Read what Mumsnet users thought of NatWest Island Saver

[LucyBMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the Mumsnet users who have been testing NatWest Island Saver with their child aged 5 to 12 years. NatWest Island Saver is a fun and educational video game designed to teach children aged 5 to 12 about money management.

Here’s what NatWest has to say: “NatWest Island Saver is the world’s first video game that teaches children all about money. Set on the once idyllic ‘Savvy Islands’, players are tasked with an exciting quest to clean up polluted islands and save the bankimals whilst learning about money along the way. We know that it is crucial for children to develop good money habits at a young age to help them make better financial decisions in the future, and studies have shown that games outperform textbooks in helping children learn fact-based subjects.

So, by introducing important money themes such as interest, taxes, loan sharks and debt management through gaming, NatWest Island Saver is the perfect way to help your child become money savvy, without ever feeling like a lesson. Island Saver is free to download here on iOS, Android, Steam, PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.”

Testers, please give your feedback by answering the following questions, as well as completing the short survey we’ve emailed you.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?
2. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?
3. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?
4. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?
5. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

All testers who leave their feedback on this thread and complete the survey will receive a £5 Amazon voucher and will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 voucher for a store of the winner’s choice.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

"Riding on the animals, going on the interactive watch to buy stuff"

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

Taught my child to save money in a bank.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

No

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Have already recommended the game to a friend as my daughter enjoyed playing it and may of learnt things without realising.

1.What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?
My daughter liked the challenge to level up and open up new areas.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

I don't think so I'm afraid. She's at the younger end of the scale but didn't seem to make the connection.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

We already talk about money and I tried to point things out (like the saving) but she didn't connect.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No... I wasn't aware there were any?

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes maybe, possibly older children could make more of a connection or if they don't already talk about money and need a place to start.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

Cleaning the island and picking up the 'trash' made the island look really nice and colourful and he liked that the most.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

Not really. The focus seemed to be more on recycling and 'trash' / pollution, than money. He knows plenty about recycling already.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

No.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No I didn't know they existed. We had downloaded the app from the particular Mumsnet link and that was it.

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Not for talking about money management. Maybe as a game about recycling?!

Overall comments:
He says: I liked the fact that it was focused on recycling as well as banking and money management because recycling is important [mum: so while he saw it was a good connection to make I think it's a bit sneaky - what are NatWest actually doing about climate change and divesting of fossil fuels?]

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?
The game was fun, the tasks were realistic (e.g recycling and cleaning up) and he liked the characters.

2. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?
Not really, it was more about tidying up the planet. However, we didn't get far into the game as it did take a long time to complete each section.

3. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?
A bit, we talked about the game and the intention to learn about saving.

4. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?
No - didn't realise they were available.

5. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?
If someone asked me about a game that included learning about money I would mention it, but I'm not sure how much it really achieves its goal.

The game did take a while to load (Android), the movement was very sensitive and took a while to learn to control it (DS that is, I found it too hard to control) and the sections took a while to clear, even being on for 30 minutes (more than enough in one session) you couldn't get very far and we are still on the first Island/level 1 after playing it 5 times.

I liked the facts while it was loading and the graphics were enjoyable.

What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?
Unlocking new animals, riding the rhino
Throwing poo

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

No

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

No

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

No. The financial links are too tenuous. I would for recycling through

Questions like - have you saved enough to be able to Unlock the next area, or statements like you have just earned £40 and paid £4 in tax would make it clearer. Even if they were summaries at the end of each area.

As a game it’s fun and well done, though too many words for my son. I would change the buttons so one side was suck and one side was shoot. There was frustration when the wrong button was pushed and coins were lost.

My six year old tried it as well and it was too difficult for her.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

He really enjoyed saving the bankimals and unlocking the new areas, and earning trophies.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

He has definitely learned about tax, and understood that if you work hard you earn in return. He also learned about interest on savings.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

Yes, we talked about tax and what it means! We also talked about why it's important to keep your PIN safe and private.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

We didn't use these when going through the game as DS is only 6 and I think he is too young, but I have printed them and plan to use them in the future.

