BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Educators at the Blount County Library are trying to make sure young children are about money as soon as possible.
They hosted a traveling exhibit on Thursday that teaches children about earning, spending and saving money. It also teaches them basic budgeting skills, helping them learn about financial literacy early. Officials with the exhibit said they hoped it would lead children to make responsible financial decisions.
It's called "Thinking Money for Kids" and organizers said that it's a museum-quality exhibit that is traveling to 50 U.S. public libraries. The exhibit takes children through a storyline based in a community market, complemented with digital interactive content and hands-on activities.
"Financial literacy is a literacy that can be developed early on, starting at any age as soon as an individual starts to interact with identifying what they need, and what they want," said Anjanae Brueland with the Blount County Library. "Like all decision-making, the more practice you have at it, the better you're going to be at it."
The exhibit is 1,000 square feet large and it is given to libraries for several weeks. They also receive a $1,000 programming allowance. There is also a virtual version of the exhibit for kids to explore some of the foundational principles of money.
The exhibit will be available at the Blount County Public Library throughout June.