MARIETTA - Sixth grade students at Marietta Middle School participated in a special lesson taught by CPAs from Peoples Bank, Crone Accounting and Rea and Associates Inc.
The program was part of a statewide financial literacy program by members and volunteers for the Ohio Society of CPAs and the Ohio CPA Foundation.
Financial Education Teaches Children Healthy Habits is a classroom board game that teaches children smart money skills CPAs hope they will use to make smart financial decisions as adults.
F.E.T.C.H. is set in a dog park where students manage the finances of owning a pet.
With each turn, they use critical math and thinking skills to earn money for basics like a leash and collar, budget for unplanned expenses and save money for the future.
If your dog learns a new trick, you earn cash. If your pet gets sick, the vet bill can put you in the red and keep you from buying an essential item.
The game teaches children that sometimes you must delay buying what you want right now so that you can afford what you need later. The team that purchases a bone, bowl, leash and collar and saves the most money along the way earns the title of "Top Dog."
"F.E.T.C.H. is a fun way to teach children the basics of managing money," Missy Williams, Peoples Bank staff accountant, said. "They have to make tough choices about when to spend their money and save it and how that impacts their ability to meet future goals."
Kids learned every decision has consequences, just like in real life. The lesson couldn't be timelier as parents across America struggle to discuss money management with their children. According to a Harris Interactive survey conducted for the American Institute of CPAs, three in 10 parents never talk to their children about money or have had just one big talk with their children on the subject. Thirteen percent surveyed talk daily with their children about financial matters.
F.E.T.C.H. was created by the Ohio Society of CPAs and its charitable affiliate, the Ohio CPA Foundation with guidance from elementary teachers and a curriculum developer. It includes a testing component to gauge if students have mastered a basic understanding of financial terms.
