Today is Teach Your Kid to Save Day!

Too many parents assume that their children are learning about financial literacy in the classroom. According to the 2006 Capitol One Back to School Survey, Only 43 percent of parents have discussed the importance of prioritizing needs and wants with their kids, and a surprising 42 percent of parents have not taken any steps whatsoever to discuss financial basics with their children.

With April being Financial Literacy Month, it is the perfect time for parents to sit down and discuss with their children how important it is to save their money. These lessons can be taught to children of any age but more importantly need to be taught to young adults to who are getting ready to go off to college and manage their own bank accounts and credit cards.

While it is important for parents to be talking to their kids about money, Junior Achievement is a great way for them to be learning about it while in school. Junior Achievement teaches students practical skills that position them for success, such as how to create and use a personal budget, how to calculate the cost of credit, and the importance of saving and investing for the future. And, our programs are often delivered by volunteers from the local business community, who can provide positive career role models for students.

We encourage the business community to support organizations such as Junior Achievement, which reaches 95,000 students in the Denver Metro area. Results indicate that Junior Achievement programs help students develop successful financial management habits. In addition, Junior Achievement programs help students become workforce-ready by teaching leadership, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.