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes - it's the first game of its kind I have seen, thoroughly kept my son entertained whilst also teaching him about money. I never would have thought to speak to my 6yo about tax or savings interest but it is a really good way to get them interested in the different elements of managing money and having a bank account. I have read lots saying their child was too young for it but I disagree and think this game was perfect for introducing my son to banking, and the younger the better as they will learn to be responsible. The only bit that could be improved age wise would be having the speech bubbles read so that parents don't have to sit with their child constantly whilst they are playing it to read out the speech. We will be downloading the dinosaur saver too!

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

He just liked picking up the bottles and getting money for them, and having different areas in the game. I'm not making it sound great but he seemed to really enjoy it and it was hard to wrangle my phone back.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

He's only 5, so the most basic things like if you do work, you earn money and you can save it. Although i read him the text he didnt really get the tax etc.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

Yes, just about doing work and getting paid, which is what we have been talking about anyway so it reinforced it.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

no

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

yes as it seemed like a really fun game for my son and as a safe game which has some kind of learning experience, it was excellent and well liked as most educational games get ignored in our house but this definitely felt like it was a treat to play for my son.

1. Throwing objects at the animals
2. No because it didn't teach him anything more than he already knew.
3. Although my son enjoyed playing the game , it didn't lead to any financial conversations.
4. No I did not realise there was any activity sheets as I let my son get on with it.
5. I would not recommend Island Saver to other parents as I think just having a conversation would be more practical.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

What he enjoyed most were the sound effects, the colours, the pictures.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

He learned how tax works which is very useful!

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

No

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No. I was hoping that the instruction sheets would be geared towards the children to read, rather than for the parents to read and then explain to their child. ie. actual activity sheets for the child to complete or even simple instructions and explanations as to what a loan or interest is.

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes, I would. I think it is a really fun and interesting way to introduce kids to the money concepts and there is nothing like this out there at the moment. I do think however, that it is more for younger children. Kids who are used to playing Minecraft will find this too simplistic to hold their attention for very long.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver? Getting extra screen time to play a game. He said the game was fun
2. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned? Not really-he’s 12 so we’d already discussed most of these issues
3. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about? A little bit about secure PINs
4. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions? I wasn’t aware of these but I will have a look
5. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why? Yes for younger children-it’s a fun game and if you help them with it/watch it can provide a useful starting point for discussion

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

The animals and collecting the coins

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

To some degree in terms of the basics of earning money, but at 5 he is a bit young to get much beyond that

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

Not really, as above I think he is slightly too young

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes it was good and enjoyable, maybe best suited to around age 7 in terms of the money management skills

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

Sucking up the plastic, saving money, and making friends with the animals. My daughter really enjoyed the game - and so did I!

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

My daughter and I spoke about the importance of saving money as you never know when you might need it, and how to avoid scammers after she got caught out with the money tree scam!

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

It opened up conversations about the importance of saving money and how growns up pay tax so that we can have services such as rubbish collections. I really liked how you had to shoot a tax coin into the recycling bins to have them collected by the bot.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No.

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

I've already recommended it to another parent. It's a beautifully designed game, very fun and enjoyable. I like the way it combines an environmental message with a gentle message about money management. My daughter was able to learn an important message about how to manage money without feeling she was 'doing homework'. The educational elements are done with a nice, light touch. We both enjoyed the game so much that I paid for the follow up Fantasy Island game.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

She loves to save the animals and clean the island and help to make sure evrything is nice and clean.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

It helped her a bit, although we tell her how and teach her saving for a long time.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

Yes, I asked her if she understands what she was doing and she explained me when she get the money - that she needs to earn them and why she needs to pay taxes etc.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

Not yet, but I have already told her about it and we are going to have a look on these later.

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes I would, it is good start for them to explain how it all works and my little girl loves that she can save these islands so she doen't even notice that she is learning at the same time.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

He found quote difficult to navigate, and didn't want to play.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

No. Just a little about keeping the environment clean.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

No.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Perhaps for an older child. My son is 6, and I think too young for this app.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

childs answer: collecting the trash and cleaning the islands (and riding on the rhino!) grown ups answer: he loves this game, he spent ages on it. He got the hang of it really quickly and enjoyed unlocking new areas and the different creatures

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

Child answer: yes it taught me to to put all the coins in the bank I think it did teach him a little bits without him even realising!

