(continued from Earning and Managing Money)…
Here are some fun things you can do with your child to further increase their understanding of money. We also have a number of downloadable activities:
- Chore Chart — Help your child organize the chores he or she needs to complete in order to earn an allowance.
- Cost Flash Cards — Use these flash cards to help your child understand that different items around the house have different costs.
- Envelope — This savings envelope will help your child put aside allowance to save for a specific item or treat.
- Money Flash Cards — These flash cards help teach the value of currency and how different combinations can be used.
GAME: Money Roll
Age Group: Preschool and up
You’ll Need:
Dice
10 Pennies
10 Nickels
10 Dimes
10 Quarters
Objective:
Be the first player to save 25 cents.
How to Play:
Take turns rolling the dice. Each player gets the number of pennies that coincides with the number shown on the die. Once a player accumulates five pennies or more, the pennies are exchanged for a nickel. Two nickels are then exchanged for a dime and so on until they can exchange for a quarter. The first player to get a quarter wins!
BONUS: Let the winner keep their winnings to add to their piggy bank!
Lesson:
Kids will quickly understand the fact that a dime is worth ten pennies, that a nickel is worth five, and that fewer coins doesn’t necessarily mean less money.
ACTIVITY: Play Store
Age Group: Preschool and up
You’ll Need:
10 Pennies
10 Nickels
10 Dimes
10 Quarters
Making a store is a fun way for a child to learn about money. Find ordinary objects in your house, assign a price to them, and hang a price tag with that price. Give each child a certain amount of coins (and bills depending on their age). Younger children can purchase one item at a time. Once they have learned how to add the coins, then they can purchase more than one item. As a challenge, tell each child that they MUST use all their money.
This will mean they have to add many of the different items in the store to discover what they must buy in order to have no money left. Another fun twist is to give the child a budget. If they stay within the set budget allow them to put their savings in their piggy bank. Have the older children take turns playing store keeper. If someone gives too much money, the store keeper must know how to make correct change.
GAME: Pocket Change
Age group: Elementary School
You’ll Need:
A variety of coins
How to Play:
Have several coins in various denominations available. Come up with a few coin-based questions such as: “I have three coins in my pocket that are worth 12 cents, what are they? (answer: one dime and two pennies)” or “I have three coins that are worth 25 cents, what are they? (answer: two dimes and one nickel).” Have your child answer the question then show them the coins to see if he or she is correct. Then move on to questions that have more than one answer. For example: “I have six coins that are worth 30 cents, what are they? (answer: one quarter and five pennies or six nickels).”
CHALLENGE: Have your child put your skills to the test. Have him or her make up the questions!
