Early Money Concepts for Young Children

It's never too early to help your toddler or preschooler learn money concepts. These age appropriate activities will give your child a jumpstart into understanding the wide world of finance.

1. Buy your child a piggy bank and encourage him/her to put money that she earns or finds into it. I started my son off young by buying a piggy bank that matched the decor of his room. Between the ages of one and two, I gave him a pile of loose change and showed him how to put money in the piggy bank (I watched him closely of course to make sure he didn't eat any coins). He enjoyed it so much that now anytime he finds a coin on the ground he gives it to me to put in his pocket so we can put it in his piggy bank at home. Occasionally, we pour out all of his money and I make a big deal out of how much he has saved. (Small Motor Skills, Money Concepts)

2. Save your change for a while and teach your child the names of each of the coins. Then show your child how many quarters make a dollar, how many nickels make a dollar, etc... This activity will give him or her an early start on the concept of different values of money. Then practice counting the coins together. (Numbers and Counting, Money Concepts)

3. Give your child a handful of change and let him or her sort it into different colors then different sizes. Go over the names of each coin. (Sorting, Money Concepts, Colors, Sizes)

Lacing Cards

My son loves his birthday cards almost as much as the presents that go with them. This project helped me recycle them and the finished products made a great activity for car rides.

Master Skill: Small Motor Skills

Materials: Old postcards or birthday cards, shoelaces or yarn, hole punch, glue stick

Method: Cut the front half off of the birthday card. If desired, cut out the main picture, leaving at least a half inch border around it. Use a glue stick to glue the two halves of the card together so that the front of the card is facing out on one side and the inside of the card is facing out ont he other. Using a hole punch, make a series of holes not more than an inch apart around the picture. Tie the yarn or shoelace to one hole. (If using yarn, make a "needle" by taping one end) Show your child how to thread the yarn through each hole.

Safety reminder: Keep yarn, rope, or strings longer than 6 inches away from babies and young toddlers. Supervise use of any rope, yarn, or string with older toddlers and young children.