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:
World’s Coolest Jobs
In January, all Maine fifth graders attending public school receive World’s Coolest Jobs, a book that encourages students to explore future careers.
Use this reading guide to make the most of the lessons from this book.
Games and Activities
Explore simple games that help kids practice money skills and start thinking about future goals.
Financial Skills
- FDIC’s How Money Smart Are You? – Learn about everyday financial topics
- MyCreditUnion.gov – Test your financial knowledge with these fun games
- Thinking Money for Kids – Fun games that teach
- Board games to play for a hands-on activity with children:
- The Game of Life
- Monopoly
- FAME Learning: Printable Financial Skills worksheets for kids
Education and Career Exploration
- BizKid$ – Games to inspire entrepreneurism
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Exploration – Learn about education and skills needed for various careers
- Claim Your Future® – A game about future careers, education, and money
- HirePaths – Activities to support career exploration
- MyPlan – Create a plan to “do, save, learn”
- NCES Kids’ Zone – Information to help kids learn about schools and colleges
- FAME Learning: Printable Education and Career Exploration worksheets for kids
Tips and Tools for Families and Teachers
Find simple, practical resources to help kids build money skills.
Financial Skills
- Ask your child to set a goal for something they would like to purchase, talk about the steps it would take to get it, check the progress, and monitor whether that goal is still important.
- Let them make financial mistakes while it’s safe. We all learn by doing and so will your child. While it may be tempting to stop them from using their money for frivolous purchases, now is a great time for them to learn about buyer’s remorse. These early lessons may prevent them from making costly mistakes in the future.
Education and Career Exploration
- If you are attending college yourself, or know someone who is, visit the campus and talk with your child about college. Help them make a list of nearby colleges.
- If your child has a college savings account, talk with them about it, including what it can be used for and why you save. If your child doesn’t have a college savings account, consider learning more about Maine’s education savings program, including resources for saving at NextGenforME.com.
Resources for Enhanced Learning
- Subscribe to Paper Robots: Helping Families Talk About Money and Work
- Listen to the Raising Maine podcast Money Mindset: Expert advice on how to raise financially savvy kids
- FAME Financial Literacy Activity Workbook
Saving For College
Invest in your child’s future. Learn more about opening a NextGen 529 account.
$500 Alfond Grant for Maine Children
Learn how to use your $500 grant toward future higher education expenses.
