In Kingston, Jamaica, a group of enthusiastic nursery students had the unique opportunity to learn about the world of banking during their Career Day Expo. Thirteen students from Rainbow Land Nursery School got a hands-on introduction to financial concepts, making learning both fun and educational.
The event took place at JN Bank’s Half-Way-Tree branch, where the young learners were shown basic banking operations and financial literacy in an engaging, child-friendly format. The children participated in activities like using a coin deposit machine and operating a smart ATM, all while using their own personal piggy banks filled with savings from home.
Shanae Morris, Assistant Manager of Partnerships and Engagement at JN Bank, expressed her delight at the children’s enthusiasm: “They were excited. Some even broke open their piggy banks just to put in the little coins they had saved.” Her observations highlight the excitement these young minds experienced when exposed to banking basics. One child even declared, “Banking is cool!”
This event was part of JN Bank’s broader mission to promote financial literacy and sound money management from an early age. Morris added, “The key message we wanted to share is that saving can start as early as two years old.” The activities included familiarizing the children with coins and paper bills and teaching them the differences between the two. For many, it was the first time interacting with real money in this way.
A Fun, Interactive Learning Experience
The hands-on activities, designed to teach the students about saving and managing money, were a hit. Each child brought their personal piggy bank, which had been filled with coins over time. They were then able to engage with the coin deposit machine, an experience that made the abstract concept of banking tangible.
Patrice Peralto, the principal of Rainbow Land Nursery School, highlighted the significance of this exposure to real-world institutions. “We were teaching them about different careers, and this was the first time they were exposed to a business career,” she noted. The visit to JN Bank served as an exciting opportunity for the children to learn about one such career, opening their eyes to the financial world.
Beyond the fun, the experience also became a teaching moment. One of the children’s piggy banks contained a pin that couldn’t be processed by the coin machine, turning this small mishap into a valuable lesson. “We wanted them to learn to count, to sort, and to understand what coins could be counted and what couldn’t,” said Peralto. It was an example of how real-world experiences can make learning more relatable and impactful.
The event not only helped the students grasp the basic concepts of counting and saving but also underscored the importance of exposing children to different career paths at an early age. The students were able to see firsthand the inner workings of a business and understand how banking plays a key role in the financial ecosystem.
Developing Good Financial Habits Early
For JN Bank, the initiative is part of their ongoing financial literacy outreach, which aims to teach children how to manage money in an accessible and enjoyable way. By engaging young learners in these types of activities, the bank hopes to instill a sense of financial responsibility that will benefit them as they grow older.
Financial literacy is a crucial skill that is often neglected in traditional education. Early exposure to concepts like saving, budgeting, and even understanding the value of money can set children on the right path toward becoming financially responsible adults. JN Bank’s interactive approach ensures that the students not only learn important financial lessons but also enjoy the process, making these concepts less intimidating and more accessible.
“The children were really engaged and had a great time,” Morris reflected. “It was exciting to see them grasp these concepts so quickly and have fun with it. It showed us that teaching financial literacy early can make a real difference.”
By helping children build a foundation of financial knowledge, JN Bank is contributing to a broader movement to promote financial well-being for future generations. The idea that saving and managing money should start as early as two years old might seem ambitious, but with initiatives like this, it’s becoming more of a reality.
