When it comes to families and talking about money, open discussions often feel taboo. But when kids and parents sit down together and explore what-ifs, preferences, and their curiosity around money, it sparks discussions of all kinds—some deep, some lighthearted, but all valuable.
A new pilot program from the UChicago Financial Education Initiative is facilitating these conversations for local area families. Funded by the University of Chicago Women’s Board, Family Money Night puts a time to talk about money on the family schedule—and brings parents, kids, and schools together in a uniquely research-based experience.
For three nights this spring, educators will interact with families on Zoom to model enjoyable discussions that promote financial literacy. Each family receives a “Money Night Bag” in advance of the event, containing a UChicago Financial Education Initiative Talking Cents card deck of conversation starter questions, a book to read aloud and discuss to normalize talking about money at home, and a deck of playing cards to facilitate math games to build basic numeracy, a key component of financial literacy.
The University’s chapter of My Very Own Library and UChicago STEM Education partnered on community outreach for the pilot, utilizing their network of school principals and community organizations to get the word out about the event. They focused on the Chicago neighborhoods of greater Bronzeville, the Far South, the West Side, and Lawndale, and were successful at signing up 225 families—75 per night of the free program. They worked with schools and community centers to create hubs for distributing the bags to families.
Click here to read the full story.
This story was first published by the UChicago Physical Sciences Division.