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Money Instructor (http://www.moneyinstructor.com/)

common sense media says

Cold, hard lessons on cash teach kids fiscal responsibility.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this isn't a site you can just log your kids on to and let them get amused and educated. This site is designed to be a guide for parents (and teachers, too) that offers lesson plans and printable exercises. Although there are some interactive online games, the majority of the site is designed for families to do together. And that's probably a good thing, since the Google ads featured on nearly every page can easily be mistaken for the site's content.

Educational value: Worksheets and interactive games begin with the most basic money concepts like coin identification and progress through to near-MBA material like business accounting and investing in the stock market.
Positive messages: By providing number crunching exercises, this site gives the straight facts about money and spending. Kids can learn about budgeting for a car payment, estimating grocery bills, and how to earn some dough for all those expenses.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: There is a lot of solid advice about everything money-related, from budgeting to credit and investing. The bad news is that each page includes "Ads by Google" that are the same font and color as the site's menu items. There are also banner ads that include promotions for non-budget friendly companies, like casinos.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Privacy & safety: Parents need to register their email address on the site in order to access additional content.  
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Money Instructor

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

  • Families can talk about online worlds that use cyber cash. Would you spend your virtual cash differently than real money? Is it easier to make and spend money in a virtual world than in real life? Read our Money Lessons in Online Worlds Tips to learn about the differnece between cyber cash and the real thing.

  • Families can talk about how kids spend money. What is the difference between a "want" and a "need?" Do you think advertisers target kids and entice them to spend money on toys and clothes they don't necessarily need? Check out Selling to Kids Tips and rein in those wallets.

  • Families can talk about the importance of learning money smarts. What would happen if you didn't know the difference between coins or how to count change? Is it important to also know how to create a budget or make payments on a car, even if you aren't old enough to tackle those responsibilities yet?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

In the first few scrolls around MONEY INSTRUCTOR, you might feel like you've been taken back in time to the Internet as it was five years ago: no Flash graphics, no streaming video, nor interactive capabilities. This site is barebones and that means lots of printable pages and not a lot of engaging multimedia displays. So this is one site that won't keep your kids glued to the keyboard and that might be a good thing. It's not flashy, but what this site does provide is the perfect springboard to begin teaching kids about money and life lessons on personal finance. This site gets bonus points for ambitiously tackling advanced topics like business accounting and delving into the stock market. Moms and Dads, you might even find these tutorials helpful! No, Money Instructor won't win any awards for cutting-edge site design, but it could get your kid's portfolio looking pretty sweet.

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines