TD Bank has launched a financial education videogame that seeks to introduce kids to money management skills like earning, spending, saving and borrowing, the banking giant announced Thursday.
The free mobile game, called Treat Island Tycoon, is aimed at children aged 10 to 14 and available on the online game platform Roblox.
According to an October survey commissioned by TD, 86% of Canadian parents said that interactive games that teach finances, or animated videos explaining financial concepts, could make learning about finances more fun for kids. This is compared to 22% of parents who felt the same about financial literacy books.
“TD wants to provide secure fun and engaging opportunities for youth to access valuable financial lessons that lay the groundwork for a successful financial future,” Emily Ross, VP of everyday advice journey at TD, said in a release.
In the game, Penny, a green bear, loans the player their first frozen treat stand on Treat Island. The player collects fruit from around the island, brings it back to their stand, and turns it into frozen treats for sale.
The player earns shells, which they can use to repay the loan from Penny, make capital investments and eventually open a frozen treat factory. The demand for each flavour fluctuates throughout the day, according to a promotional video.
The parental survey was conducted by Maru Public Opinion between Sep. 26 and Oct. 1, 2024, with 1,232 randomly selected Canadian adult parents with at least one child under 18 years old.