Are you the type who tries to sneak extra vegetables into your children’s meals or makes games out of yard chores to get the little ones to pitch in?
Why not use the same techniques to teach the youngsters in your life about money, mechanics, and responsibility? Here are 5 toys and games that introduce important concepts in fun, engaging ways:
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn® Smart Stages™ Piggy Bank
“Cha-ching!” says the promo for this toy that introduces toddlers to counting, colors, and even to the Spanish language through music, sounds, and phrases. Suitable for children 6 to 36 months, it comes with two levels of play to adapt as your child grows. With 10 colorful coins to drop into the Piggy Bank’s back, and a door for put-and-take play, it’s a toy with lots of exploration.
Teaching Cash Register
Who doesn’t remember playing “Store”? Make it even more fun with a toy cash register. Children learn to count bills and coins, make change, run a credit card, scan items, and weigh things on the built-in scale. There are lots of lights, sounds, and positive voice messages to encourage kids as they learn. There are also learning games, such as the coin quiz which teaches addition and subtraction. You can even use it with real money for the little entrepreneur with a lemonade stand or holding a bake sale. For ages 3 – 6.
The Allowance Game®
Here is a great way to teach both the rewards of work as well as the costs of spending money on things you want. From recycling cans to losing a tooth, the game gives players lots of ways to make money. You can lose turns for forgetting to do your homework and spend money on movies and toys. This fast-paced board game is suitable for ages 5 -11 years.
KidzRobotix Money Bank Robot
What better motivation to save than with a robo buddy who gobbles down the deposits? This is a bank a child builds on their own, encouraging engineering skills as well as a desire to save money. The robot is so cool, it earned a place in the Museum of Modern Art Design Store. For ages 8 and up.
The Entrepreneur Game
Acclaimed as “The World’s 1st and Only STEM Certified Entrepreneur Board Game!”, children get to choose their own businesses and set their unique vision for success. The game, which comes in both English and Spanish versions, teaches critical thinking, decision making, investing, marketing, and a host of other skills to get them ready for their first IPO or Shark Tank. For ages 12 and older.
Not only will these toys and games educate, but they are also fun for both kids and grownups alike!
