Eitan, one of our Paamonim mentors, arrived for a meeting with a family he had been accompanying for several months. The meeting took place just before the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer vacation.
This is how Eitan describes it:
“When I arrived at the family’s home, I saw 10-year-old Alon sitting with his mother in front of the computer, debating every small item in the online supermarket cart. ‘Mom, let’s check whether it’s cheaper somewhere else,’ he whispered. That was the moment I realized how clearly this situation showed the mother that children are learning, right now, about real life in the most authentic way possible.
This summer vacation, taking place against the backdrop of the complex reality we are all living through, can become one of the most meaningful periods in their education. They are not just at home; they are experiencing our everyday financial decisions with us, watching how we cope, and they can learn life skills they do not usually acquire at school.”
That is why we at Paamonim decided to put together 34 practical ideas, designed as an activity guide, to turn each day into a meaningful learning experience. From simple activities for elementary-school children to more advanced projects for teenagers, each idea is designed to teach, empower, and strengthen the family connection.
Summer vacation at this time presents us with a challenge: how can we keep children involved, learning, and enjoying themselves, while also helping them develop important life skills? Here is a full guide to activities that we hope will make every day a fun learning experience.
Activities for Elementary-School Children
Ages 6–12
Planning Activities
- The Weekly Family Finance Planner
Create a weekly planning board together with daily money-related tasks:
Sunday: Plan the weekly menu and calculate the costs.
Monday: Compare prices online for three products.
Tuesday: Track the family’s expenses.
Wednesday: “Savings Day,” finding ways to save money.
Thursday: Plan a free family activity.
Friday: Summarize the week financially.
Saturday: Celebrate the week’s achievements.
- A Family Café in the Living Room
Create a home café where:
Everyone “pays” with toy coins.
Children learn how to give change and calculate balances.
The menu includes prices, for example: cookies, NIS 5; drink, NIS 3.
Children take turns being the waiter or cashier.
- The Weekly “No-Spend Day” Game
Every Wednesday becomes a challenge: who can have fun without buying anything?
Creative activities using materials already at home.
Free games in the yard.
Watching something from the family’s home library.
A treasure hunt around the house.
Saving and Banking Activities
- The Family Bank
Set up a home bank with:
A savings booklet for each child.
Small daily deposits, even 1 or 5 Shekels.
A weekly “interest rate” of 10%, for motivation.
Child-designed “credit cards.”
- The Big Family Emergency Fund
Use a large transparent jar and place it somewhere visible.
Everyone contributes small change and adds a sticker with the amount.
Count the money together every Sunday.
Celebrate when you reach the target, for example NIS 200.
- The Daily Savings Challenge
Every day, save something small, such as water, electricity, or food.
Track the savings in a colorful chart.
At the end of the week, calculate how much money was saved.
Give a small prize to the person who saved the most.
Games and Learning Activities
- A Supermarket at Home
Create a home supermarket with:
Real products marked with prices.
Shopping baskets.
A checkout counter with a real calculator.
Different discount cards.
- The Smart Shopping Mission
Every shopping trip becomes a mission for the child.
Choose between two products and explain why.
Look for discounts and advertisements.
Calculate which package offers better value for money.
- Design a Room Game
Give the children an imaginary budget to design a room.
Compare furniture prices online.
Decide what is important and what is less essential.
Learn about priorities and limits.
Entrepreneurship and Creativity Activities
- The Family Craft Fair
Organize a fair in the living room where:
Children sell their creations to family members.
Each item has a price, between NIS 1 and NIS 10.
“Family money” is used for purchases.
At the end, celebrate each child’s earnings.
- The Home Invention Lab
Children create solutions for everyday problems.
They “sell” their ideas to family members.
Examples: a toy organizer, a new game, or a creative household solution.
Each invention is “sold” for NIS 5.
- The Family Time Bank
Children earn points for helping.
Points can be exchanged for activities or experiences.
10 points = choosing a movie for family night.
20 points = a special creative activity.
Activities for Teenagers
Ages 13–18
Management and Responsibility Activities
- The Family Shopping Manager
Teenagers take responsibility for:
Planning the weekly menu.
Comparing prices between stores.
Placing the online grocery order.
Tracking the weekly budget.
- The Family Finance App
Create a shared Excel spreadsheet with:
Daily expense tracking.
Charts showing expenses by category.
A forecast of next month’s expenses.
The teenager manages and updates the file.
