When I first watched this clip (embedded below), I didn’t know what I was feeling. Warren Buffet has lent his image and voice to a cartoon aimed at kids meant to teach them about finances.
First, I kinda wish I’d gotten a show like this when I was a kid. I’ve learned that even passive learning — where kids might only be paying half attention to what’s on-screen while they do other things — can have a significant impact on one’s knowledge. Sesame Street helped me learn words bilingually, for example, and a cartoon like this could go a long way toward getting kids to think about money in ways other than the direct purchasing of goods.
I was also surprised to find that Warren Buffett sounds pretty good as a cartoon. He has a pleasant, non-threatening way about his acting that works fairly well with his avuncular animated avatar.
However, I think that even as pared down as these episodes might be, the pace of the lesson is a little rushed. But being an online series — it wll “air” on an AOL portal — means that it can be re-watched at one’s own leisure. The trouble then becomes getting kids interested in finance. I certainly wish them well with this series; what our money does shouldn’t be a big mystery. Check out the clip here:
Comments
Mike Goodman
September 22nd, 2009 - 7:13:38 PM
The Secret Millionaire’s Club is designed to teach kids solid money management skills that they can carry with them throughout their lives. It provides helpful, practical advice for kids and parents in things such as savings, investments, allowance tips, fundraising activities and other money-making strategies specifically geared towards kids. http://www.thesecretmillionairesclub.org/