Hobbies And Interests
I Spy
This game is perfect for younger kids who are not yet familiar with coins. Put several different coins on a table, such as a quarter, a dime, a nickel and a penny. Let your child examine each one, and then play I Spy with them. To do this, say "I spy a coin that ..." and finish the sentence with a detail about one of the coins. For example, you might say that the coin has an eagle on the back, is the smallest coin of all or is copper-colored. Encourage your child to locate the coin that you are describing. This game will help your child differentiate between the various types of coins.
Budget Shopping
Next time you go grocery shopping, put your kids to work. Give each of them a list of items that you need to buy, and make sure that they are items that come in several brands and varieties. If possible, make them products that your kids are interested in and enjoy. Encourage them to locate the products on their lists and decide which item is the cheapest. For example, is a generic brand of juice cheaper than a name brand? Is a large pack of pencils cheaper than a small pack? Have them explain how they decided which one was cheaper, and then help them to decide which one to buy.
Fake Allowance
You want to teach your kids responsibility, but you're not sure they're ready for an allowance. Give them a fake allowance instead. Draw a picture of a fake dollar bill, and photocopy it to make a stack of play money. Give this money to kids in return for doing extra things around the house (not their own chores). Then create a system in which your child can turn in a certain amount of money for a privilege, such as choosing dinner one night that week, staying up an extra 10 minutes or getting an extra helping of dessert. This system will teach them the value of saving their money for a larger privilege rather than spending it on a smaller one.