10 of the Best Educational Toys, Games, & Books to Teach Your Kids About Money
Start them young!
It’s never too early to starting teaching kids about money – including how to save, budget, and spend money wisely. More importantly, you don’t want to risk someone else teaching your kids how to manage their money poorly.
So if you’re needing a place to start, looking for a fantastic gift idea, or just want to make learning about money more fun for your children, check out these educational and highly rated products we love!
According to Dave Ramsey, kids of different ages learn and grasp the concept of money differently. “A study by the University of Cambridge found that money habits in children are formed by the time they’re 7 years old.”
For instance, preschoolers can visualize the growth of money through a clear savings jar, elementary students are capable of learning not to buy on impulse, and teens can benefit from learning the ropes of their own savings account and getting ready for their college financial plans.
But just know, it’s never too late to talk about money. Someday your kids will thank you.
1. Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
Great for ages 6 months to 3 years.
This interactive, singing piggy bank encourages thinking skills, practices counting and is a great way to teach your baby about saving money. There are also two different levels with a variety of developmentally appropriate songs, phrases, and sounds – so whether they’re 6 months old or 3 years, they’ll be learning age-appropriate skills. It even has Spanish and helps children learn their basic colors!
2. Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Great for ages 36 months up to 8 years.
What child doesn’t love role-playing with money? This cash register also encourages social skills, mathematics, and best of all it features a solar-powered calculator so you never have to worry about replacing batteries. It also onlinees with a pretend credit card, 30 pretend bills and 40 plastic coins – so you can guarantee endless hours of fun & learning!
3. Financial Peace Junior Kit
Great for ages 3 to 12 years.
Packed with tools, resources, and step-by-step instructions for parents, Financial Peace Junior by Dave Ramsey will equip your kids to handle their money more wisely. Through fun stories and activities, your kids will learn the values of working, giving, saving and spending. Plus, it will help mom and dad onlinee up with age-appropriate chores and develop good money habits that will be apart of all your daily lives.
4. Pretend & Play Checkbook with Calculator
Great for ages 36 months up to 12 years.
It’s always fun to pretend you’re a grown-up! With this set kids can fill out pretend checks that are realistic in size and learn how to make payments and calculate their balances. It includes 25 checks, a check register, pen, calculator, deposit slips and instruction card.
5. Moonjar Classic Moneybox (Save, Spend, Share)
Great for ages 4 and up.
This award-winning Moonjar moneybox is divided into Save, Spend and Share tins that allow kids to set practical goals with their money for each section. Each Moonjar Kit also onlinees with a family guide with simple budgeting ideas and a passbook so kids can track their progress.
6. Children’s Books
Great for ages 4 to 8 years.
These are just a few popular and highly rated children’s books that will teach kids about various forms of money, saving for things you need and want, and all the things that you can do with your hard-earned cash.
7. The Allowance Game
Great for ages 5 and up.
In this skill-building game, players race around the game board doing chores to earn their allowance and then save it or spend it on things they want. For instance, if a player washes the car, they will earn $1.30, but if they forget their homework they will lose a turn! A fun way for kids to learn about money and consequences!
8. Cash ‘N’ Carry Wallet
Great for ages 5 and up.
What a fun way that kids can learn the value of money! This play wallet includes 30 bills, a pretend credit card, a bank card, and a zippered coin onlinepartment with 40 coins included. It also onlinees with suggested activities that will teach them how to be responsible for their cash and on the flip side, if they lose it – it will be a not-so-tragic learning experience. 😉
9. Money Bags Game
Great for ages 7 to 9 years.
Similar to The Allowance Game, this highly-rated game also allows kids to earn money by landing on a square with a practical chore or entrepreneurial endeavors, such as setting the table, hosting a lemonade stand and more. This game also gives kids practice counting bills and exchanging money. Plus, there’s an additional incentive for kids to use critical thinking and coin onlinebining skills.
10. American Girl – A Smart Girl’s Guide: Money
Great for ages 9 to 12 years.
Know an American Girl fan? In this book, girls will learn how to not only spend their cash but also how to earn it. The quizzes, tips, and helpful quotes from other girls will make learning about money management easy and fun. Chapter topics include Making Money, Shopping, Saving Money and more.
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