EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Money activities for
everyday family life.

Choose a subject and try an activity together. These ten ideas use everyday materials, simple questions and room for your child’s own answers.

Choose the counting or conversation level that suits your child, and help with reading or writing as needed. An adult should supervise any activity with real coins. Every activity below can use large paper coins instead.

01 · TRY IT TOGETHER

Money basics

Make money something you can count, use and talk about.

For children beginning to countSet up a pretend shop

You’ll need Three large paper coins, two familiar objects and two price labels.

Learn

Money can be exchanged for things. A budget gives us an amount to choose within.

Do

  1. Label one object “2 paper coins” and the other “3 paper coins”. Each paper coin has the same value.
  2. Give your child three paper coins and let them choose an item. Count the payment together.
  3. Count what is left. Take turns being the shopper and shopkeeper.

Discuss

“Why did you choose that item? What could you do with any coins left over?”

For children ready to add small numbersOne amount, two ways

You’ll need Large paper coins labelled 1 and 2, and a piece of paper.

Learn

The same amount can be made in different ways.

Do

  1. Write the number 4. Ask your child to make that total using four coins labelled 1.
  2. Try again with two coins labelled 2.
  3. Find another way: two coins labelled 1 and one labelled 2. Count the value, not just the number of pieces.

Discuss

“There are fewer coins this time. Is the total smaller, or is it still the same?”

Read alongside: The ABC$ of Finance board book.

02 · TRY IT TOGETHER

Saving

Choose something worth waiting for, then notice what changes.

For children who enjoy drawingDraw a savings goal

You’ll need Paper, crayons and five large paper coins.

Learn

A savings goal names something you want to work towards.

Do

  1. Draw something your child would like to save for. For this pretend activity, give it a price of five paper coins.
  2. Draw five empty circles beside it and place two coins on the circles.
  3. Count the empty circles together. Add another paper coin and see what remains.

Discuss

“What are you saving for? How many more coins would complete this pretend goal?”

For children comfortable countingCount, add and compare

You’ll need Large paper coins, a pencil and a sheet of paper.

Learn

Keeping a record lets you see how a saved amount changes.

Do

  1. Start with any small number of paper coins. Count them and write or draw the total.
  2. Add two more coins. Count the new total and record it beside the first.
  3. Compare the two amounts. Repeat with a different starting number.

Discuss

“What changed? How can our record help us remember where we started?”

A place to practise: the clear acrylic money bank.

03 · TRY IT TOGETHER

Spending

Practise choosing and explaining what matters to you.

For children who can count to tenTwo choices, one budget

You’ll need Ten large paper coins and drawings of two things your child likes.

Learn

Choosing one thing can leave less money for another.

Do

  1. Give the drawings pretend prices of six and seven paper coins.
  2. Count out ten coins. Check whether that amount can pay for both.
  3. Let your child choose one, choose to wait, or suggest a different plan. Count the coins that would remain.

Discuss

“What matters most to you about your choice? Would you choose differently another day?”

For children ready to explain their choicesWhat do we need today?

You’ll need Paper and pictures or drawings of familiar items.

Learn

What we need can depend on the situation.

Do

  1. Choose a situation together, such as a walk in the rain or a picnic.
  2. Draw a few possible items: a raincoat, water, a toy or a snack.
  3. Sort them into “needed for this plan” and “nice to have”. Let your child explain where each belongs.

Discuss

“Would these groups change on a different day? Why might another family choose differently?”

Keep the conversation going with words and pictures from the board book.

04 · TRY IT TOGETHER

Giving

Explore who you care about and the ways you can help.

For children who like talking about people and animalsWho could we help?

You’ll need Paper and crayons.

Learn

Giving can begin by noticing something or someone you care about.

Do

  1. Draw three people, places or causes your child cares about, such as a relative, a park or animals.
  2. Ask your child to choose one and name something that could help.
  3. Draw one possible action. Keep it a choice to discuss together; there is no required donation.

Discuss

“Why did you choose this? How could we find out what would actually be helpful?”

For children ready to plan a kind actionMoney, time or care

You’ll need Three pieces of paper labelled Money, Time and Care.

Learn

Helping does not always involve spending money.

Do

  1. Choose a familiar example, such as cheering up a relative or caring for a shared space.
  2. Think of one way each card could help: contributing money, spending time or making something thoughtful.
  3. Choose one action you can do with a grown-up, then talk afterwards about how it went.

Discuss

“Which kind of help suited this situation? What would the other person appreciate?”

The bank’s Donate compartment can give a chosen giving goal a place.

05 · TRY IT TOGETHER

Goals

Put an idea on paper and decide on a next step.

For children trying simple subtractionMake a three-part plan

You’ll need Paper, a pencil and large paper coins.

Learn

A goal becomes easier to describe when you know the cost, the amount you have and the difference.

Do

  1. Make three headings: “It costs”, “I have” and “I still need”.
  2. Try a pretend goal that costs six paper coins when you already have four. Use the coins to find the difference.
  3. Let your child choose another pretend goal and work through the three headings together.

Discuss

“What could our next step be? Who could help us check the numbers?”

For children who have tried making a goalWhen a plan changes

You’ll need Your three-part plan or a new pretend example.

Learn

A plan can be reviewed when the numbers or your preferences change.

Do

  1. Start with a pretend goal costing six paper coins and four already saved.
  2. Change the price to eight. Work out the new difference together.
  3. Talk about the options: keep saving, choose another goal or pause the plan. Let your child explain a choice.

Discuss

“Do you still want the same thing? What would make this plan work better for you?”

A place to keep a plan: My First Financial Planner Sold out.

KEEP TALKING

One activity can be enough for today.

Follow the question your child asks next. You can repeat an activity, change the pretend amounts or come back to it another day.

Ask us a question