Your Preschooler and Money - Activities for Ages
3 to 5
Your child is open to learning at this age so you should take advantage
of this and begin introducing them to money and all it’s uses. Your
child loves exploring their environment and being creative, so activities
that include touching and drawing will help them enjoy money concepts.
Here are a few fun activities you can incorporate into your day that
include money. Learning about money can be fun!
- Show her pictures of different types of coins bills, and help her
count out 5 pennies and show her how it equals one nickel. Do the same
with dimes, quarters and dollars.
Together draw different coins by tracing the outlines and rubbing a
pencil over a sheet of paper on top of the coin.
Start letting your child hold money and keep it in their pocket or little
change purse. Later she can use her money to buy something from the
store.
- Set up a play store with toy cash register and a counter full of items
to sell that you took from your child's toys. Help her write the prices
of the items on a sticker and place on the toy. A garage sale is an
excellent way to get a child involved in the process of selling. Your
child can help write prices on items she wants to sell and then help
you give change.
- Give your child an allowance each week for extra activities you had
her do.
- Show her how much things she uses or wants cost when out shopping.
- Set up a piggy-bank shelf with 4 clear jars each labeled with the
purpose of the money in that jar. Name them the four uses of money:
Spend, Save, Invest and Charity, and teach them about each use.
- Teaching your children about money and how to use it will help them
gain a sense of independence and also help them see that they can’t
have everything they want.
- Giving to charity will also help them appreciate what they have more
and how they can help other people who don’t have as much as they
do.
