team should
write down what they think is in the bag.
1. Greet the group and ask the members to
introduce themselves. • Each team may ask the facilitator one
question about what is in the bag.
2. Explain that today's session will start with a
team problem-solving exercise. Explain that • Gather the group together and ask each
solving problems is a concept highlighted for team to tell what they think is in the bag. Ask
the book being read today. You may want each team why they chose that object for
to share the definition of solving problems in their guess.
the Key ideas table, see page 16.
• Try to come to a group decision about what is
Activity: in the bag.
To start the exercise, put some object in a paper • If the teams disagree, have them talk through
or cloth bag and tape or tie it shut. their ideas until they agree about what is in
the bag.
• Place the bag in the center of the group. If you
wish, place written instructions or clues near • After discussion, reveal what is in the bag.
the bag to help people guess what is inside.
This team problem-solving will relax the group and
For example, an instruction might be "do not
help them focus on the concept for today's book.
pick up," or you place a bar of soap in the bag
with clues like "I like water" or "bubbles."
SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
A Bargain for
Frances ..A " a Sheep in a Shop ari The Purse
28 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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ICE BREAKER
Congratulations to Me
Key idea: Setting goals Give each person a piece of paper and ask them
to fold it in half. Have colored pencils, crayons
Getting started: or markers available for the group's use. Ask the
group members to make cards to congratulate
1. Greet the group and ask the members to themselves for their accomplishments.
introduce themselves.
When the members have finished making their
2. Explain that today's session will begin with
cards, pair up with partners. Have the partners
an activity to help us recognize our own
share their cards and accomplishments. Gather
successes. You may want to review the
the group together and have each partner
definition of setting goals in the Key ideas
describe the other's card and accomplishment.
table, see page 16.
3. Remind the group that setting goals also Remind the group it is healthy to recognize
includes celebrating your successes and the our successes. Explain that setting goals and
successes of others. Look for setting goals recognizing success is a key idea highlighted in
and celebrating them in today's book. today's book.
Activity:
Ask the members of the group to think of
something each of them did lately that made
them proud. This might include getting a new
job, completing a project at work, making a
special dinner for the family or reaching a long-
awaited goal.
SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
no A Chair for My
Mother
The Berenstain
Bears & Mama's
New Job
29 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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ICE BREAKER
Money Decisions
Key idea: Making decisions Discuss the following questions:
• What kinds of things did you think about when
Getting started: you had to decide where to spend your money?
1. Greet the group and ask the members to • How do you deal with pressure to spend from
introduce themselves. other people?
2. Explain to the group that today's session will
• What advice would you give someone who
start with an exercise about making decisions
has to choose between two options when
about spending. Tell the group the purpose
they really want both?
of the exercise is to help them think about
how we all need to make choices when we are As the facilitator, point out the positive decision-
faced with many ways to spend our money. making skills that participants share. For example,
individuals might share that they base their
Activity: spending decisions on their priorities, so you
Read the following situations and ask for a can complement the person on knowing what is
show of hands from the group if this has ever important to them. You can also acknowledge
happened to them: an individual's patience dealing with a whining
child or their ideas for sticking to a budget.
• My children ask for something I cannot afford.
Review the definition of making decisions
• I cannot decide between two choices
in the Key ideas table, see page 16. Explain
when shopping.
to the group that making financial decisions
• Friends ask me to do something I cannot afford. includes asking questions and exploring
options. Weighing and comparing options as
• I have had a family disagreement about how a family can help everyone understand that we
much to spend on something. sometimes have more wants than money.
• I've had to take some items out of my cart
when money gets tight at the checkout. SUGGESTED FOR USE WITH THE
FOLLOWING BOOK:
After the group has shown how often these
situations have happened to them, point out
that everyone has times when they have to make
Just Shopping
a decision about where to spend their money. with Mom
30 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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Handouts for parents
The following pages contain handouts you can give to
parents. You can also present the information during the
meeting. The handouts include:
• How to read books to young children
• Reading with children
• Money milestones
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O How to read books with young children
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE WORKSHEET
Before reading
• Hold the book (or have the children hold the book) so
everyone in the group can see it.
• If the children know how to read, invite them to read aloud
with you.
During the story
• Run your finger smoothly along under the words as you read.
• Try using "fun" voices. Make the word "tired" sound tired, the
word "excited" sound excited, or "quiet" sound quiet.
• Have the children guess what happens next.
• Have them give ideas about what they think the characters in
the book should do with their money.
• Ask, "How do you think they (the characters) feel?"
After the story
• Ask, "What did you like best about the story?"
• Ask the children to give an example of one of the key ideas
that was illustrated in the story.
• Ask the children to talk about something that has happened to
them that is like the story.
