Baton Rouge, LA — Knock Knock Children’s Museum is proud to announce the launch of Learn to Earn, a new, museum-wide financial literacy education initiative designed to help young children build foundational money skills while exploring real-world careers through play.
Learn to Earn integrates hands-on financial literacy activities and career pathway exploration throughout the museum’s interactive Learning Zones, helping children understand earning, spending, saving, and decision-making in age-appropriate, engaging ways. The initiative builds on Knock Knock’s multi-year partnership with the Louisiana Association of Certified Public Accountants (LCPA) and its popular Earn & Learn Financial Literacy Weekend, scheduled for June 13–14, 2026.
The Learn to Earn initiative is funded in part by generous grants from the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation and a generous anonymous donor, whose support has made it possible to expand financial literacy education across the entire museum.
“With Learn to Earn, we are meeting children where they are—through play—while laying the groundwork for lifelong financial well-being,” said Christina Melton, Executive Director of Knock Knock Children’s Museum. “By helping children understand how money connects to work, choices, and goals, we are empowering them with skills that will support their futures and strengthen our community.”
Learning to Earn Through Play
The Learn to Earn initiative brings career exploration to life through hands-on programs and a immersive role-playing experiences that introduce children to a rotating selection of real-world jobs throughout the museum. By completing activities in familiar settings, children earn Knock Knock “bucks” and tokens while building practical skills and confidence in roles such as:
- Changing a tire in our mechanic’s garage, Go Go Garage Learning Zone
- Stocking shelves in Knock Knock’s grocery store, Pelican Pantry Learning Zone
- Treating animals back to health in our veterinary clinic, Paws & Claws Learning Zone
Children can then use their earned tokens to “purchase” items at the museum’s new Spend-O-Matic, a reimagined vending machine that accepts only Knock Knock tokens that the children “earn.” The Spend-O-Matic allows children to “purchase” fun DIY projects and crafts and even artwork created and donated by fellow young visitors—introducing concepts of spending choices, monetary value, and entrepreneurship.
The Spend-O-Matic was generously donated by Smart Snack Healthy Vending Company.
“When Knock Knock approached me about repurposing a vending machine for this program, I jumped at the idea,” said Scott Hotard, owner of Smart Snack Healthy Vending Company. “Having brought my own children to the museum, I know how this idea perfectly reflects what this initiative is about—innovation, creativity, and helping kids learn by doing.”
Connecting Money Skills to Career Pathways
Learn to Earn works in unison with the museum’s “Knock Knock, Who’s Here?” career exploration program, which invites volunteers from a wide range of professions to speak and interact with, and to inspire, children about their work. Both Learn to Earn and Knock Knock, Who’s Here help children connect the basic principles of financial earning to real-life interests, aspirations, and passion pursuits. Guest participants have included first responders, artists, athletes, authors, craftspeople, tradesmen, entrepreneurs, and more.
Addressing a Critical Community Need
Increasing financial literacy is especially critical for families in Louisiana’s Capital Region. Nearly half of families in the Baton Rouge area struggle to afford basic necessities, with 31% of households classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and 19% living below the poverty line.
“For the more than 140,000 children and families who visit Knock Knock each year, learning how money works cannot start early enough—or be reinforced often enough,” said Candy Jones, Learning Innovation Director at Knock Knock Children’s Museum. “Young children need hands-on, experiential learning to grasp complex ideas like earning money, distinguishing between wants and needs, and managing limited resources.”
Knock Knock Children’s Museum provides a unique environment where children can explore these concepts through play in familiar, real-world settings—such as a grocery store, restaurant, construction site, garage, and veterinary clinic—making financial learning accessible, meaningful, and fun.
All Learn to Earn activities are free with museum admission. For more information about Learn to Earn or upcoming programs, visit knockknockmuseum.org.
