Medford Kindergartners Learn the ABC’s of Finance

Last week Cambridge Savings Bank brought their CSBsmart Financial Education Program to Roberts Elementary School as part of the initiative “Teach Children to Save.”  The program featured trained financial educators from Cambridge Savings Bank who provided an easy-to-understand lesson on saving, value, price, and generosity custom tailored for four classes of kindergarten students.

The students were read Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock, an entertaining and educational book written by FDIC chair Sheila Bair, as an introduction to savings. A copy of the book was donated to the Roberts School library. The children also received a colorful coin chart, $1 in coins, and a CSB piggy-bank. Finally, the students discussed generosity, in light of recent contributions made by Roberts School classes to the relief effort in Haiti, their participation in the "Change for Change" program that funds desks for school children in Africa, and the "Adopt an Animal" program for the Stone Zoo and Franklin Park Zoo

“Cambridge Savings Bank believes that it is important to provide financial education to children early on in their development,” said Susan Lapierre, senior vice president of community relations and Community Reinvestment Act officer for Cambridge Savings Bank. “The aim of CSBsmart is to contribute to the economic development of the communities Cambridge Savings Bank serves. The Banks commitment to teach the basics of finances, regardless of age or background, is an integral part of our mission as a community bank.”

 Inspired by empowering individuals with financial education and money management skills,

Cambridge Savings Bank will educate 1,000 children in Massachusetts during April, national “Teach Children to Save” month.

Recent studies point to the advantages of beginning to teach children about savings early in life. The CSBsmart program addresses the critical need for financial education through events offered in elementary and high schools in Greater Boston.

"I think it is a good idea to begin teaching children the value of money at an early age" said Roberts School Principal Kirk Johnson. "I appreciate the partnership with the Cambridge Savings Bank for providing our students with a lesson that introduced them to saving for their future."

The following is a press release submitted by Cambridge Savings Bank:

“Teach Children to Save,” is a nation-wide effort of the American Banking Association, and is part of Cambridge Savings Bank’s broader financial education program CSBsmart. The recently expanded CSBsmart program caught the eye of The Daniel Butler School’s administrators, who understood the benefit of financial literacy education for young children.

 For more information, please visit www.cambridgesavings.com, and click on the CSBsmart tab to view the recently launched CSBsmart section of the bank’s website which features additional resources for program participants as well as members of the public.