As the back-to-school season approaches, now’s the perfect moment to jumpstart small, meaningful money conversations with your kids. Here at Chartway, we believe in building lifelong financial confidence. And just like you wouldn't hand your child a car before teaching them to ride a bike, financial literacy should start early with age-appropriate tools and conversations that make money feel manageable, not mysterious.

From learning the names of coins in kindergarten to using a debit card responsibly in high school, each grade is a new opportunity to build healthy money habits. We’re here to support you in giving your kids the best foundation for a financially successful adulthood with products and tools specific to their needs. With our youth savings and student checking accounts, Zogo gamified learning app, youth certificates, and resources from trusted organizations like the NCUA and CFPB, they’ll be well on their way.

If you're wondering when and how to start, this guide walks you through the money milestones that matter most – grade by grade. Let’s turn every school year into a financial win.

Grades K–2 (Early Elementary): Learning the Basics

Foundation: Introduce money as something we use, earn, save, and spend.

  • Teach coins and bills by using real pennies, nickels, dimes, and paper money in simple money-matching games.
  • Try grocery store play: compare prices, count out “change,” or pretend to be a cashier.
  • Open a Chartway Youth Savings Account with just $5. Kids receive a piggy bank, crayons, and a coloring page. When they bring in their filled bank, Chartway matches deposits up to $5 twice a year.
  • Explore NCUA’s World of Cents, a free, kid-friendly online game that teaches the basics of money through fun, interactive storytelling.

Parent tip: Talk about money openly, even if it’s simple. Phrases like “We save money for things we need later” begin to build awareness.

Grades 3–5 (Later Elementary): Building Habits

Foundation: Help kids understand the value of saving and the difference between wants and needs.

  • Start allowance tracking with labeled jars or a basic notebook.
  • Encourage “pay yourself first” by having them save a portion before spending.
  • Introduce wants vs. needs using everyday shopping scenarios to explain choices. "We need bread, but candy is a want."
  • Bring report cards in because with Chartway Student Savings + Rewards, your child earns $2 for every A and $1 for every B in each grading period.
  • Explore CFPB’s Money as You Grow, which offers age-based conversation starters and easy activities.
  • Try NCUA’s Hit the Road, a fun budgeting game where kids plan a virtual road trip and make financial choices along the way.

Parent tip: Start a simple savings goal like saving for a toy or event, and have your child track their progress visually.

Middle School (Grades 6–8): Earning & Budgeting

Foundation: Introduce budgeting and real-life earning, while allowing space for mistakes.

  • Give kids the chance to earn money through tasks like babysitting, pet-sitting, chores around the house and guide them through budgeting what they earn.
  • Introduce a Chartway Student Checking Account with debit card access. Teach them how to check balances, avoid overdrafts, and budget for spending. The best part: you have access to ensure they’re being responsible with money.
  • Activate SimpleSavings so debit card purchases are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the change is saved to their share account. It’s an easy way to grow savings with every transaction.
  • At age 13, kids can start using Zogo, a gamified learning app that makes financial literacy fun through quizzes and short lessons with real gift card rewards. Use the code Chartway to register.

Parent tip: Let your teen make small money decisions. It’s okay if they blow their allowance a few times. It’s a learning experience in a safe environment.

High School (Grades 9–12): Preparing for Independence

Foundation: Equip teens with real-world financial tools and the responsibility that comes with them.

  • Open a Chartway Student Checking Account if you haven’t already. It’s fee-free, includes a debit card, parental oversight, and even free credit score tracking.
  • Reinforce saving with SimpleSavings round-up tied to debit card usage.
  • Continue using Zogo for age-appropriate lessons like credit, investing, and identity protection. Use the code Chartway to activate their rewards path.
  • Encourage participation in Chartway’s Student Rewards Program, where your child continues earning deposits for good grades.
  • Begin conversations about credit cards, interest, and budgeting for future expenses like gas, prom, or college.

Parent tip: Involve your teen in family budget talks. Walk them through utility bills, grocery budgets, or vacation planning. This is also a great time to introduce the idea of opportunity costs and why choosing to spend on one thing may mean you forego another.

College-Bound & Young Adults: Next-Level Skills

Foundation: Move from managing money to building credit, understanding debt, and long-term financial planning.

  • Open a secured credit card to help your teen establish and use credit responsibly.
  • Use GreenPath’s LearningLab+, free for Chartway members, to explore budgeting, debt management, credit scores, and more.
  • Consider youth certificates as a way to encourage long-term, goal-based saving while teaching the concept of dividends and compound interest.
  • Highlight internship and scholarship opportunities tied to financial literacy, responsibility, or community engagement like those offered through Chartway.

Parent tip: Frame college financial aid, loans, and tuition choices in terms of long-term impact. It’s a powerful teaching moment about opportunity costs.

Tools Parents Can Use

You're not in this alone. We’ve got you covered!

Trusted Tools from CFPB & NCUA

Help your child build confidence using trusted, free tools aligned with credit union values:

Every great money habit starts with a small conversation. Whether it’s saving coins in a piggy bank or building a college budget, each step brings your child closer to financial confidence.

Let’s turn today’s lessons into tomorrow’s smart decisions. Keep an eye on our upcoming social series through back-to-school for more tips and inspiration to turn milestones into habits.  

Visit Chartway.com or drop by your local branch to start your child’s financial journey today.