What did our Mum-In-Residence think of Ulster Bank’s MoneySense site?

Finding everyday learning opportunities to teach children about money can be tricky as your children get older. Children are typically most enthusiastic to develop their knowledge of money when they are younger, enjoying identifying a coin's value, and counting it out of course! But beyond the piggybank years, how can parents really give their child a sound financial education without boring them to tears or losing them with complicated concepts and jargon? Well I think we've found it here at MummyPages! I was asked to review the Ulster Bank MoneySense online site as a useful resource for both parents and schools, well to say I was impressed is an understatement.

 

The MoneySense site caters for children from age 5 years all the way up to 18 years, dividing their content between four age categories and therefore age appropriate. The free financial education resource is already used in schools all over the country; however, now it links in parents too and has expanded the depth of information to engage children from Junior Infants to Leaving Cert. Most striking was the level of interaction required by the children to really understand and have fun while learning about different financial concepts. The site is very well laid out making it easy for children, their teachers and parents to navigate on mobile, tablet or desktop computer.

 

The MoneySense site taps into the appeal of gaming for the younger children and the entrepreneurial desire that teens have to set up and run their own business. It prepares them for practical everyday situations, from identifying good value in deciphering supermarket special offers to testing the minds of older children who like the idea of creating their own App!

 

My children particularly loved some of the MoneySense activities that we could play at home as a fun family activity. Our favourite activities so far are the restaurant and supermarket ones. James is obsessed about the price of everything at the moment, maybe it's because I tell them that I can't afford to buy every toy they like and we have to save up for them. He is also learning how to add and subtract in school and so numbers and the value of money mean much more to him than before. Last week we were in a restaurant for a family birthday and upon reading the menu, James declared he was just going to have the mashed potato because it was the cheapest dish on the menu! Lucy and James both love the noughts and crosses game that you can play with your pocket change, a sure winner when you're trying to keep little people occupied as you wait for dinner to arrive. The shopping list game is brilliant to persuade your little ones to help put the shopping away while also teaching them how much your food items typically cost. The cream crackers in Tesco are the best value when it comes to the one-euro activity as James can get three packets for 78 cent and still have money left over!

 

Ulster Bank have successfully tackled the need for the next generation to understand money better, so that they can make better financial decisions as they get older by talking to them in a language and environment they feel most comfortable - the online world. In fact, I have no doubt many parents will also up-skill on their financial know-how as a result of visiting the site with their children!

 

Find out more about Ulster Bank's MoneySense here.