Does your child have a hard time counting money or figuring out change? Knowing how to use money to buy items and make a budget are important life skills. Money skills for kids are easy to practice with a pretend store and everyday groceries. In this post, we show how we set up a school store at our learning center and how you can do the same at home.
Building a School Store to Practice Money Skills for Kids
We set up a school store in an empty room. Because students loved “buying” items, they were always excited when it was time to go shopping. They brought in empty food boxes and cartons, and we labeled them with prices. Then we created task cards with different challenges. The cards came in two levels to meet each student’s needs.
Level 1 Task Card Examples
- After you choose 3 items from the store, what did you buy? What is the total cost?
- If you find the paper towels and the toilet paper, how much more does the toilet paper cost?
- How many items in the store cost more than $15? What are they?
- If you have $10 to spend, what items will you buy, and what is the total cost?
Level 2 Task Card Examples
- If you have $32 to spend, put 6 different items in your basket that cost less than $32 in all. How much did you spend, and how much is left over?
- When you find a carton of eggs, how much does it cost, and how many eggs are inside? What is the cost per egg?
- Find the cheapest item in the store. If you paid with $5, how much change would you get?
How to Set Up a Pretend Store at Home
This activity is easy to set up at home too. First, gather empty boxes and cartons, and put a price on each one. Then use play money so your child can walk to a pretend register and buy items. Once your child is comfortable buying and making change, let them buy an item on their own at a store. Following a budget, counting out money, and finding the best buy between two similar items are important skills. Use this fun activity to help your child feel more comfortable with money. For more math ideas, see our post on making math fun with everyday activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I teach money skills for kids?
First, set up a pretend store with labeled boxes and play money. Start with simple purchases, then add change and budgets.
What age can kids start learning about money?
Many children can start counting coins and buying items in early elementary school. Adjust the task cards to your child’s level.
What if my child struggles with counting money or change?
If it is hard, go back to simpler tasks, like adding two prices, and use real coins. If math stays hard, a math evaluation can help.
How ETLC Can Help
If your child struggles with math or money skills, our learning specialists can help. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available.
Learn more about math tutoring at ETLC or schedule a free consultation to talk with a member of our team.
You may also find these pages helpful:
- Making Math Fun With Everyday Activities
- Help! My Child Is Struggling With Math
- 5 Effective Math Manipulatives
About the Author
Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center. With over 25 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Sonia has dedicated her career to helping children overcome complex communication and academic challenges. She has advanced training and a special focus on treating dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech, and she is passionate about providing families with a clear path to success.
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