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:
Priceless Facts about Money
In January, all Maine fourth graders attending public school receive Priceless Facts about Money, a book that demystifies money and introduces students to wild and weird facts about what makes the world go round.
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 Money Smart for Young People – Learn about everyday financial topics
- KidsMoney.org – Tools to teach financial knowledge
- MyCreditUnion.gov – Test your financial knowledge with these fun games
- Thinking Money for Kids – Games that teach money skills
- Board games to play 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 entrepreneurial
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Exploration – Learn about education and skills needed for various careers
- Claim Your Future® – A game that teaches 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 he or she 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.
- Bring your child with you to your local bank or credit union and open a savings account. Consider a “matching plan” for your child’s savings: you put in 25 cents for every dollar your child saves.
Education and Career Exploration
- 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.
- 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.
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.
