Evolve Bank & Trust has outlined ways parents can introduce saving alongside the spending decisions children already observe. Its July 25, 2022 article notes that a child may first handle money through a gift or see it used when a parent pays for a purchase.

The bank proposes making saving visible as well: discussing a piggy bank, explaining a savings account and showing how part of a paycheck can be set aside. The emphasis is on connecting the conversation with an action a child can understand.

Interest provides another teaching example. Evolve suggests showing children how money retained in a savings account can earn a return over time, while keeping the explanation proportionate to the small amounts typically involved in an introductory account.

The article separately discusses an adult-managed custodial investment account as a way to introduce investments. It acknowledges the different risk and return characteristics, so this example is distinct from simply putting money into a savings account.

Goals are intended to change with age. Evolve suggests a near-term purchase such as a toy for a younger child and progressively longer-term objectives as the child grows. Money received as a gift can therefore become a concrete example of the choice between an immediate purchase and saving toward a later one.