The Home Learning Nest: Teaching Preschoolers About Money Builds Both Life Skills and Early Math Skills 💰

Money may seem like a “grown-up” topic, but children as young as preschool age can begin learning the basics in playful, meaningful ways. In Montessori-inspired education, money is not only currency — it’s a tool for practical life skills, math concepts, and character development, like patience, responsibility, and gratitude.

With simple activities, you can introduce money concepts to your preschooler in ways that build confidence and independence. Here are 15 fun money lessons for preschoolers in 2025 that teach both life skills and early math.

1. Recognizing Coins & Notes

Child’s hands sorting Nigerian naira coins and notes in a woven basket on a beige surface.

Lesson: Learn the names, sizes, colors, and values of coins and notes.
Activity: Create a “money basket” with safe play coins (or real coins under supervision). Play sorting games by size, shape, and value.

2. Understanding That Money is for Exchange

Child and parent role-playing in a pretend shop with play fruits, baskets, and naira play money.

Lesson: Money is used to buy goods or services.
Activity: Set up a pretend shop with play food, baskets, and play money. Take turns being the shopkeeper and customer.

3. Earning Money

Smiling child watering plants and receiving a coin from a parent as a reward.

Lesson: Money comes from working or providing a service.
Activity: Offer simple “jobs” like watering plants or sorting laundry, and reward with tokens or coins.

4. Counting Money

A young child counting coins on a table, learning about the value of money through hands-on practice.

Lesson: Money connects directly to math — adding and grouping.
Activity: Count coins together to “buy” small toys at your pretend shop. Start with 1-to-1 counting, then simple addition (2 coins = 2).

5. Saving Money

Child placing coins into a piggy bank on a small wooden table.

Lesson: Not all money should be spent immediately.
Activity: Give your child a clear jar piggy bank. Watch coins “grow” over time and talk about saving for something special.

6. Spending Wisely

Child choosing between two toys in a store, holding a small purse with coins.

Lesson: Money should be used carefully, not wasted.
Activity: At the shop, let your child choose between two small items. Talk about making choices and trade-offs.

7. Sharing & Giving

Child putting coins into a donation box labeled “helping hands.”

Lesson: Money can also help others.
Activity: Create a “sharing jar.” When your child saves, encourage them to put one coin aside to give to charity or someone in need.

8. Patience & Waiting

Child pointing at a sticker chart on the wall, with stars leading to a toy picture reward.

Lesson: Sometimes we must wait before buying what we want.
Activity: Choose a toy to save up for. Use a sticker chart to track progress and celebrate when your child reaches the goal.

9. Value of Hard Work

Child folding small towels and receiving tokens or smiley stickers in a Montessori-style room.

Lesson: Effort leads to reward.
Activity: Link chores to tokens that can be exchanged for playtime privileges or small treats.

10. Money & Numbers in Everyday Life

Parent and child looking at price tags together in a grocery store aisle.

Lesson: Numbers on money connect to math.
Activity: At the grocery store, point out prices. Show your child that higher numbers mean more money.

11. Digital Money Basics (2025 Skill!)

Child watching a parent make a safe mobile money transfer on a smartphone.

Lesson: Money isn’t always physical.
Activity: Show your child how you “tap to pay” or use an app. Let them play with a pretend “digital wallet” app designed for kids.

12. Wants vs. Needs

A child looking at toys and food items, learning the difference between wants and needs.

Lesson: Some things we need (food, clothes), others we just want (toys, sweets).
Activity: Sort picture cards into “needs” and “wants.”

13. Making Change

Child handing coins back to a parent while practicing making change.

Lesson: Giving and receiving the right amount.
Activity: Play shop and practice giving coins back as change.

14. Budgeting Simply

Preschool child placing stickers on a simple chart with categories for saving, spending, and sharing.

Lesson: You can’t buy everything at once.
Activity: Give your child 5 play coins and a basket of toys with “price tags.” They must choose what to buy within their “budget.”

15. Gratitude for Money

Child smiling and saying “thank you” while receiving coins from a parent in a family setting.

Lesson: Money should be appreciated, not taken for granted.
Activity: Practice saying “thank you” when receiving coins, gifts, or items.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Teaching preschoolers about money is not about adding financial pressure — it’s about building confidence, math readiness, and life skills that last a lifetime. With playful, hands-on activities, money lessons become exciting opportunities to nurture independence and responsibility.

👉 For more Montessori-inspired activities and guidance, explore my book Teach from the Heart: A Parent’s Guide to Home Learning — available on Selar and Selfany.

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Monday, September 22, 2025

Teaching Preschoolers About Money Builds Both Life Skills and Early Math Skills 💰