Make Your Money Grow

What they’ll learn

Three things they’ll come away with.

• That banks say “thank you” for keeping money with them; that's interest.
• That over time, the interest earns interest too: the Magic Apple Tree (adults call it compound interest).
• That starting early matters more than starting big. Meet Zara and Liam.

Talk about it

Open questions that work.

• “If a tree gives you 1 apple in year one, and 2 in year two, how many will it give in year five?”
• “Why does Zara end up with more, even though she stopped adding earlier?”
• “If you saved one coin a week, how much would you have in a year?”

Try one thing this week

Pick one small thing.

If you don't already have a savings account for your child, this week's the week. Most UK banks and building societies and plenty of banks around the world offer kids' accounts. Don't worry about the perfect provider; just open something.