As a parent, don’t you want your child to have a strong financial future? If so, the earlier you can start teaching them about money, the better. Research has shown that children start to understand the concepts of saving and spending as early as three years old, and some experts believe that money habits are formed by age seven. One way to get your child on the right track financially, is to give them a savings account of their very own.
A children’s savings account can help lay a solid financial foundation. From teaching the benefits of putting money aside, to allowing children to discover what interest is all about, a savings account can be a great educational tool.
Some of the specific benefits of opening a children’s savings account include:
- It gets children in the savings habit. By regularly depositing the contents of their piggy bank into a savings account, your child will foster good savings habits they can take with them into adulthood. By the time they head off to college or out into the “real world”, they’ll already be used to routinely putting money aside. As they say – “old habits die hard” – and saving money is a habit you won’t want them to break!
- They can watch their money grow over time. One valuable lesson is that you don’t have to spend it just because you have it. Kids tend to get excited when they find themselves with a few bucks, but instead of blowing their money on candy or cheap toys, placing it in a savings account can allow them to save up for something special. It can be a satisfying experience for them to watch their money grow with each deposit they make. And, a savings account that pays interest shows a child firsthand how their money can make more money.
- It puts them on the road to financial freedom. Using a savings account to save for something special can be a great way for your child to learn about financial independence. Rather than rely on Mom and Dad to buy them a new tablet or skateboard, they can use their own funds to make the purchase. Not only does this provide them with a sense of achievement, but it helps to teach them the value of a dollar. They won’t be as inclined to waste money down the road once they know how much effort goes into saving up for a treasured item.
- It can serve as a stepping stone to other financial products and services. By managing their funds in a savings account, kids can learn about interest and the difference between deposits and withdrawals. If their account comes with an ATM card, they’ll also learn how ATM transactions work, and what the consequences can be if they overdraw their account. All of these lessons will come in handy down the road when they open a checking account, or try out different savings vehicles like certificates of deposit (CDs), or Money Market accounts.
A children’s savings account can be a great way to lay the groundwork for sound financial habits. As for deciding where to open your child’s account, there are many options out there. You can go with an account specifically tailored to children, you can opt for an online-only account - which typically offer higher interest rates than traditional accounts - or you can open an account at your regular bank. Generally, you’ll want to look for an account that offers a competitive interest rate, and that doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement or monthly maintenance fee. And keep in mind that no matter what type of account you choose, any child under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian listed on the account as well.