How to teach kids about money (ages 8–12)
Start with one idea a child can see in a store: the same thing costs more than it used to. Everything else in money builds on that, so it is a good first conversation.
What the Batch unit “Inflation” covers
Why a candy bar costs more every year. It is unit 1 of the Money Basics track and has 5 lessons and 52 cards:
- Prices Change Over Time
- Why Prices Go Up
- Inflation vs. Your Piggy Bank
- How Money Fights Back
- Boss Level: Review
What the first lesson says
This is the actual text from lesson 1, “Prices Change Over Time”, word for word:
In 1990, a chocolate bar cost 50 cents. Today the same bar costs $2!
Prices for almost everything slowly go UP over time. This is called inflation.
A question from that lesson to try together
Did the chocolate bar get bigger?
- Yes, way bigger
- No — same bar, higher price
Answer: No — same bar, higher price — Right! Same candy, more money. Weird, huh?
Try it at home
Next time you are at a checkout, ask your child what they think a favourite snack cost when you were their age, then look at the price together.
Play the lesson
Open Batch in the browser, choose Money Basics, then Inflation, and start with “Prices Change Over Time”. Whether an account is needed is answered in the FAQ.
Printables for the fridge
Two free PDFs for the Money Basics track. The checklist lists the lessons from 6 of the track's 11 units.
More guides: all Batch guides.