AGE 3
Stage: A stack of coins means as much to a 3-year-old as a bag of marbles. Just help her organize her loot.
CONCEPTS: Collecting & Counting
Collecting: Set up a few money jars (old jam jars work well) for your child, each with a different coin glued or taped to the lid or side. Give her a pile of loose change, and help her figure out which coins go into which jar. This introduces the idea that money should be saved and organized.
Counting: Get your child a piggy bank—a clear one is ideal—and give her a few coins each month to add to the pot. Every now and then, empty it out and count the number of coins. She won't understand the values, but she will start to feel rewarded by watching them slowly pile up.
Relevant Toy: Clear piggy bank, $6, The Container Store.
One Last Thing: Don't worry that your kids may not understand what money is. Going through the motions will help them respect its value.
Next Page: Age 4: Paying & Earning
