DIGITAL GAMES IN PROMOTING FINANCIAL EDUCATION IN CHILDHOOD
Keywords:
Serious Games, Financial Literacy, Educational Technologies, Playful LearningAbstract
Financial education in childhood directly contributes to the formation of conscious citizens capable of managing their resources responsibly, establishing itself as an essential formative axis in basic education. On the other hand, it is pertinent that the school environment adopts innovative methodologies capable of arousing students' interest and fostering a solid understanding of the content covered. This chapter presents a proposal for a digital educational game based on the Financial Education in Schools series, developed by the National Financial Education Strategy (ENEF). The game, entitled Financial Mystery: Chico's Journey, adapts the content of the 5th grade elementary school teaching material into an interactive and immersive RPG-style experience. The narrative follows the protagonist Chico in an investigation into the financial problems of his family's stationery store, allowing players to make decisions that influence the unfolding of the story and learn, in a playful way, concepts such as conscious consumption, economics, and financial planning. Developed in the RPG Maker MZ framework, the game prioritizes accessibility and compatibility with multiple platforms, seeking to broaden its reach. A comparative analysis with other educational games shows that this proposal stands out for its Brazilian cultural contextualization, alignment with the principles of the ENEF (National Strategy for Financial Literacy), and suitability for children. The game shows potential as a complementary teaching tool, promoting engagement, autonomy, and active learning.
