Pru Life UK teaches kids to spend wisely

Pru Life UK life insurance company brings to Philippine schools Cha-Ching Money Smarts for Kids, a landmark program on financial literacy for the youth.

Developed by Pru Life UK’s regional headquarters Prudential Corp. Asia, in cooperation with Cartoon Network of Turner Broadcasting System, Cha-Ching is an animated musical series about six band members — Prudence, Zul, Bobby, Pepper, Justin and Charity — whose adventures are aimed to teach kids about the key money concepts of earning, saving, smart spending and donating.

Going around the country to spread money-smart moves among the children in continuing Pru Life UK’s thrust to raise awareness on the practice of making financially-sound decisions, Cha-Ching made its first stop in Cebu after its successful initial run in Metro Manila schools, starting with Pardo Elementary School in Cebu City on April 20.

Cha-Ching mascot Prudence turned over Cha-Ching Money-Smart Kids school kits on basic smart money moves to the children.

The initiative to develop money-smart kids is a response to a growing need for financial education in Asia.

Cha-Ching combines best practices in children’s education theory with Cartoon Network’s experience of producing platforms that children will easily engage in.

“According to research, the average age in which Filipino kids start saving money is seven years old. About 98 percent of Filipino parents believe their children should learn money management skills, and only 19 percent think their children have adequate money management skills. These are some of the issues that Cha-Ching hopes to address. An effective financial literacy program should start from childhood,” said Pru Life UK president and chief executive officer Antonio de Rosas.

Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro said it is important that children understand the value of money and how it is earned for a better appreciation of this resource. “If a child appreciates at an early age that it takes hard work to earn money to buy things, save, or even share to others, he will have a valuable lesson which he can use through life,” explained Luistro.

Last April 16, Pru Life UK signed an agreement with DepEd to implement the Cha-Ching Financial Literacy Program through the DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program. Cha-Ching’s concepts will be taught to grade 2 students either in math or values education subject starting school year 2012-2013 in two pilot schools –Tagaytay Elementary School in Tagaytay City and Upper Bicutan Elementary School in Taguig City. The Cha-Ching Money-Smart Kids kit that includes a lesson plan, training for teachers, cartoon musical edutainment episodes in DVD plus work books and other school items will also be distributed.

Cha-Ching has been spreading money smarts since September 2011 when the musical animated program debuted its broadcast on Cartoon Network.