Teaching Kids to Earn and Manage Money

Instilling a solid work ethic in our kids has been a priority for my husband and me. From a very young age, each child has had their own set of chores to complete each day. They’ve all survived doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms, and washing dishes (much to their surprise!).

As our children became teenagers, they were very interested in earning some spending money. Although normally quiet and reserved, they would search for neighbors who needed leaves raked or snow shoveled.

It wasn’t long before the kids started looking for more consistent jobs. Currently, our 15-year-old son works 30+ hours a week at a local farm. Our 17-year-old started as a CNC machine operator during his senior year, and our 19-year-old has worked her way through two years of college.

Teaching kids to earn and manage money are critical life skills—skills that we as parents need to be developing in our families.

I recently discovered an innovative curriculum that can help in the quest to teach kids how to earn and manage money.

Teaching Kids to Earn and Manage Money with The Kingdom Code

The Kingdom Code: Make and Manage Money…God’s Way! teaches kids how to start their own business and develop a solid plan for managing their money, all from a Biblical perspective.

The Kingdom Code Complete Starter Kit contains everything you need to teach a single student: teacher’s guide, textbook, and consumable Student Packet. If multiple students are taking the course, Student Starter Kits (containing all but the teacher’s guide) or additional Student Packets (containing only the consumable pages) are available.

The Kingdom Code is designed for students in grades 4 and up. If you have younger learners, there are some excellent options for them as well: The Kingdom Code JR KCK Budget Kit and The Kingdom Code Coloring Book.

Each of the 34 lessons follows a similar format:

• Reading from the textbook
• Completing worksheets with questions and exercises
• Hands-on activities
• Vocabulary word review (with vocab cards included)

Each lesson is completed over two days, with each session taking from 15 to 45 minutes. The teacher is highly involved in every aspect of the lesson, making this curriculum an excellent choice for families who enjoy learning together.

What I Love About The Kingdom Code

1. Full-Color Textbook

The Kingdom Code textbook is a full-color book with glossy pages and convenient spiral binding. Beautiful illustration add interest, while the clean layout makes it easy to move through the text.

2. Detailed Teacher’s Guide

The teacher’s guide contains detailed lesson plans including key terms and ideas, introductory activities, website links, worksheet answers, and more. There is also space to make your own notes for each day.

3. Scriptural Basis

The Kingdom Code is solidly Scriptural in its content and teaching. Bible verses are incorporated in every lesson, and Biblical principles about work, income, and tithing are presented.

4. Thorough Coverage

This curriculum is incredibly detailed and thorough. It covers financial terms, budgeting, banking, stewardship, and more—all in a clear, step-by-step way.

It also walks the student through setting up his own business, including choosing what service he will offer, finding customers,  recording earnings, and so much more.

I’ve never seen a more in-depth approach to money management and entrepreneurship for kids. This isn’t a surface coverage of the topics; it’s a solid and meaty presentation that is definitely deep enough for teens as well as younger kids.

5. Practical Application

Families who love hands-on activities will LOVE The Kingdom Code! The lessons include a wide variety of activities and real-life scenarios to consider. The emphasis is on application, not just learning on paper.

In addition, students will literally go through the steps of beginning their own business, one step at a time. By the end of the course, students should have their business started and know how to manage it effectively.