Learn to Earn

How to talk to kids about money and the cost of their season

Updated November 4, 2026 · Written by the PledgeStop team

Most kids have no idea what their sports cost, and that isn't their fault. Money often moves invisibly, through apps and auto-pay. A season of per-game and per-win pledges is one of the best chances you'll get to make it real: every game played and every win adds up to something they can see.

Start earlier than you think

A study by Cambridge researchers for the UK's Money Advice Service found that by around age 7, most children can count money, know it's exchanged for things, understand what it means to earn it, and can plan ahead.
The researchers found that just telling kids facts isn't very effective. Habits come from what kids do and see adults do.
With families spending about $1,500 a year per child on sports (Aspen Institute, 2024), there's plenty to talk about.

Ages 5–7: money comes from effort

Say it out loud: "People are giving money to your team because you play hard."
Use simple numbers: "Grandma gives $2 every time you play a game."
Team job: hand out or sign thank-you cards for supporters.

Ages 8–10: what things cost

Show them one real number: "Your season costs $300. That's uniforms, referees and the field."
Track the season together: games played, wins, and how much each one adds toward the team goal.
Team job: help make a list of people to share the team link with, and sign thank-you notes.

Ages 11–13: budgets and goals

Walk through the team budget together. What's the biggest cost? What's the gap?
Do the pledge math: "If Aunt Maria pledges $5 a win and we win 8 games, that's $40."
Talk about waiting: pledges are collected at the end of the season, not right away.
Team job: share the team link with their own contacts and write a personal note to go with it.

Ages 14–18: real responsibility

Have them explain the pledge to supporters themselves, including the per-game amount, the optional max, and when they'll be charged.
Introduce trade-offs: travel team vs. a summer job, new gear vs. saving.
Let them run part of the fundraiser: ask local businesses, send supporter updates, report progress to the coach.
Team job: lead younger players, and thank supporters in person.

Phrases that help

"Playing is a privilege. Let's earn it together."
"Grandpa pledged because he believes in you. Let's show him your effort."
"Every game you play adds to the goal."
"We didn't hit our goal. What would you do differently next time?"

What to avoid

Guilt. "Do you know how much this costs me?" teaches shame, not responsibility. Explain costs matter-of-factly.
Tying their worth to results. If supporters pledge per win, make sure your child knows a loss is not a failure to the family.
Doing it for them. If you write the message and make the calls, they learn that adults handle it.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start teaching my child about money?

Early. Research for the UK's Money Advice Service found that most children grasp the basics of earning and spending by about age 7, and that habits formed early are hard to change later.

How can a team fundraiser teach kids about money?

With per-game and per-win pledges, kids can see exactly how effort turns into money: each game played and each win adds a set amount toward the team's goal.

Sources

Research is summarized in our own words. Many studies of kids and responsibility show an association, not proof of cause; see the original sources for details.

Disclosure: PledgeStop runs a youth sports fundraising platform, so we compete with some of the services described here. We've tried to present each fairly, including where they do things we don't. Spot an error? Email support@pledgestop.com.