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

Yes we talked about needing to pay tax to get the rubbish emptied

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No i didnt know about this but i will definately go and have a look now

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes because it hadnt occured to me to teach my 7yr old anything like this just yet and i wouldnt have known how to go about it but I have seen how much he enjoyed the game and picked up bits n pieces as he played.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver? She liked taming the rhino

2. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned? I've asked her and she said no.

3. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about? No, she mentioned tax but we've discussed that previously

4. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions? No

5. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why? Yes, as my daughter said it was ok to play.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

She thought it was fun for a while once she got the hang of the controls - she is very into recycling so enjoyed that aspect of the game.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

I’m not sure, she is keen to have a debit card now and I think that was inspired by saving money in the game.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

Yes as mentioned it was a good way to enter a conversation about saving.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

To an extent- my daughter enjoyed it but didn’t play for long as she prefers more established games that she can play with friends.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

Getting to save the animals. The game was fun and challenging.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

He learned about keeping money safe and looking after it.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

We discussed tax and what it is/why we have it. We discussed saving money and working for money etc.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes. It's a fun way to start an important conversation and teach a lifelong skill.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

He liked unlocking animals and cleaning the rubbish. He liked the Trex and also collecting coins. He found cleaning the rubbish very satisfying.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

They learned about tax. Also the loan shark and the donkey - I explained to my kids about scams.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

I explained about scams and taxes.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No.

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes. My 5 year old son enjoyed the game more than my 12 year old. He played it start to finish twice. It taught them about recycling, how rubbish affects animals and wildlife, selling, putting money in the bank, being aware of scams and also some problem-solving skills. It was my 5 year old's favourite game for a few months. Even I joined in with the game sometimes as I found it very relaxing :)

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

My child loved that the game has wide range of challenges and also teaches money management skills

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

Yes, definitely. He learnt about tax system, earning money, loan sharks and debt

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

Yes, we did speak about using pocket money wisely, also about getting a savings account for my child

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

Yes

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes, I would recommend. It is a fun way to teach kids about money management as well as making the discussions interesting and easy to understand.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?Cleaning and collecting trash.

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

Not really. My child is 5 years old and struggled to understand some concepts even though I tried explaining them.

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

A little, about how we can make/save money.

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

Yes but probably for older kids

1. He said he liked the overall look of it best, but he didn't get very far into the game as found the pace too slow and the controls frustrating (he is 9 and a confident gamer).

1. He said he hadn't learnt anything, but that was because he didn't play beyond the first 'level'. I continued playing without him (got quite absorbed!) and thought the subtle messages about earning coins, saving them in the bank and paying taxes was quite good - particularly for younger children - but I imagine controlling the game would be very difficult for younger children if my 9 year old gave up.

1. We had a conversation about what the game was aiming to teach children about saving and he said he understood about that. I explained about taxation too and he was surprised to learn about why the government takes some of our money!

1. I was unaware of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website but will take a look.

1. I'm not sure I would recommend it as it is such a frustrating game, but overall I like the subtle messages which are a great base for starting conversation about money saving etc.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?
DS1 - Completing everything and seeing the big bank animals.
DS2 - How you clean up the environment in it as kids will learn to clean up their own messes.

2. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?
DS1 - Yes. I feel sorry for the taxman though as people don't like him!
DS2 - I agree. The taxman is villainous.

3. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?
DS1 talks about loans and tax etc now when he never has before. He seems to understand better why I can't afford everything all the time! DS2 seems to have taken in the eco message more than the financial one.

4. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?
Yes

5. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?
Yes I would. Seems to be quite engaging game and has introduced them to topics I'd find it hard to.

1. What did your child enjoy most about NatWest Island Saver?

The poop

1. Do you think playing NatWest Island Saver has taught your child money management skills? If yes, what have they learned?

More work means more money

1. Did NatWest Island Saver encourage conversations about money between you and your child? If yes, what did you talk about?

A little, we've already spoken about a lot of the topics though

1. Did you use any of the activity sheets on the NatWest Island Saver website to help guide your child through important money questions?

No

1. Would you recommend NatWest Island Saver to other parents looking to talk to their children about money management? Why?

If it came up, yes. It was a fun game. The controls on PC were reasonably easy (after a couple of falls in the water) but there was quite a lot of reading, which my youngest gets fed up with when she just wants play.