LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Given how important financial skills are to navigating life, experts say teaching money saving tools to children is critical.
Malina Vibhakar with Delta Trust and Bank and Sara Catherine Gutierrez with SC Financial Care stopped by "THV 11 This Morning" to share more.
The program, Teach Children to Save, is a national initiative sponsored by the American Bankers Association that places bankers in the classroom to help teach children about the importance of saving and the impact that good saving skills have in their lives.
The ABA created the program with lesson plans and worksheets and classroom activities. Although bankers may not have teaching experience, the resources are provided to help them be fully prepared.
The program is designed for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It starts with kindergarten children recognizing coins and counting, and with high school seniors the program is geared towards credit scores and financial responsibility.
In 2011, Delta Trust taught over 2,500 students in Arkansas. The Delta Trust branches are focusing on Ashley and Chicot counties and in Little Rock the focus is in a few schools as well as teaching kids in an after school program with Our House.
If your school would like to participate, visit the American Bankers Association's website to find banks participating in your area, or you can contact Malina Vibhakar at 501-907-2280 or email her at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Teach Children to Save started in 1997 and has taught saving skills to more than 5 million students in the U.S.