How I ended up teaching my child about money while just playing board games

“How should I teach my child about money?”

I think many parents feel this way but struggle to take action.

I felt the same way when my son was in elementary school.

Even as someone who stood at the podium for 26 years as an elementary school teacher, I worried about where and how to start talking to my son about it.

What I did first wasn't making him sit at a desk or buying him a workbook.

It was the Game of Life I casually bought for my child.

Surprisingly, this became the catalyst for his financial education.

I thought it was just like math, but he was learning something much more important

When we played the Game of Life as a family, honestly, I just thought, “Well, I guess this is good practice for calculations.”

However, as we played, my son started saying things like this:

“Dad, is it better to have insurance?”
“Salaries are totally different depending on the job, aren't they?”
“If I run out of money, do I have to borrow it?”

In the game, he learned that having an insurance policy helps in an accident, that income varies by profession, and that if you run out of money, you have to take on debt—

He was naturally experiencing the real-world “structure of money” while playing.

This was no coincidence.

The Game of Life incorporates many “choice leads to result” elements.

Because of this, children can naturally learn how money works while playing.

Why 9 to 12 years old is the golden time for financial education

The middle to upper elementary school years (ages 9 to 12) are the most suitable time to start financial education.

At this age, children begin to understand abstract concepts (profit and loss, risk, and the future) little by little.

It is also a time when they start to enjoy the act of “thinking and choosing for themselves.”

Repeatedly thinking about “which one to choose” or “whether to use it now or later” within the game directly cultivates the ability to manage money.

Conversely, if you put this off and don't do it during this period, it will become much harder to build these habits once they reach middle or high school.

The "three senses of money" you can learn through games

The biggest advantage of using games for financial education is that children can acquire these skills naturally while having fun.

Specifically, the following three senses are developed:

1. The sense of money management

Deciding what to buy and what to forgo within a budget. By repeating these choices in a game, children develop a sense of "how to use limited money." This leads to the ability to manage household finances as an adult.

2. The sense of risk and return

"Should I invest here or not?"
"Should I get insurance or not?"

The Game of Life has squares for these choices.

By repeatedly experiencing the consequences of their choices, whether good or bad, children develop the ability to make decisions while considering risks.

3. The sense of observing cash flow

There is income, there are expenses, and what remains is the money you have on hand.

By experiencing this flow repeatedly in a game, children naturally acquire the sense that "money is something that moves."

3 games and experiences you can use at home starting today

1. The Game of Life (Recommended age: 9 and up)

This is a classic board game that needs no introduction.

It is designed to mirror real-world financial flows, including career choices, salaries, insurance, debt, and buying and selling assets.

The element of the game being decided by a spinner also connects to the reality that "things don't always go as planned."

Another major appeal is that the whole family can enjoy it on equal footing.

2. Monopoly (Recommended age: 8 and up)

This is a game where you purchase land, build houses and buildings, and increase your assets while collecting rent from other players.

The content allows you to experience the basic mechanisms of real estate investment (purchasing, renting, and selling), and you can also enjoy the strategy of negotiation.

There are also Super Mario versions and Monopoly Junior for children, so you can choose according to your child's age and preferences.

3. Supermarket checkout experience (everyday experiences)

Beyond games, everyday shopping can also be a great opportunity for financial education.

Try giving your child a task at the supermarket: "Today's budget is 1,000 yen. You can choose whatever ingredients you like."

How to calculate the change, noticing the tax-included price, what to prioritize when choosing—

This alone develops math skills, decision-making, and a sense of saving all at once. There is no better teaching material than real-life money experience.

How not to teach about money

On the other hand, there is something I want you to be careful about.

That is, do not unconsciously convey to your child the feeling that "talking about money is dirty" or "it is vulgar to talk about money."

The benefit of learning about money through games and experiences is that they come to see money as something they can positively manage.

Money is not something scary or dirty; it is something that expands the possibilities of life when you know how to use it.

I want you to foster that sense through play.

Summary

・Ages 9-12 are the golden time for financial education

・Games naturally teach management, risk, and the flow of money

・Easily get started with The Game of Life, Monopoly, and daily shopping experiences

・It is important for parents to show a positive attitude toward handling money

If you try to teach it as "study," children won't be interested. But if you invite them by saying, "Let's play a game together," they will be happy to do it.

Why not play The Game of Life with your family this weekend?

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