• Ask them if they would do things differently if it happened
again. What did they do right and would do again?
cfpb Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau
Learn more at
consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow
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O Nine ways to keep reading fun!
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE WORKSHEET
1. Read the book first yourself. Knowing the 7. Keep the story time short. There's no set
story will help you know what comes next. time limit, but it should be short enough to
leave the children wanting more. When your
2. Ask questions as you read. It is important to child does ask for more, allow him or her
ask your child questions about the story as to choose the story. Your child may choose
you read. Ask what might happen next. the same book over and over again. This
may seem boring. It means your child is
3. Choose a regular story time. Quiet times becoming more familiar with language.
are great! Try reading together after dinner
clean-up or before bed. Try to keep the 8. Look for ways to talk about the story.
same reading time each day. Watch for opportunities to compare what
you've read with everyday experiences or
4. Find a cozy, quiet place to read the story. real-life examples.
Call it your reading spot. Cuddle on the
couch together or ask your child to sit on 9. Continue to read aloud together once your
your lap. Reading aloud is one of the best child can read alone. Keep the fun going by
ways to spend quality time with your child. taking turns. The more people your child
sees and hears reading aloud, the more he
5. Make sure the children can see the pictures. or she will be turned on to books and learning.
Hold the book up or lay it in your lap. Talk
about the pictures and characters in the book.
6. Read with expression in your voice. If
the story is scary, read with a spooky
voice. Create a voice for each character
in the story. This will make reading more
interactive and fun.
C;. pb Protection
Consumer Financial Learn more at
Bureau consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow
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O Money milestones
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE WORKSHEET
Research indicates that children are able to The Money as You Grow Book Club books and
reach key money milestones at different ages. discussion guides are generally for children
We developed the Money as You Grow Book between the ages of 4 and 10. The following
Club's key ideas with these milestones in mind. chart shows the milestones that children reach or
may be ready to reach at these different stages.
PRE-K TO GRADE 2 GRADE 3 TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
• Beginning to show self-control, can focus on • Shows the ability to plan ahead and wait for
something and stick with a project until it is what he or she wants.
finished.
• Can picture themselves in the future, and can
• Shows these qualities when using money, think ahead about future needs and wants.
treats or belongings.
• Has a positive attitude toward saving, is careful
• Forms basic attitudes around saving about spending and shows self-control.
and buying.
• Has a positive financial habit like planning
• Can count, sort, and understands "more than" and saving.
and "less than."
• Self-confident about completing financial tasks.
• Has a basic understanding of money, trading,
and saving. • Understands core financial processes
and concepts.
• Successfully manages money or other
resources to reach goals.
• Makes spending and saving decisions with
real or play money.
C.
Att pb Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau
Learn more at
consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow
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Evaluating the book club
Systematic feedback can improve the quality of programs. More
importantly, summaries of written evaluations can justify the
worth of a program for administrators and other key decision
makers. Several facets of the Money as you Grow Book Club can
be evaluated.
The following pages contain sample surveys you can use to
measure what parents think about the meetings, books and
discussion guides. These samples are to help you evaluate what
is working or not working in your programs. The CFPB will not
ask for nor collect the data in these forms. However, we welcome
your feedback. If you spot problems or have suggestions, please
email financialeducation@cfpb.gov.
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0 Parent book club meeting survey
MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB
Today's date Name of book
Please rate today's book club meeting by circling a number below:
Not helpful Somewhat helpful Helpful Very helpful
Book 1 2 3 4
Activities
Instructor
1
1
i 2
2
3
3
4
4
Overall program 1 2 3 4
Please circle the number that best shows how this program helped you learn more about:
I already knew
Increased my this before the
knowledge program
Tips for reading to young children. 1 2
Ideas to talk about as I read through this story. 1 I 2
Money concepts that are right for my child's age. 1 2
Activities to help my child learn more about money. 1 2
Please circle the number that best describes what you plan to do as a result of this program.
I plan to No Yes
Read this book to my child. 1 2
Do one of the activities with my child. 1 2
Look for everyday moments to talk with my child about money. 1 2
Other plans: Any other comments or suggestions?
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MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB
Book return survey
Today's date Name of book
How much did this book help you talk with your children about money?
Not helpful Somewhat helpful Helpful Very helpful
How much did the Parent Guide help you talk with your children about money?
Not helpful Somewhat helpful Helpful Very helpful
Tell us what you did:
I read this book to my child
Once Twice Three times More
Together, we did
None of the activities One activity Two activities More
We used everyday moments to talk about money
Not at all Once Twice More
Any other comments or suggestions about this program?
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Background research
The Money as You Grow Book Club was designed based on
research in four areas: adult financial well-being; how financial
capability develops in youth; parents' and caregivers' challenges
in teaching their children about money; and the effectiveness of
using the books to teach financial concepts.
