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Money Lesson 2 Parents Should Teach Kids: Dream Big
Updated

Teach Kids to Dream Big and Take Aim. It's a Great Habit

When children have a clear aim, they can achieve amazing things—things that matter deeply to them and that they genuinely want to accomplish.

The right dreams make all the difference. They inspire. They motivate. They shape choices and behavior. They help kids delay gratification, say “no” when needed, and do things they find challenging—all essential skills for smart money management and lifelong success.

Why It Matters

I’ll never forget what my dad used to tell me:

“It takes just as much time and energy to dream big as it does to dream small. So dream big—and take consistent, small steps to achieve your big dream.”

Dreaming big and aiming high are not just feel-good ideas—they’re foundational habits. When paired with clear goals, written plans, and consistent action, they become powerful life skills. Add a way to measure progress, and you’ve got what Sammy Rabbit calls “Smart Dreaming.”

Here’s what smart dreams can do:

1. Drive Purpose and Effort

Kids with meaningful dreams are more likely to take action. These dreams help them prioritize, focus, and push through challenges.

2. Build Skills and Grit

Pursuing a dream helps kids grow their talents, develop discipline, and bounce back from setbacks. Research shows that children who regularly set and work toward goals develop stronger executive function skills—a key predictor of long-term academic and career success.

3. Shape Better Money and Time Choices

Dreams guide spending. They help kids make smarter decisions about where their time and money go. When they’re excited about a goal, they’re more willing to save, plan, and delay gratification.

When to Start: Sooner Is Better

We recommend introducing big dreams and goal-setting as early as ages 5, 6, or 7—a golden stage when kids are curious, creative, and open to new ideas.

But don’t worry if your child is older—it’s never too late. Here are quick tips by age group:

  • Ages 5–7: Use imaginative play, songs, and picture-based journaling to spark dream conversations.

  • Ages 8–11: Introduce goal-setting games, role-playing, or savings challenges linked to their dreams.

  • Ages 12+: Talk about career interests, passions, and practical steps (like budgeting or job shadowing) to pursue those dreams.

How to Start. 4 Easy and Fun Steps

Have kids:

  1. Listen to the Song “Big Ol' Dream”

    This catchy, uplifting tune gets kids thinking and talking about their biggest dreams. Listen together and discuss the lyrics.

  2. Start a Sammy Rabbit “Dream Big Journal”

    Use journal activity templates to help children better define and bring their dreams to life—whether they express them through drawing or writing.

  3. Make a Weekly Dream Deposit

    Help your child deposit money into a savings jar, piggy bank, or actual savings account—specifically tied to their dream. Even $0.25 a week builds the habit. Explain: “This is how we fund our dreams—one step at a time.”

  4. Model the Behavior

    Share your own goals and the steps you’re taking toward them. For example:

    “I’m saving for a family trip, so I’m skipping takeout this week!”

    Let your child see you writing goals, making choices, and tracking progress. Modeling turns your advice into lived example.

Final Thought: Big Dreams Build Strong Futures

Just like financial literacy, dreaming big is a mindset and a muscle—the more you practice, the stronger it gets. Whether your child wants to be a chef, a coder, or a cartoonist, encouraging that dream builds a foundation of purpose, planning, and perseverance.

So start today. Listen. Journal. Save. Share your own story. And keep nurturing your child’s dream one small step at a time.

As Sammy Rabbit says: “Dream big—and do big, one step at a time!"

Keep Kids Learning, Growing, and "Becoming"

Let's get kids financially literate, dreaming big, and becoming everything they are capable of becoming. Here is what you can do to educate, empower, and elevate children:

  • Collaborate and partner with Team Sammy on '1' financial education strategy in your community. See our Menu of Project Ideas or suggestion one of your own!

Contact Sammy

CONTACT Sammy today!

We welcome your questions, suggestions, brainstorming discussions and support advancing Sammy Rabbit's mission—getting kids, families, and communities consistently advancing their financial literacy!

Recommend Reading and Resources

5 Outstanding Quotes and Sammyriffic Wisdom on Dreaming Big

Here are five outstanding quotes that reflect the power of dreaming big.

(1) "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

–Les Brown

(2) “The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it, and the perseverance to follow it.”

–Kalpana Chawla

(3) "The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."

–Michelangelo

(4) "Dream the biggest dream for yourself. Hold the highest vision of life for yourself. The great courageous act that we must all do, is to have the courage to step out of our history and past so that we can live our dreams."

–Oprah

(5) "Dream big. Do big, one step at a time. It's a great habit!"

–Sammy Rabbit

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