New board game 'Money Matters' to help teens learn managing finances

Washington, April 19 (ANI): Art students at Spelman College in Georgia, US, have developed an interactive board game to promote financial literacy, called 'Money Matters'.

They say that their interactive board game is aimed at giving teens real-world experience managing finances.

The game has been created for Youth Art Connection, an art program offered through the Boys and Girls Clubs of metro-Atlanta.

Developed in collaboration with a local art group called African Americans for the Arts, the game will be unveiled at a special YAC ceremony, free and open to the public, on April 29, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

"Given the current state of the economy, AASA students wanted to develop a piece of art that would help teens avoid some of the financial mishaps they are witnessing everyday on the news.

The game has been designed to provide teens in the YAC program real-life scenarios to help them make healthy financial decisions," said Barbara Nesin, associate professor of art at Spelman College.

'Money Matters' requires its players to make such choices as may help them distinguish between needs and wants.

Each player is randomly assigned an art-focused career to aspire to and given a designated sum of money. Play begins with a roll of the dice followed by a multiple-choice question related to their career path and finances.

Making a responsible decision helps players gain more money, and advance towards the end of the game.

The game's makers say that the element of "chance" has been incorporated with a view to reinforcing the concept of responsible decision-making.

Those landing on this space can perform community service or pay a bill to get ahead in the game.

"One of the primary ways we connect with the participants in our program is by finding innovative techniques to educate them on complex issues such as finances. The 'Money Matters' game will enable them to practice concrete principles of financial literacy in a creative and artistic way," said Keisha Paige-Drammeh, program director, Youth Art Connection.

The game - constructed with Plexiglas, paint, cardboard, and poster board - represents life in an urban city. The backdrop of the board features a mural depicting urban landmarks including, restaurants, shopping centers, a metro-rail system, a school and banks.

To reinforce the concept of recycling, materials like old records, vintage clothing, and furniture have been incorporated.

'Money Matters' is the first project the Art as Social Action class has created with YAC. (ANI)