Hi there, credit union friends,
Remember I told you in this edition of “Marketing Manatee Musings” that my family’s motto for the year is “experiences over things”? Well I just returned from my biggest experience by far: a trip to Paris!
Strolling along the Seine
This sojourn in the City of Light was actually 15 years in the making, as my college roommate (turned travel partner) and I planned it in our senior dorm. Shoutout to Stringfield 229!
For those curious, here are some highlights:
🧭 Navigating the labyrinth that is the Louvre to lay my eyes on The Winged Victory of Samothrace (Much more fulfilling than glimpsing The Mona Lisa through throngs of fellow tourists!)
🍨 Savoring the best gelato I’ve ever had while gazing at Notre Dame (I happily sacrificed the feeling in my fingers for the lime and basil flavor.)
📘 Finding a custom edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Shakespeare and Company bookstore (Fun fact: I collect copies of this Lewis Carroll classic.)
Just like my Parisian pilgrimage, the holidays are filled with magical moments. So read on to discover how to add some seasonal sparkle to your young members’ experiences!
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Joshing Around: I recently accompanied my oldest daughter to her preschool’s book fair. Being an English major, I was looking forward to introducing her to some of my childhood favorites, such as Babar, Madeline, and Paddington. But to my surprise, she ignored the titles featuring these characters and instead gravitated towards displays highlighting branded personalities from shows like Bluey, Gabby’s Dollhouse, and Paw Patrol.
Clearly kids, including my own, struggle with the steady stream of commercialized content flowing freely this season. So Josh Golin, the Executive Director of Fairplay, makes a timely return to The Art of Allowance Podcast to help parents like me navigate digital marketing and media consumption.
(Josh’s most recent appearance rounds out our larger series on digital and media literacy. To learn more about these topics, tune in to the episodes featuring Diana Graber and Erin McNeill, respectively.)
During his second time on the show, Josh and Chief Mammal John Lanza discuss:
- Helping parents manage screen time
- Supporting legislation to create safer digital environments for children
- Raising marketing-free kids
For a deeper dive into this last subject, watch the following short:
In it, Josh shares three steps parents can take to identify allies interested in developing communities that minimize children’s exposure to advertising.
Now back to the book fair bind! I returned with my daughter after instituting a short waiting period and listening to Josh’s insights into and tips on branded merchandise, which you can stream at his episode’s 36:34 mark. Ultimately, I guided her purchase of three pieces:
1️⃣ A branded item (We compromised on a Barbie diary. Its blank pages at least allow for some creativity!)
2️⃣ A book on a topic in which she’s interested (Why are all preschoolers obsessed with axolotls?)
3️⃣ A bilingual title (I pulled my “Mom Card” on this one!)
Pleased as punch with her purchases!
You can access Josh’s latest podcast appearance here. Hopefully it will be of similar help to your young members and their families as they seek shelter from this season’s deluge of commercialized products!
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Holiday {Lesson} Plans: As Clara J. Camel would say, “‘Tis the season for sharing!” So what would a festive edition of this newsletter be without the present of some fresh money-smart materials?
After numerous requests for instructional content for tweens and teens, last year our team developed lesson plans that correspond to the first three shorts in our Adolescent$ program’s “Good Money Habits” video series:
- Save Your Money Instead of Spending It 💰
- Weigh the Costs of Every Purchase or Decision ⚖️
- Set S.M.A.R.T. Financial Goals 🧠
And this year we’ve completed the collection with the lesson plans for the fourth and fifth shorts:
These resources, designed for use at the middle and high school levels, feature discussion questions, in-class activities based on real-life scenarios, as well as extensions and reflections that can be completed at home. All of the relevant prompts and worksheets are included, making these lesson plans valuable tools for engagement with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
If you’re already an Art of Allowance Project partner, then you can access these materials through the “Adolescent$ Lesson Plans” folder of our Marketing Support Drive or share them with educators and community leaders via the teacher portal of your program’s site.
Otherwise, reply to this email so we can discuss your leveraging these resources at your branches or in your communities.
And as a heads up, we’ll be updating the lesson plans’ content periodically based on instructor feedback. So please encourage any teaching professionals to fill out this form once they have utilized these tools. That way these materials will be gifts that keep on giving!
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A Money Mammals Jingle: If you’d like to get your members (And yourself! 😉) in the spirit of the season, then listen to The Money Mammals’ original song, “We’ll Save & Share for the Holidays.”
This jingle details how Joe the Monkey and his pals plan to use the money in their Save and Share jars during the most wonderful time of the year.
As a special treat for our Art of Allowance Project partners, a mention of this festive tune is included in the Winter 2025 edition of the Money Mammals Messenger. A QR code will direct your young members to a custom holiday song page on your program’s site, which you can also access by clicking on the following image on your Kids Club’s landing page.
And if you’re searching for a seasonal soundtrack to add to your branch or event playlist, then don’t forget to download the music file from the “Money Mammals Holiday Song” folder of our Marketing Support Drive.
Here’s hoping this tune’s festive financial message will encourage not only your young members but also their families to be mindful of their money management during the holidays!
Well, credit union friends, that’s a wrap on “Marketing Manatee Musings” for 2024. As we all prepare to celebrate, I wish you a special season filled with “snow” much fun!
And here’s to putting our best fin lit flippers forward in the New Year!
Erin Prim
Marketing Manatee
