Over the past several years, UCFEI has been following financial education research, developing and testing new tools, and closely examining program outcomes. It has become increasingly clear that any intervention aimed at ultimately improving financial knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes in adults must start very early as children begin forming healthy habits that contribute to financial success at a young age. The foundation is laid early in a child’s life, and the skills needed to excel can’t solely be taught to teenagers during a brief window in time. To better prepare children for their future, UCFEI is proud to announce an expansion in our focus: the development of financial education tools for young children.

These tools will incorporate executive functioning skills that will put children on track to succeed not only in financial education but also in many other critical areas. By introducing financial education earlier, we’re confident we can give children even more runway to:

• Learn how to set and work toward goals,
• Consider the consequences of different choices,
• Navigate unexpected challenges,
• Build confidence talking about money,
• Learn with and from family and community members, and
• Reflect on past choices and learn how to plan for the future.

UChicago Financial Education Initiative believes that financial education is essential for everyone to succeed in a changing world. We are committed advocates for high-quality, research-based, rigorous, and tested financial education.

We’ll keep you updated on our journey toward impactful financial education for all ages through our newsletter.

If you have any questions or would like to hear more about our work, please contact UCFEI at financialeducation@uchicago.edu.