What is financial well-being?
The CFPB's research team listened to people around the country
talk about what financial well-being means to them. Here's what
they told us: Financial well-being is having financial security and
financial freedom of choice, in the present and in the future. It's
a highly personal state that can't be fully described by objective
financial measures, like assets or income'
THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF FINANCIAL WELL-BEING
PRESENT FUTURE
SECURITY Control over your day-to-day, Capacity to absorb a financial shock
month-to-month finances
FREEDOM Financial freedom to make choices On track to meet your financial goals
OF CHOICE to enjoy life
1 CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (2015), Financial Well-Being: The Goal
of Financial Education. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/reports/financial-well-being/
38 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitators Implementation Guide
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With a clear view of people's vision of financial well-being
in mind, the CFPB set out to understand the behaviors,
knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics that support
it. To do this, researchers interviewed consumers as well as
financial professionals, reviewed existing studies of financial
literacy, psychology, decision-making, and related fields, and
consulted with experts. Together, this information highlighted the
importance of the following behaviors, skills, and characteristics:
• Effective routine money management. This involves habits
and behaviors like living within your means, routinely saving,
avoiding excess debt, using credit cards wisely, and being
resourceful about bringing income in.
• Setting financial goals and planning effectively, including both
short- and long-term budgeting, and the focus and motivation
to delay gratification.
• When faced with a financial decision, knowing how to
• Ask—Do financial research, including knowing where
to find reliable information.
• Plan—Knowing how to process information to make a
plan of action.
• Act—Know how to act on plans and carry through
with them.
• Not worrying about "keeping up with the Joneses."
• Having confidence in your ability to manage finances and
achieve financial goals.
• Other personal characteristics like conscientiousness and
future orientation, which support planning for the future and
following through on those plans.
Growing into financial well-being
If these factors are all important in adult financial well-being, can
they be learned? Many of the people CFPB interviewed said their
financial skills, habits, and personalities were formed in childhood
and youth.
39 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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That prompted additional research to identify abilities and
attributes that people tend to develop as children, which can
have a lasting impact on financial well-being in adulthood.
To do this, researchers for the CFPB reviewed existing studies in
the areas of consumer finance, developmental psychology, and
education (among others) to assess what is understood and what
remains unknown about how individuals develop the drivers
of financial well-being. The research review also sought to gain
insight into when learning events and activities are likely to have
the greatest impact.
Next, the CFPB researchers consulted experts in these and
other relevant fields to gain additional insights. The team then
developed hypotheses where major areas of agreement and
consensus were identified.
FINANCIAL CAPABILITY MILESTONES
This table outlines what we found to be the key capability milestones:
PRE-K TO GRADE 2 GRADE 3 TO MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUNG ADULTHOOD
• Beginning to show self- • Shows the ability to plan • Demonstrates critical
control, can focus on ahead and wait for what he thinking skills.
something and stick with a or she wants.
project until it is finished. • Demonstrates the ability to
• Can picture themselves in the plan ahead and wait for what
• Shows these qualities when future, and can think ahead he or she wants.
using money, treats or about future needs and wants.
belongings. • Has positive financial habits
• Has a positive attitude and inclinations.
• Forms basic attitudes around toward saving, frugality and
saving and buying. self-control. • Self-confident about
completing financial tasks.
• Can count, sort, and • Has positive financial habits
understands "more than" and like planning and saving. • Can make spending and
"less than." saving decisions aligned with
• Self-confident about his or her goals and values.
• Has a basic understanding of completing financial tasks.
money, trading, and saving. • Grasps advanced financial
• Understands core financial processes and concepts.
processes and concepts.
• Can research and identify
• Successfully manages trusted sources of
money or other resources information and process that
to reach goals. information.
• Makes spending and saving
decisions with real or play
money.
40 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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We developed the Book Club's key ideas and learning objectives
(see page 13) with these milestones in mind. The Money as You
Grow Book Club books and discussion guides are for children
between the ages of 4 and 10.
What can parents and other caregivers do?
When parents read about money with their children and talk
about what they are reading, they help their children understand
money and its use. The guides can also help parents explain their
financial habits, attitudes and everyday activities to their children.
These discussions about the books and common activities can
help build healthy financial habits and norms in the children. The
process of building this kind of knowledge, skills, and habits is
sometimes referred to as financial socialization.
Financial socialization is a gradual, cumulative process, and it can
happen through a number of competing channels—media, peers,
culture and parents. We know that children will receive financial
socialization: They will internalize habits, attitudes, and norms.
And, parents can play a large role in the financial socialization of
their young children. The only question is whether parents take
some control of the process or not.
