Why Middle School?

As the founder of Gifting Sense, I am often asked:

1. "Why do your mindful-spending workshops target middle school students?"
2. "Why not start earlier?"
3. "Is later than middle school too late?"

There's actually a simple equation that answers all three questions: Readiness + Plasticity = Lasting Impact.

A Little Brain Science - From Not a Brain Scientist!

Let me explain—with the important caveat that I am not a neuroscientist. (I'm a former Sovereign Risk Analyst and early financial educator who is endlessly curious about how much early financial education can accomplish; actual brain scientists, feel free to chime in!)

You may have heard that infancy is the most intense period of brain growth. But what many people don't realize is that early adolescence (roughly ages 10–14) is the second most intense. During these years, kids' brains are literally being rewired. Children make a huge number of neural connections when they're little—far more than they'll ever need. In middle school, the brain begins "pruning" weaker or less-used connections and strengthening those that are used more frequently. It's like editing—trimming what's unnecessary so the most important ideas stand out.

This pruning helps the brain work faster and more efficiently, customizing each child's wiring to their unique experiences and environment. At the same time, the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that helps with impulse control—is still under construction. That's why middle schoolers sometimes act before thinking! But it's also why this is the perfect time to practice pausing before acting.

Add to that, the fact that early adolescents are wired to seek rewards (their dopamine systems are especially active) and that they're very tuned into social feedback—and you've got a golden opportunity.

See why middle school is such an ideal moment to teach mindful spending?

So it's easy to see why middle school is such an ideal moment to teach strategies like "Stop, gather information, reflect, then decide whether or not to buy an item or experience." When those habits are practiced in a social or classroom setting—where thinking before spending can be noticed and praised—they gain both status and staying power.

But of course, it's never too late!

But it's equally important to qualify these answers because developmental windows aren't rigid or fixed. Every child's brain develops at its own unique pace. And while middle school is a particularly good time to introduce mindful spending, it's never too late to start. We've run mindful spending workshops for many, many high school seniors.

And you know your students or children best.

The main reason we don’t start earlier is simple: kids younger than nine usually aren’t yet in the developmental “sweet spot” (described above), where they can build the powerful habit of thinking before making a purchase. They don’t have quite enough life experience to understand (all) the questions asked by our permissionless mindful spending tool—the DIMS – DOES IT MAKE SENSE?® Score Calculator.

You might wonder why we don’t just design a different set of questions for younger learners. History tells us that the questions you see on the screen today are the ones truly necessary to help someone grasp how much money a purchase requires—and to decide, in advance, whether it makes sense for them and their family. Still, if you believe your students or children are ready sooner, you know best.

The goal is to provide our kids with experiences that help them develop productive money habits and beliefs...for life.

If asking simple questions before spending is new to the young people in your life, middle school—just before, during, or after—is the perfect time to start a family rule: “In this family, we think before we buy.” It usually clicks right away because success feels good—and thinking before buying almost always helps us avoid disappointment, cut down on waste, keep the peace at home, and even do a little good for the planet. Lessons that feel relevant and useful shape how young people think and act with money for years to come. Once you see how a bit of financial know-how makes life better, why would you ever stop seeking it out —and sharing it with others?

And the non-technical answer to "Why middle school?"

That's the technical answer to the question, "Why middle school?" The non-technical answer? Middle school is when my mother started teaching my sister, Kathryn, and me about wise spending. The Gifting Sense project is a way of paying forward both the money-smart life skills we learned from our Mom and the legacy of community involvement we inherited from our Dad.

Rest in peace, Mom. Thanks again, Dad, for your continued stellar example of how to make the world just a little bit nicer, every day you can. Happy 86th Birthday, Lots of love, Karen 

To learn more about our permissionless mindful spending tools, click on the pink or blue buttons below.