Hi there, credit union friends,
My oldest daughter recently celebrated a big kindergarten milestone: the 100th day of school. To mark the occasion, she dressed up as a centenarian and tackled the ultimate parent challenge—a project.
In classic “100th Day” fashion, she had to creatively display 100 items. After counting and recounting (thanks to one missing pom-pom that later turned up under the dining room table), she proudly completed her gumball machine masterpiece.
Don’t tell me if the count is still off! 🤪
Speaking of milestones, Credit Union Youth Month is right around the corner! And to help you avoid any pom-pom pitfalls of your own, I’m sharing resources and ideas to engage young members all April long.
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What’s in a Theme?: Still selecting your theming for this year’s Youth Month? We at Snigglezoo have you covered with
This framework is an approachable way to introduce family financial wellness through charitable giving, mindful saving, and thoughtful spending.
Our team is putting the finishing touches on a full suite of materials, including:
- A printable Share & Save & Spend Smart plan for kids
- A one-page guide for parents
- A social media toolkit for marketing teams
- Interactive activity stations for branch and event staff
- A printed newsletter for families
And don’t forget about the award-winning Money Mammals movie! Just try keeping this tune out of your head. 🙈
Interested in using these money-smart materials? Reply directly to this email, and we’ll help you get started.
Once your resources are ready, it’s time to bring them to life. Here’s how two of our partners made Youth Month memorable last year.
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Getting Social: White Sands Federal Credit Union hosted a digital Money Mammals mystery event for youth account holders.
Each week, the team posted a new money-smart clue to its Facebook page.
Young members then tracked the clues on a printable game sheet to uncover which Money Mammal was saving for a goal, how much money they saved, and what item they were saving for.
Daring detectives who cracked the case submitted their answers online for a chance to win a $100 account deposit. 💰
The result? High engagement, meaningful learning, and a fun way to reinforce setting and saving for goals.
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A Series of Extraordinary Events: Each year, Maine Family Federal Credit Union turns Youth Month programming into a memorable celebration.
Leveraging Spring Break, this institution promotes engaging activities designed to attract kids and families. Previous years’ offerings included:
- Birdhouse building
- Bookmark making
- Story time with The Money Mammals
- Save jar decorating
- Ice cream and games
And it’s not just young members who join in on the fun! The whole Maine Family FCU team—including VP of Marketing Rachel McKinley and VP of Member Services Kayleigh Ogden—gets involved, reinforcing our “Share & Save & Spend Smart” messaging.
Last year, youth account holders even teamed up with Joe the Monkey to solve a money-smart mystery! 🔍
Super sleuths who used their quarterly newsletters and accompanying printables to crack “The Case of the Missing Banana Bunch” earned prizes and $5 account deposits to jumpstart their financial journeys.
This initiative is more than a campaign; it’s a blueprint for lasting engagement.
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The Power of Snail Mail: Wondering how to help parents feel more comfortable talking to their kids about money this April?
Total Cents founder and Art of Allowance Podcast guest Tom Henske suggests a simple starting point: everyday mail.
Bills, coupons, and statements naturally open the door to conversations about sharing, saving, and spending smart—no lesson plan required.
Well, friends, Credit Union Youth Month is almost here. And I can’t wait to hear all about what you have planned for your young members and their families. Whether you create your own campaign or leverage our content, I know April will be manatee-rrific!
📸: Tostoini on Giphy
Until next time, here’s to putting our best fin lit flippers forward!
Erin Prim
Marketing Manatee
