
As South African families navigate the 2025 ‘Back to School’ season, the metaverse is emerging as a transformative platform that has the potential to completely reshape education in a world increasingly defined by digital innovation. For today’s children, learning through the metaverse is more than just play – it is an opportunity to acquire skills that will be vital in navigating the complexities of tomorrow’s world. Among the most significant areas of opportunity is financial literacy, a critical but often neglected subject that holds the key to empowering young people with the tools they need to succeed.
The idea of integrating financial education into gaming may sound ambitious, but it actually addresses a clear need. Traditional methods of teaching children about money often fail to engage them because they present abstract concepts in ways that feel disconnected from real life. The link between digital education and real-world applications is vital to this process and Nedbank’s MiGoals4Kids account, which is designed specifically for children under 16, provides an excellent example of how virtual lessons can translate into tangible life skills. For example, the interest-earning feature in Nedbank’s Chow Town mirrors the savings growth facilitated by the MyPocket wallet linked to the MiGoals4Kids account. This tangible connection helps children see how the financial decisions they make in a game have meaningful parallels in real life.
The metaverse provides an immersive environment where children can interact with financial principles through relatable scenarios. Games like Chow Town, developed by Sea Monster Entertainment and hosted on the Roblox platform, exemplify this potential. Designed for children aged 9 to 12, Chow Town allows players to manage virtual restaurants, teaching them basic entrepreneurial principles, and emphasising the importance of budgeting, saving, investing and making strategic decisions – all in a fun and interactive environment.
Research confirms the effectiveness of this gamified approach to financial literacy. Studies have found that digital games improve cognitive development, spatial awareness, decision-making and visual and problem-solving skills. A Harvard Business Review analysis highlighted that gaming also fosters leadership qualities such as adaptability, resilience, and strategic thinking. By immersing children in scenarios where they must manage resources, experiment with different strategies and learn from outcomes, the metaverse offers a hands-on and engaging way to develop these essential life skills.
This approach is particularly relevant in South Africa, where youth unemployment remains a significant concern, as it equips young people with financial literacy and business acumen that can help pave the way for a more prosperous future.
Of course, as we celebrate the educational potential of the metaverse, we must balance innovation with responsibility. The digital world is not without risks and children engaging with these online platforms need to be protected. For example, Roblox has strict safety protocols in place, including secure chat features, content moderation and age-verification systems. Chow Town integrates these safeguards, ensuring children can engage in learning and play in a controlled, secure environment. However, parental involvement remains crucial. Parents must actively monitor their children’s online activity, limit them to secure environments, utilise all available parental controls and foster open conversations about digital safety.
Equally important is the need to manage screen time effectively. While gaming can be an excellent tool for learning, excessive use can raise the risk of negative outcomes such as decreased physical activity, disrupted sleep patterns and reduced social interaction. Experts recommend setting clear boundaries, incorporating screen-free activities into daily routines, and ensuring that gaming time is purposeful and balanced.
With ‘back to school’ season in full swing, initiatives like Chow Town present a useful opportunity to blend education with play, offering children a highly engaging way to learn about money. The integration of financial education into the metaverse is not just about teaching children to save or invest – it is about equipping them with the skills to think critically, dream ambitiously, navigate a complex and interconnected world with confidence and resilience, and take control of their financial futures from a young age.
By Bridget Nkandu, Executive Head of Segment Strategy and Client Value Propositions at Nedbank