Fun and Easy Money Activities for Kindergarten

Money activities for kindergarten were one of the best ways I helped my son understand both early math and real-life skills, long before worksheets ever worked.

As a homeschool mom with years of hands-on experience teaching through play, I found that simple games like sorting coins or running a pretend store taught him more about value, counting, and decision-making than any textbook could.

These playful activities made learning feel natural, and many of them became part of our daily routine because they were fun and effective.

Toy store pretend play and printable money worksheets for free hands-on kindergarten money activities.

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Money Activities for Kids

You don’t need to rely only on worksheets to teach money skills, some of the best learning happens through everyday play.

These money activities for children were all part of our early learning years, especially during kindergarten, when hands-on ideas worked best.

Counting coins in jars

We’d fill clear jars with different amounts of coins and label each one with a number. Then I’d ask him to check if the amount matched. It was a simple way to build counting and addition skills with real-life context.

Board games

Money-themed board games are a staple in our rotation. They’re a fun way to practice counting and making change without it feeling like a lesson.

Here are a few we’ve enjoyed:

Money Bags Coin Value Game – Great for helping kids understand different coin values while racing to collect the most money.
Exact Change Card Game – A fast-paced matching game that sneaks in coin recognition and mental math.
Making Change Game – Perfect for practicing real-world math, especially figuring out how much change is owed.

Coin bingo

Bingo with coins is always a hit. I made cards with different coin combos and called out amounts, he had to find the right match. It’s a fun mix of listening, math, and memory.

Money songs

We used catchy songs to help remember coin names and values. Anything with rhythm sticks better, especially when kids get to sing (or dance!) along. Songs like “Five Little Pennies” made number practice more engaging. We’d sing them during clean-up or transitions just to sneak in a little extra math.

Mock store

Setting up a pretend store with price tags and play money gave us hours of learning disguised as play. He’d “shop,” count his money, and even figure out change with help.

A colorful mix of plush toys and small items are laid out, each with a price tag attached. The toys include a red Deadpool plush holding a white unicorn ($1), a yellow Garfield-like cat in green clothes ($2), a fuzzy Ewok character ($2), and various small items priced from 10¢ to 50¢. The scene has a playful, garage-sale vibe.

Treasure hunt

I used to hide coins around the house for a “money hunt.” After finding them, he’d sort and count his treasure. It was perfect for active learning days.

Money books

Reading stories like Bunny Money or The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money helped open up conversations about how we use money in real life. We’d always talk about the choices characters made with their money.

Coin rubbings

Crayons + coins = simple magic. He’d place a coin under paper and rub over it to see the design appear. It’s great for building familiarity with coin details.

Pretend bank

We also tried setting up a mini bank. He could “deposit” his play money and “withdraw” it for different activities. It’s a playful way to introduce banking terms and saving.

Coin flipping

We used coin flips to practice tallying and basic data tracking. It was quick, easy, and surprisingly addictive, he always wanted to beat his last “heads” count.

Shopping trip

On small outings, I’d give him a few coins or a dollar and let him choose something to buy. Counting out the money and talking through his choices made real-world practice feel meaningful.

Coin exchanges

We played a game where he had to trade pennies for nickels, then nickels for dimes, and so on. It was a fun, hands-on way to show how coins relate to one another.

Fine Motor Coin Challenges

These simple activities helped my son build both money awareness and fine motor skills, without even realizing he was learning.

Sorting Coins

One of our first money activities was sorting coins into a muffin tray by type, pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. It helped him recognize coins quickly, and it doubled as a tactile sorting game.

Four clear square containers hold different types of U.S. coins on a white surface. The top left holds a pile of shiny copper pennies, the top right has a few nickels, the bottom left has three Jefferson nickels, and the bottom right contains several quarters, including some with state or commemorative designs

Coin Stacking

We’d set a timer and see how many coins he could stack before they toppled over. It became a fun challenge that also encouraged patience and hand-eye coordination.

A slightly leaning stack of assorted U.S. coins, including copper pennies and silver-toned nickels and dimes, set against a plain white background. The coins are loosely aligned, giving the stack a wobbly, unsteady appearance.

Coin Art Projects

Sometimes we’d glue coins onto cardboard to create shapes or designs. He especially liked making a coin mosaic frame and sprinkling glitter on top. It’s a creative way to explore money while strengthening those little hands.

Kindergarten Money Worksheets

If you’re looking for printable options to reinforce what kids are learning through play, these free worksheets are a great way to add structure without losing the fun.

We used these alongside our hands-on activities to help with coin recognition, basic counting, and understanding real-life money use. They’re especially helpful for quiet time or independent work.

Coin Identification Worksheets

These were a big hit when we started learning about money. Kids practice recognizing and naming coins, and sorting them by type. It’s a great first step toward understanding value—and it’s fun to turn it into a coin scavenger hunt around the house.

Money Memory Game

This matching game pairs coins and bills, helping kids build both memory and money recognition. We used it during quiet time, and it didn’t feel like “schoolwork,” even though he was picking up important skills while playing.

Printable Chore Cards

These cards were a game changer for us when introducing the idea of earning money. Each task has a small reward, and it opened the door to talking about saving, spending, and setting little goals—like buying a small toy with earned coins.

Free Money Worksheets

This set covers everything from basic counting to making change. We didn’t use them all at once but rotated them in during our math time. It’s a great way to reinforce what they’re learning through play.

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Money Worksheets

This collection includes a little bit of everything—coin ID, counting practice, and basic transactions. It’s perfect if you're looking for something structured without being too formal. We used a few of these during our morning work sessions.

homeschoolpreschool.net

Coin Sorting Fun

Sorting real or play coins is one of the most hands-on ways to start. We used a muffin tin to sort by type, and it doubled as both a math activity and fine motor practice.

www.livinglifeandlearning.com

Summer Money Puzzles

These seasonal puzzles kept things fresh when attention spans got short. They’re themed for summer but can really be used anytime for some quick coin review with a playful twist.

www.simpleeverydaymom.com

I Am Money Book Craft

The "I Am Money" book craft is an interactive project that teaches children about different denominations and the concept of money. This one adds a creative spin. Kids build their own book while learning about money. My son liked adding his own illustrations, and it helped him take ownership of the learning.

Last Updated on 24 June 2025 by Clare Brown