If your child’s piggy bank is overflowing with coins, it might be sign that they need their own savings account. Opening a savings account for your kids can help them be more aware of the money they are accumulating. Before doing so, think about what kind of account your kids should have.

A savings account can be started as soon as a child has money to put in one. Choose a day when you both have some free time and make a trip to your local branch of the bank. Talk to a teller or bank associate about starting an account for your child.

Statement savings accounts give reports to both you and your child at the end of each month that detail all transactions that were processed that are associated with the account. Any withdrawals or deposits made from or to the savings account will appear in the report.

When the report arrives, explain it to your child, reviewing all the information it contains. Show them how much money they started and ended the month with, going over interest earned and deposits and withdrawals noted. If your child can’t remember what they did with money they took out of their account, write down the details of the transaction for them. This way they will be able to see for themselves just where they money is going.

There are also passbook savings accounts. I actually had one of these when I was in college. Each account holder is given a small book. Each time a deposit is made or a withdrawal is requested, the book is run through a machine that records the transaction on the pages of the passbook. This way, your child finds out his or her new balance right away instead of waiting for a statement at the end of the month. Some kids like that because they can look at their money as often as they want.

In addition to banks, credit unions of which you are a member will also allow you to open a savings account for your son or daughter. Some credit unions feature special savings accounts that have been designed just for kids of a certain age block. Such accounts often come along with free gifts and ATM cards with the child’s photo on it.

An ATM/debit card can be used as cash by your child for their purchases. Parents can keep the receipts and teach children how to check them against their savings account statements each month. Allowance money can also be deposited in the savings account each month.

Custodial savings accounts are for kids with less than eighteen years of age. Available in certain states, this type of savings account displays a child’s name under that of their parent, who is considered the account holder. After the child’s eighteenth birthday, this style of account can be changed into the child’s name.

Kids can learn how to care for their money and know where it is going by using a savings account, whether they use cash they withdrawal or a debit card attached to the account to make purchases.