Happy Teach Your Kid to Save Day! This occurs every year on April 27th and is an excellent opportunity to talk to your kids about money. Saving is an important part of financial wellness, and learning financial responsibility as a child allows them to handle money-related decisions in the future. Saving is more than being vigilant about spending. Having the knowledge to make calculated decisions about your finances is a crucial part of growing up.

Financial education can be tailored to kids of any age, and it's never too early to start learning about financial literacy. We've gathered some activities to do with your kids today to celebrate.

Play Money Games

Games are one of the most effective ways for kids to learn and practice new skills. Depending on your child's age, preferences, and knowledge level, here are some ideas to make education fun for everyone.

Use flash cards and fake money.

Buy or make coins and dollars to practice counting money. Use flashcards to quiz your child, such as how many nickels are in a dollar. The more you use these tools, your child's knowledge will grow. You can also use websites like the government's U.S. Mint page to find online money games.

Create a DIY piggy bank at home.

Did you know that the average coin will circulate for 30 years? Take time with your child to DIY a piggy bank. Whether you paint and decorate a store-bought one or start from scratch, piggy banks are great tools to teach your child about savings.

Make spend, save, and gift jars.

This activity teaches them about savings and shows your child how to budget! Gather three jars or containers of your child's choice and label them save, spend, and gift. Discuss what each jar means and what it should be used for, and create goals around them. Check-in on their progress regularly to keep them engaged and on track.

Real-Life Experiences

Whether you are out in the world or learning at home, including real-world examples of saving and spending in your child's daily life will teach them the value of money. Never stop looking for the opportunity to include your child in monetary transactions. Here are some ideas for doing so!

Include your child in day-to-day tasks involving money or finances.

Take time during transactions, such as a trip to the store or to your financial institution, to walk your child through the process. This works best with older children and teens to help them understand the cost of living, budgeting, and how to prepare for the future.

Create a store at home.

You can recreate real-life experiences at home with the same result with younger children. Work with your child to create a store or restaurant where they can practice counting and the value of money. Personalize the activity according to their preferences; make your Starbucks lover a coffee shop or your budding chef a restaurant. Including your child's interests will make them more likely to take the lessons with them long after the "store" closes.

Talk about earning and saving.

Like all new topics you introduce your child to, you must keep up the conversation around money and saving year-round. Although Teach Your Kid to Save Day only happens once a year, financial literacy should be at the top of everyone's mind daily. Use tactics such as the ones we gathered below to do just that.

Use their allowance to help them plan for their wants or expenses.

If you give your child an allowance, take it a step further and use it to educate them and prepare them for the future. Sit down and make an age-appropriate monthly budget with your child. Show them the big picture regarding how much money they earn each month and discuss how they should manage it.

Offer saving incentives to encourage them to reach their goals.

Take their budgeting plan one step further with planned incentives to encourage them to reach their saving goals. Treat them to ice cream or simply spend some special quality time when they hit their first savings milestone. Encourage your child often with positive affirmations and help them keep their goals in mind.

Although Teach Your Kid to Save Day happens once a year, try to take every opportunity to talk to your kids about money. Saving, spending, and investing are a vitally important part of adult life. Your conversations may include saving for college, planning for large purchases, prioritizing purchases, and differentiating needs from wants. Empower your children with financial knowledge and set them up for success today and every day.