Kmart teaches kids to be money smart

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. Kmart is taking steps to help teachers and parents instill financial literacy into America's youth with its Kmart Money Smart curriculum. Kmart has teamed up with TIME For Kids to develop the free, downloadable Kmart Money Smart curricula for teachers and parents available at www.kmart.com/teachers and on www.timeforkids.com.

"The Kmart survey found that nearly seven in 10 American parents are worried that they won't be able to instill proper financial knowledge in their children," says Mark Snyder, Kmart's chief marketing officer.

According to Kmart, the curriculum, designed for children in elementary grades, enables parents and teachers to educate children on life skills and money-management comprehension. The program offers downloadable worksheets that include educational puzzles, riddles and word scrambles all centered on prioritizing spending as well as a guide to help students create their own spending budgets.

"The tools included in the Kmart Money Smart curriculum will help parents and teachers educate students about setting budgets and staying out of debt, which is the foundation for a successful financial future," says David Bach, financial expert and best-selling author.

For teachers, the classroom Money Smart program offers discussion starters and financial word problems in addition to tips from fellow teachers with ways to save on classroom expenses. Teachers can visit www.kmart.com/teachers to download the Money Smart program, browse "teacher exclusive savings" and sign-up to receive year-round savings offers to help them keep their classrooms stocked with all school essentials.