The Language of Money for Kids

Tyler Lavoie
Sep 29
2 min read

Kids learn best through words they can repeat, stories they can follow, and feelings they already understand. That’s why giving money its own simple language makes all the difference.

When money has words, it’s no longer scary. It’s just a choice.

Why Language Matters

Think about how kids learn to manage emotions. We teach them words: happy, sad, proud, frustrated.

Once they have the words, they can explain what they feel—and we can guide them.

Money works the same way. Without words, kids guess. With words, kids grow.

Research backs this up:

A University of Michigan study found that children as young as five years old already show emotional reactions to saving and spending—and those early feelings predict how they’ll handle money later in life.
A New Zealand study of over 5,000 adolescents showed that when families openly talk about money, teens develop stronger confidence in budgeting and banking.
And the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) highlights three main ways kids learn about money: by watching, by doing, and by talking. Smart, Sweet, and Heart give parents the words to make that talking simple.

Smart. Sweet. Heart.

At BrightCrumbs, we use three simple words:

Smart means Save.
Sweet means Spend.
Heart means Share.

They’re short. They rhyme. And they stick.

How to Use Them at Home

Here are a few everyday scripts you can try:

At the store: “This toy feels like a Sweet choice. Do we want to enjoy now, or save for something Smart?”
At allowance time: “Which jar feels right for your Heart this week?”
At bedtime: “What Smart, Sweet, or Heart choice made you proud today?”

The more you say the words, the more your child repeats them—and the more confident they’ll feel making choices on their own.

A Tiny Step to Try This Week: Word Swap

Pick one moment this week where you’d normally say “no” or “not now.”

Instead, try swapping in Smart, Sweet, or Heart.

“That would be a Sweet choice, but today we’re focusing on Smart.”

It softens the “no” into a choice—and it gives your child language they can actually use.

One Crumb at a Time

Language is power. The words you give your child today become the choices they make tomorrow.

Smart. Sweet. Heart. Three simple words. A lifetime of money confidence.