How to teach kids to count money and make change (ages 5–10+)
Money is the most concrete kind of math a child will ever use. A child who can answer "How much is it, do I have enough, and how much change do I get?" also grows more confident with numbers in general. Here is an age-by-age roadmap.
Ages 5–6: recognising and counting
- Name the coins and notes: which one is worth more?
- Add up to 10: "A five and two ones make how much?"
- Set up a pretend shop with small, round prices.
Ages 7–8: paying the right amount and making change
- Add up a few items in a basket
- Choose the exact amount from a wallet
- Pay with a bigger note and work out the change
Ages 8–9: multiplication at the shop
"Three apples at $4 each" makes multiplication meaningful. Reading a real receipt together is great practice.
Ages 10+: decimal prices and division
- Adding decimal prices ($12.50 + $7.25)
- Division: "If 3 cost $18, how much is one?"
- Budgeting pocket money
Practise with Little Cashier
In Little Cashier your child is either the shopper paying with the right money or the cashier giving change. Four levels take them from age 5 to 10+, and the game opens with the money of your country (44 currencies). Correct payments earn stars that unlock 50 cute animal friends.
No ads, no in-app purchases, no data collected. Works offline.
Updated: 2026-10-26 · Tamakala Games