Money, emotions and priorities: Why financial education must start early
A child who learns to wait before buying a toy is learning more than patience. They are taking their first steps towards understanding money, choices and priorities.
For Annapoorni Badrinath, these lessons should begin well before a child earns their first salary.
Having spent over a decade in the financial markets, Badrinath co-founded KidoFin with Aswin Viswanathan about a year ago. The initiative introduces children aged five to 10 to money management through its Funtastic Finny comics and interactive workshops. It has reached over 2,500 children through programmes conducted across schools, NGOs, libraries and other learning spaces.
“My vision is that when children earn their first salary, they should not be learning how to manage money for the first time. They should already understand saving, financial protection, investing and the importance of preparing for uncertainty,” says Badrinath.
Her approach goes beyond teaching children to save or budget. KidoFin also focuses on emotional intelligence, helping children navigate disappointment, frustration, failure and the experience of being told ‘no’.
“Money is as much about emotions as it is about mathematics,” she says.
A moment from one of Badrinath’s workshops illustrates this connection. Children at an NGO were asked to draw what they dreamt of buying in the coming year. A 10-year-old boy drew an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Asked why he wanted it, he replied without hesitation: “Show off karne ke liye.”
The candid answer brought into focus an important question: how often are our financial choices driven by what we need, and how often by what we want others to notice?
Learning to pause before reacting can help children make more considered choices as they grow older. Saving towards a goal teaches delayed gratification, while choosing between two things introduces them to opportunity cost, understanding what they give up when they choose one option over another.
There is no perfect decision in every situation, either. What works for one person may not suit another. Understanding one’s circumstances, weighing alternatives and accepting trade-offs are as relevant to managing money as they are to navigating life.
In India, where digital payments and investment platforms have made financial transactions increasingly accessible, financial awareness is gaining importance. Initiatives such as Zerodha Varsity offer free resources on investing and financial markets, while the National Centre for Financial Education and the Reserve Bank of India support financial education through their respective programmes.
But access to information is only part of the picture. Understanding insurance, building an emergency fund and investing for the long term matter; so does having the emotional discipline to make thoughtful decisions when faced with uncertainty or the temptation to spend.
For Badrinath, financial discipline is not about giving up life’s pleasures. It is about balancing present enjoyment with future security, while recognising that priorities differ from person to person.
Ultimately, the aim is to help children understand not just the value of money, but also their own motivations, make thoughtful choices and navigate life’s setbacks without letting a moment of frustration dictate their next move.
KidoFin also makes its learning resources accessible to families through its Amazon Storefront, giving parents an opportunity to explore its educational offerings for children.
Website: www.kidofin.com
