Students encouraged to save

COEUR d'ALENE - It's the kind of thing most kids don't want to hear.

Precious allowance dollars are, after all, the means to procuring untainted diversions like action figures and Pokemon cards and video games, so who cares about saving and let's drive to Toys R Us, already.

Hard to hammer that out of a kid's belief system.

But maybe it's a worthwhile challenge, said Katie Dodson, especially with the current state of the economy and budget crunching being pushed up front and center.

"I think it couldn't be a better time," said Dodson, with Horizon Credit Union. "Even though they're so young, they have to see it and feel it in their families, how they're affected. Everybody is."

So facing 30 kids desperate to get back to summer vacation on Friday at Ramsey Elementary, Dodson attempted to give them a talking to about what most adults still struggle to wrap their heads around.

"It's important you start learning young to save money," Dodson said, smiling at the summer school class.

"Yeah!" one kid responded to the magic last word.

"This is stuff nobody taught me when I was young, or even when I was older," Dodson continued. "I had to figure it out when I started working."

The lesson was sugar coated with free popcorn as the fourth, fifth and sixth-graders absorbed a video on the definition of money ("anything that can be exchanged for goods and services," delightful characters repeated over and over).

The students shared stories about their own incomes, the variety of chores compensated with allowance. There was talk of CDs, though there was confusion over whether that was the thing that plays music.

"My dad says my allowance is getting fed," reported Ramsey student Natalie Petticolos.

When money comes into your pocket, Dodson advised, try not to let it burn a hole.

"If you start saving now, imagine what you would have by the time you're my age," the 26-year-old said.

"Wow," the kids replied.

Then came a card game about bartering and accumulating wealth.

The lesson plan was designed around BizKid$, Dodson said, a PBS program aiming to educate children on the importance of saving.

"They're really into it," she said, watching kids shriek and laugh over their cards.

Teacher Katie Breuchaud added that the program was popular last year, especially when the students played at shopping.

"Our kids really enjoy that," she said.

Lesson over, the elementary students spilled out the door and beelined for the playground.

Some of the discussion seemed to have been absorbed.

Put enough money away, said 9-year-old Andrew Rings, and you can buy something really big.

"My parents won't let me get anything. They want me to save for college," he said.

"Money is what you use to survive," noted Dalton Cone, also 9.

Then it was out the door to swings and jungle gyms.

Someday, they would be facing rent and utility bills, student loans and grocery lists. And on top of that, trying to save for a rainy day.

But don't let it weigh you down, kids. You've got time.

For now, thank your parents for the free meals, and enjoy recess while it lasts.