Here’s an interesting stat from a survey commissioned by BMO Harris Bank: 89 percent of parents think they are an important source of basic money management knowledge for their kids, but only 36 percent actually talk to their kids about basic money management on a weekly basis. Maybe they’re too depressed about their finances to even broach the topic?

BMO Harris Bank, which operates in Arizona as M&I, has a Helpful Steps for Parents website with games, videos and blogs for families with kids ages 5-15.

I wondered when I got the press release if the blogs would be self-serving and created just to find new customers for the bank. I can hear you cynics chuckling in the background about a bank even bringing up the topic of money management in the last few years, but just quell your doubts for a moment. This is what I found:

• A thoughtful blog post about the benefits and mostly pitfalls of paying kids to do chores around the house.
• A blog post for parents of 5- or 6-year-olds about giving an allowance. How much to give, how to teach your child to manage it.
• There is a game for 13-15 year-olds called “Needs and Wants.” Kids label various purchases as a need or a want.
• For 7- or 8-year-olds an article on whether it is better to let a kid learn the consequences of blowing their allowance on something frivolous or prevent them from wasting their money.

I haven’t looked at the entire site but for the basics of money management, it has some good resources. The articles are well written and no, they aren’t self-serving. They offer solid information and advice. I don’t know how many kids would actually play games about money online, but if adults play Angry Birds….

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