Of all the skills and values parents hope to pass down to their children, we hope that financial knowledge is one of them. Children absorb financial information both from what their parents say—but also what is left unsaid. Indeed, parents can teach their children about finances explicitly, but sometimes, financial actions speak louder than words.

You’ve probably heard of the birds and the bees, but what about the birds and the budgets? In two studies, Ashley LeBaron-Black and her colleagues sought to understand how parents effectively teach their children about money.

Buying a car or a home for the first time can bring a lot of excitement—but also a lot of angst, especially for young adults.

As of 2022, only eight states require high school students to enroll in a personal finance course prior to graduation.1