Counting Money Games for Kids

How to Help Your Child Practice Counting Money

In second grade, students learn to count money, using dollar bills and coins. This is a crucial skill that your child will have to apply in the real world. To increase his or her interest in working with money, and provide some extra practice, you can involve your child in everyday situations involving money, such as paying for groceries, or develop word problems for him or her to complete at home.

In addition to counting, elementary-age students learn to add and subtract using money. Consider the following example: An item costs $6.50, and you pay using a $10 bill. How much money you will get back? To solve this problem, your child should set up the equation $10 - $6.50 = $3.50.

Counting Games

Board Games

Playing classic board games that use fake money, such as Monopoly or Life, can be a great way for your child to practice interacting with money. And the element of fun should help hold his or her interest.

Marketplace

Encourage your child to draw pictures or create other art projects to sell, and then have him or her set up a store in your house. Ask family members, friends or neighbors to purchase the items. For this activity, you can provide your child with either real or fake money.

Money Combinations

Play a timed game that challenges your child to come up with different combinations of coins and dollar bills for the same sum. For example, you might say '$1.45' and allow your child a couple of minutes to come up with as many combinations as possible. One combination could be a dollar bill, four dimes and a nickel. Another combination might be five quarters and two dimes. Again, this activity can involve real or fake money.

Real-World Practice

When at the store, ask your child to help you count the correct amount of money to give to the cashier. This can help your child see how the skills he or she is learning in school apply in real life, which may increase his or her motivation to practice counting money.