Parents may not realize their power in shaping the financial
socialization of their children, much of which occurs through
children's observations of what their parents say and do.
Interviews with parents and caregivers reveal that many want to
be more deliberate in teaching positive financial skills, behaviors
and attitudes, but lack the time and tools to do so. They want
ways to incorporate financial learnings into the routines of their
busy lives, and they want to get help from places they already
trust and turn to for such information, such as schools and libraries.
Some parents and caregivers may also lack of confidence in
their own money knowledge. There are many ways parents can
provide positive financial skill building and socialization for their
children without having a deep knowledge of financial matters,
and without having mastered their own finances.
41 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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Parents can affect the financial socialization of their children by:
• Improving the quantity and quality of family interactions
related to money.
• Reading about money and its use to discover that other
families have some of the same money problems. By talking
about how the families in the books solve their problems,
parents and their children can discover new ways to solve their
own problems.
• Showing interest in and valuing their children's ideas about
how family money is used.
• Recognizing children's ability to understand and use money at
different ages.
• Encouraging their children to have a wide variety of
experiences with money: Counting, saving, making spending
plans, setting goals, making decisions about how to get the
most for the least.
• Modeling financial literacy concepts by setting goals, using
a spending plan, saving, paying bills on time, setting aside a
special time to plan how to manage family money.
• Including children in family routines associated with money:
paying bills, making a spending plan, shopping with a list,
saving for something special, comparing prices.
Money as You Grow Book Club is designed to support parents
in providing the kinds of financial messages and experiences
that they want for their children. The focus is not on changing
what parents want to teach children about money, but rather
motivating and empowering them to do so. It does not require
any special training or activity to participate, and can easily be
incorporated into regular routines.
42 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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Additional resources
Looking for more? Try these online resources for other money-
related books and teaching tools:
• CFPB Resources for Parents
consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow
• FDIC Teacher Online Resource Center
fdic.gov/teachers
• Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Econlowdown
stlouisfed.org/education
• Financial Literacy Education in Libraries: Guidelines and Best
Practices for Service
ala.org/rusa
• Jump$tart Clearinghouse
clearinghouse.jumpstart.org
• Smart Investing ® Your Library Online Courses
smartinvesting.ala.org/staff-training
Inclusion of entities or websites in this list should not be considered
an endorsement by the CFPB. There are many other possible
entities that are not listed that may also be able to serve your needs.
43 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
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Acknowledgements
The Money as You Grow Book Club grew from two exemplary financial education
programs developed in the public sector for the benefit of families across the
United States. The first, Money on the Bookshelf, was launched in 1998 by the
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. This implementation guide and the
first nine parent discussion guides were adapted from that project. The second
program, Money as You Grow, was developed as a recommended initiative for
the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability in 2010. Both programs
emphasize the importance of parent-child education, an approach supported by
the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and independent researchers.
The CFPB, University of Wisconsin-Extension Family Living Programs, and the
University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Financial Security are working together
to build on these past efforts. The University of Wisconsin team' led the selection
process for additional Money as You Grow Book Club books and developed
parent discussion guides to go with them. The CFPB is publishing and distributing
the program through libraries, schools, Cooperative Extensions, and other
organizations across the country.
The CFPB is an independent federal agency built to protect consumers. We write
and enforce rules that keep banks and other financial companies operating fairly.
We also help educate and empower consumers so they can take more control over
their money, credit, and financial futures. The University of Wisconsin-Extension
Family Living Programs contributes to and disseminates research to create an
environment where families have the information, skills, and assets they need to
improve their quality of life and their communities.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Financial Security is an applied,
interdisciplinary research center through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It
informs practitioners, policymakers, and the general public on strategies that build
financial capability and security over the life course.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge your hard work—the teachers, library staff,
social workers, financial coaches, and financial educators who help children, adults,
and entire families learn the information and skills they need to lead financially
healthier, more capable lives. We hope the Money as You Grow Book Club makes
your jobs easier and more effective.
1 University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension Family Living Educators Lod Baltrusis, Dawn
Doperalski, Leah Eckstein, Katie Gellings, Paula Hella, Judy Knudsen, Sandy Lang, Susan Nagelkerk, Gail
Peavey, Beth Rank, Mary Ann Schilling, Sarah Siegel, Shelley Tidemann, Nancy Vance, and Jeanne Walsh; and
Brown County UW-Extension Americorp VISTA's Heba Mohammad and Kayla Viste.
44 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB I Program Facilitator's Implementation Guide
EFTA00316100
consumerfinance.gov
M Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
1700 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20552
r Toll free: (855) 411-CFPB (2372)
TTY/TDD : (855) 729-CFPB (2372)
info@consurnerfinance.gov
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