Your preschooler and money - Ages 3 - 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.