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Financial Literacy 101 for Kids: Start Them Off Strong with New Habits in 2026

Now that the new year is underway, you may have your own financial habits set for the year, but what about your kids? This is the perfect time to get them going with better habits in 2026! An economic education for kids is critical, and books that teach kids about inflation and related topics are the best place to start. The Tuttle Twins series includes many such titles, helping you learn how to teach kids about money along the way.

How to Teach Kids About Money… with Books!

To really establish a foundation for how to teach kids about money, you’ll need the right books, like the Tuttle Twins series. The Tuttle Twins books provide a well-rounded economic education for kids that explains all aspects of the free market. The Tuttle Twins series includes books that teach kids about inflation, kids’ books about entrepreneurship, and other topics that will help as you figure out how to teach kids about money.

Some financial literacy-related Tuttle Twins books that are a must-have for every bookshelf include:

  • The Tuttle Twins and the Creature from Jekyll Island – This title is one of the few books that teach kids about inflation in a way that’s not only educational but fun! The twins discover a mysterious creature that’s been stealing their grandparents’ nest egg — and find out it’s been controlling them all along too without their knowledge.
  • The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil – In this book, the twins learn all about how the free market works and how multiple components from many sources come together to make seemingly ordinary, everyday products.
  • The Tuttle Twins and the Search for Atlas – This book has the twins learning about what happens when the producers in the free market give up and leave. It also teaches about personal responsibility and the importance of not having a sense of entitlement.

Some kids’ books about entrepreneurship include The Tuttle Twins and the Messed-Up Market and The Tuttle Twins and their Spectacular Show Business. Both show different aspects of entrepreneurship through different kinds of businesses, and the twins learn different lessons about business ownership through each.

PHOTO: Tuttle Twins

Cementing an Economic Education for Your Kids

In addition to books that lay a foundation for an economic education for kids, you’ll also want to incorporate some fun activities to really bring home what they’re learning. For example, the grocery store is an excellent place to see principles like inflation and supply and demand in action.

Ask your kids to name three of their favorite snacks, and then help them track the prices of those snacks over time. Keep your grocery receipts to track the prices of other goods over time. You may even notice some massive fluctuations over time.

For example, egg prices skyrocketed in early 2025 due to a lack of chickens before gradually coming down to more ordinary levels by the end of the year. Explain what happened to cause the soaring price of eggs, followed by the sudden drop (if you’re not sure, you’ll find some great news articles about it).

Hold mini-auctions where you gradually increase the amount of money your kids have to demonstrate how more money chases too few goods. Have your kids ask their grandparents how much things like a loaf of bread or a tank of gas cost in their time (this can be a great bonding experience too!).

An economic education for kids establishes a firm foundation as you learn how to teach kids about money, and the Tuttle Twins books provide the best launchpad for discussions about these topics and more! The Tuttle Twins series is special because it wraps every lesson in an adventure that will help your kids retain what they learn, especially as they participate in the above activities!