Is your child struggling with learning how to count money?  Do they need some practice?  Do they tend to get the coins mixed up?  Or do they want to have some fun?  Maybe make a little money once in a while?

Well here are some ways we have helped Riley learn to count money and given him more opportunities to practice.

Dixie Bathroom Cups

This was actually given to me by a friend who homeschools her girls.  She took a few Dixie Bathroom Cups, you know the small ones?  She would pick out a handful of coins and write the amount on the bottom of the cup.  She would hand the cup with the coins inside to her child and ask her to count what was in the cup.  Then her daughter could verify the amount on the bottom of the cup.  We would use this idea in between subjects or when I needed a moment to get something together.  It was definitely a good way to practice for Riley.

Pocket Change

Every couple of days or so, Chris would come in the door from work and lay a handful of change on the table.  He would put his stuff down and call Riley in the room.  After a hug hello he would sit beside Riley as he counted all the coins laying on the table.  Sometimes it could be a couple of dollars worth of coins.  At first Riley would complain, “Not again Dad!”  But once he started getting the hang of identifying the coins and counting the money he enjoyed it.  Especially if Dad decided to give the money to Riley!    That made it even more appealing!

Rolling Coins

We have a jar that we would add coins to whenever we had spare change.  After a while the jar was completely full and it was time to roll the coins.  So Riley and I sat at the kitchen table one night rolling coins.  Counting by 5’s, 10’s, and 25’s. learning what it took to make $10 in quarters or $2 in nickels.  He enjoyed it and seemed to get a better grasp on counting money.

Playing Store

Riley always enjoyed it when we would play store during school.   We would pull things from the pantry, toys from his room and school supplies from the school room.  We set them up and put prices on them.  He would come through “the store” and pick out his merchandise and then check them out with the cashier.   A fun way to learn and play at the same time.

Putting Him on the Spot!

Of course there is always the difficult task of putting him on the spot and making him count his money to the cashier if he is purchasing something.  It is a little bit of a struggle at first but eventually he got it.  Thankfully the cashier was usually patient and there weren’t a lot of people in line behind us.  They will eventually need to do it anyways, why not practice?

Toy money

I bought a tray of toy money.  We used it during our lessons and during our practice time.  It came in very handy.

These are ideas that worked for us.  What have you used?  What worked really well with your child?  I’d love to hear your ideas.