- Family Board Meetings
Hold a weekly one-hour family meeting that includes:
A review of the family’s financial situation.
Decisions about major expenses.
Planning savings goals.
The teenager serves as a “financial advisor.”
Research and Learning Activities
- Researching the Israeli Economy
Teenagers research and present:
How war affects the economy.
Price comparisons before and after the war.
Ideas for saving money at home.
Trends in the job market.
- The Family Financial Emergency Plan
Build a family plan for:
A situation in which income is reduced.
A list of expenses by order of priority.
Alternative sources of income.
A family emergency fund.
- The Financial Dream Map
Create a 10-year plan that includes:
Personal and family goals.
Cost calculations for each goal.
An annual savings plan.
A “Plan B” in case circumstances change.
Entrepreneurship and Business Activities
- A Small Business from Home
Help teenagers start a small business, such as:
Selling cakes or baked goods by order to neighbors.
Online guitar or piano lessons.
Graphic design for small businesses.
Managing social media for friends or local businesses.
- The Family Start-Up Incubator
The teenager develops a business idea.
They conduct market research, write a business plan, and prepare a profit forecast.
They present the idea to the family, “Shark Tank” style.
The family can provide a small budget to help implement the idea.
- The Family Savings Consultant
Teenagers examine the home and suggest:
Ways to save electricity and water.
Cheaper alternatives to expensive products.
Apps for comparing prices.
A monthly savings plan.
Volunteering and Giving Activities
- The Family Volunteering Project
Organize a volunteering activity, such as:
Helping elderly neighbors with shopping or medications.
Preparing food packages for families in need.
Volunteering to tutor children who are struggling.
Repairing toys to donate.
Activities for All Ages
Activities for Time in a Shelter
- The Shelter University
When you are in a shelter, hold:
Short 15-minute lessons about money and economics.
Card games using imaginary money.
Financial math riddles.
Meal planning using the food already available at home.
- The Shelter Reward Fund
Each time the family enters the shelter, make a small deposit.
When the war ends, celebrate with the money that has accumulated.
The children decide what to spend it on.
This helps turn a difficult experience into something positive.
- The Home Planning Challenge
Plan meals using only the ingredients you already have at home.
Make a list of existing ingredients.
Plan three different meals.
Calculate the cost of each meal.
Vote for the most creative meal.
Digital Activities
- The Smart Shopping Lab
Teenagers research a product they want to buy.
Compare prices on five websites.
Check reviews and ratings.
Present their recommendation to the family “committee.”
- The Digital Escape Room
Create a game about:
Identifying online scams.
Internet safety riddles.
Warning signs on shopping websites.
Prizes for correct solutions.
- A Screen-Free and Shopping-Free Day
Once a week, spend a full day without:
Computer games or mobile phones.
Online shopping.
Only “analog” activities, such as cooking, crafts, and conversations.
Social and Family Activities
- Economic Philosophy Discussions
Hold family conversations on questions such as:
What makes people happy?
How do we measure success in life?
What matters more: money or time?
How does wealth affect happiness?
- The Family Financial Manifesto
Write together:
The family’s financial values.
Rules for purchases and spending.
Shared savings goals.
How you want to live as a family.
- An Inspiring Story Evening
Share stories about:
People who succeeded despite financial challenges.
Inventions that were born out of scarcity.
Families who overcame crises.
Dreams that came true through hard work.
Special End-of-Summer Activities
- A Financial Achievements Exhibition
At the end of the summer, summarize:
How much money the family saved.
Projects the children created.
New things they learned.
Plans for the coming year.
- An Awards Ceremony
Give awards for:
The most creative saving idea.
The best financial idea.
The most meaningful contribution to the family.
The most impressive entrepreneurial project.
- A Letter to My Future Self
Each child writes a letter to themselves about:
What I learned this summer about money.
How I want to manage money in the future.
One decision I am making about money.
A dream I want to fulfill.
Tips for Successful Implementation
Keep it light. The goal is to teach through fun, not to create additional pressure.
Adapt the activities to your children. Not every activity suits every child. Choose what fits their age, personality, and interests.
Allow for flexibility. In a wartime reality, plans sometimes need to change at the last minute.
Let them take the lead. The older the children are, the more responsibility you can give them.
Celebrate small successes. Every shekel saved and every good idea deserves recognition and joy.
Remember: this summer vacation can become the time when your children learn life skills that will stay with them forever. Turn every day into a new experience, and every challenge into an opportunity for growth together.
