As many as 73 percent of parents of children aged 3-7 declare interest in financial activities for their children. At the same time, only 13 percent of preschoolers actually participate in them. The data from the Bank Millennium Foundation's report show a clear gap between the growing readiness of parents and access to financial education for preschoolers. Meanwhile, experts emphasise that the basics of financial competence are formed as early as preschool age.

Compared to other educational activities for preschoolers, those related to finance are still limited in scope. Most often, children participate in sports (68 percent), language (66 percent) and artistic activities, such as art (64 percent) and music (61 percent). Dance classes (58 per cent) and those developing social competences (52 per cent) are also popular.

Financial education and entrepreneurship remain less frequent. Participation in them is declared by 13 per cent and 12 per cent respectively of parents of children aged 3-7, and 46 per cent admit that they have never heard of them. Compared to 2020, however, the participation of preschoolers in financial classes has clearly increased. They are gaining in importance, although they are still not an established element of the offering of activities for the youngest.

Experts: financial education starts earlier than school
Despite the low participation, parents' interest in financial activities is high. As many as 73 per cent declare that they would like their child at the age of 3-7 to take part in such activities (including 27 per cent "definitely yes" and 46 per cent "rather yes"). Only 11 percent of respondents are not interested.

"Children, by observing the behaviour of adults, absorb knowledge and build financial intuition faster than just a few years ago. For this reason, it is worth starting financial education at preschool age, through play and everyday situations, and then continuing it at subsequent stages of development. This allows you to form correct financial habits before less desirable behaviours become consolidated" – says Paulina Wołosz-Sitarek, Member of the Management Board of Bank Millennium Foundation.

Experts point out that kindergarten is a key stage. This is when children learn their first money-related habits through observation, play and everyday experiences. – Developmental psychology and didactics indicate that most children have a natural interest in mathematical activities around the age of 6. As a consequence, children at this age acquire knowledge related to finances more easily and quickly. However, this does not mean that simple educational activities such as pocket money, participation in shopping or using a piggy bank cannot be introduced beforehand – emphasises Dr. Małgorzata Chojak, Head of the Neuroeducation Research Laboratory at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.

Parents focus on practice, not theory
Parents who are interested in financial activities most often point to their practical dimension. 46 percent believe that they help the child better manage their finances in the future, and 40 percent emphasise their importance for the overall development of the child. 30 per cent treat financial education as a necessary element of modern education, and 24 percent see it as an attractive diversification of everyday activities. Less often there are motivations related to educational support (15 per cent) or previous interest in the topic (15 per cent).

The respondents were less likely to point to elements of financial education, such as shaping social attitudes or long-term thinking. For parents of preschoolers in general, such classes are primarily a way to develop specific life competencies: money management skills (65 per cent), saving (64 per cent) or planning expenses (57 per cent). More than half of the respondents also emphasise the importance of financial responsibility (56 percent) and decision-making (54 percent). More long-term and social competences, such as entrepreneurship (35 per cent), risk management (32 per cent) or sharing with others (28 per cent), are less frequently indicated.

As Dr. Małgorzata Chojak points out: – "It is surprising that parents rarely indicate activities that develop competences related to coping with stress, cooperation in a group, building self-esteem or developing creativity. These are elements of entrepreneurship in the form of soft skills, which have not been clearly indicated in the research, although they are the basis for effective financial activities later in life".

About the survey
The survey commissioned by the Bank Millennium Foundation was carried out by the independent research agency IBRiS using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method, which consists in conducting online surveys. The survey involved 1000 respondents – parents of preschool children, i.e. aged 3 to 7. The data collection took place at the turn of December 2025 and January 2026. The research sample was selected in a way that allows for results representative of the population of parents of children of this age. The results obtained were compared with the results of a similar study conducted in 2020, which allowed for an analysis of changes occurring over a period of five years. It is worth noting that the analysed period included a time of significant and unpredictable social and economic events that could have had an impact on the attitudes and opinions of the respondents.

About the Bank Millennium Foundation
The Bank Millennium Foundation, acting under the slogan "We multiply social capital", has been supporting, for 35 years, projects that engage in activities for the benefit of local communities. In its activities, it focuses on three areas of activities: financial education, cultural education and promotion of volunteering. For a decade, the Foundation has been conducting educational activities aimed at introducing the youngest children to the basics of finance in a simple and engaging way, tailored to pre-school age. The "Financial ABCs" workshops are conducted all over Poland, and their scenarios have been prepared so that children learn through play. From 2016 the Bank Millennium Foundation has trained over 100 000 children through educational workshops delivered in pre-school institutions across Poland.

For more information go to: www.bankmillennium.pl/en/about-the-bank/the-foundation.

Full report: www.bankmillennium.pl/documents/d/guest/raport_2025-26_fundacji_bm_badanie_swiadomosci_rodzicow