A Magic Savings Adventure: Children's Financial Literacy Through Gamification and Experiential Learning

Abstract

Financial literacy is an essential life skill that should be introduced from an early age to foster responsible financial behavior in the future. To enhance children's understanding of basic financial management, the Community Service Team of Perbanas Institute implemented the “Magic Savings Adventure” program on May 21, 2026, involving 40 participants consisting of 20 children aged 4–7 years and 20 children aged 8–12 years.

The program was designed using experiential learning and gamification approaches through engaging outdoor activities. Participants were invited to enter the imaginative world of the “Magic Savings Kingdom” as Smart Coin Guardians, where they completed a series of educational missions, including Happy Coin Hunt, Smart Choice Challenge (Needs vs. Wants), and the Magic Mini Market. Through these interactive activities, children learned to recognize the value of money, distinguish between needs and wants, understand the importance of saving, and make simple financial decisions.

The implementation results demonstrated high levels of enthusiasm and active participation among the children. The program successfully improved participants’ basic financial literacy by providing a fun, practical, and age-appropriate learning experience. These findings suggest that experiential learning combined with gamification can serve as an effective approach to financial literacy education and has the potential to be replicated in various child-centered community programs.