Public Debt Launches TreasuryDirect® KIDS Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 16, 2010

The Bureau of the Public Debt today launched TreasuryDirect® KIDS—a fun, interactive, and educational website to engage students in grades 5-7 in the history and role of debt in America. TreasuryDirect® KIDS provides an introduction to Treasury securities and is designed to help teachers and parents build important lessons on saving and investing.

"Many times kids are given savings bonds as gifts for birthdays or special occasions and don’t really grasp the importance of what that bond means, not only to their pockets, but on a broader level, to the operation of this country," said Public Debt's Commissioner Van Zeck. "With TreasuryDirect® KIDS, they can make the connection by exploring the history of Treasury securities and debt in America."

TreasuryDirect® KIDS supports the Department of the Treasury’s objective of promoting financial education and financial literacy to all Americans.

"Today more than ever it’s especially important to focus our efforts on educating the next generation about money," said Zeck. "The TreasuryDirect® KIDS website is an excellent tool to begin the dialogue with young people about making smart decisions about saving and investing. If reached now, young Americans can be better prepared for their financial future."

Visitors to the site can also learn about the United States debt in general, the basics of Treasury securities as well as "How Treasury Securities Work." Kids can enjoy interactive games such as "Save Perry's Pennies" —a game where players must race against the clock to capture coins and "Money Memory"— a matching game that includes images of dollars, gold bars and financial terms.

A feature that will certainly interest kids of all ages is "The Art of Bonds" section. Visitors can view poster ads and public service announcements (PSAs) from the 1940s to the 1990s that were used to encourage people to buy savings bonds. The films and PSAs include appearances from actors and characters such as John Wayne, Bugs Bunny, Superman, and "Frasier."

For more information about the website, visit https://www.treasurydirect.gov/kids/kids.htm.

Public Debt is an agency of the Department of the Treasury whose mission is to borrow the money needed to operate the federal government and account for the resulting debt. Public Debt also provides reimbursable services to other federal agencies through its Administrative Resources Center in Parkersburg, West Virginia. For more information on Public Debt, visit www.publicdebt.treas.gov.