Teach the children to spend! Exploring the use of games and stories in US and UK school financial literacy initiatives, 1945-2000

An in-person interactive drop-in activity station at York Explore Central Library. Families can explore table-based stations featuring retro financial literacy board games, story-based exercises, and classroom worksheets replicated from corporate bank archives (such as Barclays, NatWest, and HSBC). Engaging and hands-on, this event will encourage participants of all ages to reflect on how learning about money has changed over time.

An exploration of how school financial literacy initiatives and cultural assumptions around money, saving, and spending have evolved in the UK and US between 1945 and 2000. The event looks at how teaching tools shape financial habits and invites families to evaluate historical learning materials against modern financial practices.

 Dr Matthew Hollow (School for Business and Society, University of York). 

Open to all members of the public, specifically tailored for school-aged children and young people (ages 8–18) alongside their parents, guardians, and families. No advance booking or specialist prior knowledge is required. 

Of particular interest to parents, guardians, and children or teenagers (ages 8–18) interested in personal finance, history, interactive retro games, or family learning experiences.

This is a drop-in event that is open to all between 11am-4.00pm.