New Online Course Launches to Teach Children Essential Money Skills Starting at Age 5

A new financial education initiative launched in December 2025 aims to address the growing need for early money literacy among children. The course, developed by Smarter by CNBC Make It, is structured into five age-based levels, with content tailored to developmental stages from preschool through early adolescence. Each level includes video lessons, real-life simulations, and parent-guided activities to reinforce learning. The curriculum covers core concepts such as budgeting, identifying needs versus wants, and the power of compound interest. Participants are introduced to practical tools like digital savings jars and age-appropriate allowance tracking. According to internal testing, students who completed the full program demonstrated a 68% improvement in understanding basic financial decisions, including delayed gratification and cost comparison. The course is hosted on a dedicated platform accessible via web and mobile, with enrollment open to families in the United States, Canada, and select European markets. Initial enrollment reached over 75,000 users within the first three weeks of launch, with 82% of participating parents reporting improved conversations about money at home. Teachers and school counselors have also begun integrating the program into after-school learning circles. Market observers note the growing demand for accessible financial education tools, especially as inflation and rising living costs increase household financial stress. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to close the financial literacy gap, particularly among underrepresented communities where access to personal finance education remains limited.