Of all the things we should learn when we're young, it's How Money Works!
Imagine a game where the kids are the pieces...
This was Elisabeth (founder) Donati's goal about five years ago when she started doing Money Camps for Kids (now Camp Millionaire).
"I played Cash Flow for Kids in our very first camp with those wonderful 39 kids and threw up my hands about 30 minutes into the session. Too many pieces, too many instructions, too many games, too few kids could play each game, and oh, the noise! I couldn't take it and, as much as I love this game for small groups of kids, I vowed never to play a board game with a group of kids again."
She decided she needed to create a game that teaches the rules of money where the kids are the pieces!"
That's what I said outloud several times before it started taking shape.
First, I designed a simple paycheck worth $1000. Then I came up with $900 worth of expenses. Then I added in assets and passive income and started layering in the principles and concepts we wanted to teach the kids through experience. And I did it all with a series of bags and instructions and music and well, pretty soon, we had a game that not only taught the 'rules to the money game' but it worked for both kids AND adults!
THIS GAME WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AND USE IN SCHOOL, AT CHURCH, FOR BOYS & GIRL SCOUTS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS...ANYWHERE THERE'S KIDS!
The last piece was to create 'events' that happened before each round that would affect the kids in different ways depending on the previous choices they made during the game.
Principles vs Mechanics: Our programs are very principles based. What this means is that we focus on teaching kids the principles and the mechanics will come naturally as they learn WHY they should save and invest and donate, etc.
All in all, it's the most wonderful way to teach a group of kids (up to 30 at a time) the Rules to the Money Game in a way that is active, experiential and fun. Financial literacy has never been so fun and easy.