Money choices start with a simple question, Do I really need this? That was the heart of our Smart Cents workshop, where students learned the difference between needs and wants through games, role-play, and lively discussions.

Children laughed, debated, and often surprised themselves with their answers. Every student had a voice, whether they were arguing to save, to spend, or to pause before deciding.

The session was part of the Summer Camp program at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, created to show that financial literacy doesn’t have to feel heavy. With play at the center, money lessons turned into experiences students could remember and use.

Smart Cents showed HAL’s strength in financial literacy, making the basics engaging, practical, and easy for students to carry forward.