Teach Kids Money Lessons with Lakeshore Learning

Teaching kids about money is easy with Lakeshore Learning! Many thanks to them for providing the products for our lessons at home.

With all the debit cards, online shopping and virtual pay methods in use now, it’s quite possible to go a really long time without ever actually touching any money. Isn’t that an odd thought? The process of managing money has become almost entirely abstract – but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need to teach our kids money lessons, like how to recognize coins, make change and add dollars and cents. They’re everyday life skills that can lead to a better overall understanding of money, lifelong money management skills and an interest in financial responsibility. Plus, it’s just fun! Our favorite toys for teaching kids about money come from Lakeshore Learning, and they’re perfect for homeschooling, daycare or after-school playtime.

Cash... What's that? How does the 'virtual pay' generation learn to understand and manage money?Click To Tweet

Our Favorite New Back-to-School Learning Toys:

The Allowance Game

My 6-year-old had a better grasp of how to count money after only playing The Allowance Game 2 or 3 times. This simple board game operates on the simple idea that the first player to save $20 (in realistic bills and coins) is the winner. But, unexpected things may come your way, like an overdue library book fine or some lucky birthday money. The Allowance Game is sort of like an elementary version of Monopoly, and it’s fast-paced and quick enough for a kiddo’s short attention span without being too easy. Perfect for Kindergarten through 6th grade.

Real Working Cash Register

What’s more fun than a Real Working Cash Register? Not much! Not only does this cash register do real calculations, but it has a card scanner that really beeps, and it makes lots of fun sounds just like the real thing. It also comes with a full drawer of bills and coins.

You know what that means, right? We can play TARGET!

Honestly, I don’t know where my kids get that from, but they love to pull out everything in the kitchen and set up aisles, just like their (Mommy’s) favorite store. The added benefit here? The kids also get to imagine and pretend with open-ended creative play. (Read: Mommy gets more time to do stuff!)

Time and Money Smart Pencil Cards

And, last but definitely not least, the learning toy that has been keeping both kiddos occupied more than any other – the Time and Money Smart Pencil Cards. Just one of the many sets that work with the uber-cool Smart Pencil, these cards help kids count money, tell time, recognize things like bills, coins, numbers and hands on clocks, and so much more.

Much like actual paper money, clocks with actual hands are pretty rare these days, so this is a fun toy that serves several educational purposes. It can definitely give kids a jump start on some of the things they’ll learn in Kindergarten and first grade!

For kids, money can be hard to understand – but it doesn’t have to be! Visit Lakeshore Learning to see their entire selection of educational toys, perfect for back-to-school learning fun. To stay up on the latest news, sales, and more, follow Lakeshore Learning on Facebook and Twitter.