Preschoolers learn about money by watching their parents. Everyday life can be a lesson. A trip to the store is a lesson in trade. The ATM or the credit union drive-up can be a lesson in banking. A birthday card is a lesson on giving.

Thrive by Five™ is a free resource from the Credit Union National Association. The website has lesson plans in both English and Spanish for parents who want to encourage healthy attitudes about money in young children.

1. Spending, saving, and sharing are ways to use money.
2. Buying (spending) means trading money for things.
3. Saving allows you to buy something in the future because you don’t have enough money today.
4. People have jobs that pay money.
5. Money also can come from gifts.
6. You can keep money safe at home and other places.
7. Paper money and coins are worth different amounts.
8. Different things have different prices.
9. People pay for things in different ways.
10. People have different needs and wants.
11. People have a limited amount of money to spend.
12. Money can be spent only once — after you buy something you need more money to buy something else.
13. Planning helps people set goals and make choices about money.
14. Some things do not cost any money.
15. People do some things for each other without being paid.
16. People give money to help others.
17. People in a community share the cost of some work done for everyone.

• Tips for Teaching Preschoolers About Money
• Stories About Money for Preschoolers
• What Young Children Can Learn