Money, What’s It For?
In collaboration with:
Writing workshops on the theme of money for kids ages 8 to 12, could that be interesting? Absolutely! Not only can they be both educational and fun, they also encourage young people to reflect on a reality that touches us all.
We know that children are like sponges: they observe their parents and learn from their actions just as much as from their words. As they grow up, their relationship with money will largely be shaped by the adults around them. At the same time, they are also exposed (unfortunately) to social media, which often suggests a world where success = money.
In this series, writing workshops led by acclaimed children’s author Monique Polak, in collaboration with Yacine Abou from TD Bank and professor of economics at HEC, offer another way of looking at money. As a tool to achieve our projects, of course, but also as a lever to make the world and our communities better. Covering basic financial principles, Monique invite young participants to write short, original texts on this theme, with a special challenge: how to earn money, yes, but also how to give part of it to help others. Generosity thus play a central role in these workshops. Three workshops will be offered in the fall of 2026 at schools in Montreal and at the Frontenac Library.
This series focused on financial literacy is part of the Blue Metropolis Foundation’s mission to promote academic perseverance through fun and educational activities. It also reflects the Foundation’s core values of social justice and inclusion.
To revisit…
This series follows on from the Numbers Spelled Out activities and workshops exploring the wonderful world of mathematics. The original texts written by popular children’s authors, as well as the podcast recordings, are still available on the Blue Metropolis website. Numbers Spelled Out helped set the stage for this new series of workshops and podcasts specifically dedicated to money.
Coming this winter!
PROJECT COLLABORATORS
Yacine Abou
Yacine Abou is Branch Manager for TD Bank Group and and professor of economics at HEC.
Monique Polak
Monique Polak taught English and Humanities at Marianopolis College in Montreal for 35 years. She is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Montreal Gazette and in Postmedia newspapers across the country. But what Monique likes to do most of all is write for young people. She is the author of 34 books.
Monique is a three-time winner of the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Children’s and YA Literature, recently renamed the QWF Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
Monique lives in Montreal, where many of her stories are set.
READING SUGGESTIONS
For elementary school children
The ABC of Finance, Britt Rozenblat, Childrens Book Company, 2021
The Know-nonsense Guide to Money, Heidi Fiedler, illustrated by Brendan Kearney, Walter Foster Publishing, 2022
Money Skills for Kids, Ferne Bowe, Bemberton Limited, 2023
Money for Curious Kids, Claudia Martin, illustrated by Nik Neves, Arcturus Publishing Limited, 2025
Money Magic, Ben Hofstetter and Nick Zehrung, My First Finance Book LLC, 2023
Finance 101 for Kids, Walter Andal, Gatekeeper Press, 2016
For teenagers
Money Skills for Teens, Ferne Bowe, Bemberton Limited, 2023
REDISCOVER THE NUMBERS SPELLED OUT SERIES
Failure in math often starts with trouble reading.
According to the Canadian Council on Learning, 40% of children lack the reading skills needed to succeed in the workplace. As adults, they’re more likely to end up in low-paying jobs and to experience financial hardship.
Our new platform Numbers Spelled Out offers free podcasts to schools and participating libraries. The podcasts deal with math, money, saving, spending, and the value of things. Content is tailored to different age groups. There are original texts, podcasts, reading suggestions, and a quiz, all designed to promote play with numbers.
