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How to Make Paper Play Coins

Paper play coins are perfect to use to teach children about money and the different denominations of coins. They can make these with you and then play with them after they are made. Because they are not real money, there is no worry that the children will lose the paper play coins. You can also use them as a reward system that they can earn and later spend to get something they want like a privilege around the house, a visit to the park and so forth. They are fun for a child to use for imaginative play, too.

Things You'll Need

White paper (computer-weight paper works well)
Sharpened soft lead pencil
Scissors
Hard work surface
White craft glue (optional if you want two-sided paper coins)

Instructions

- 1
  Set a coin on the work surface, and put a piece of white paper over the coin. You are making a coin rubbing.
- 2
  Hold the coin and paper firmly with one hand, and with the other hand, rub the side of a pencil lead on the paper over the coin until an image comes through. Keep rubbing until the full image appears. Don't press too hard or the paper will rip.
- 3
  Repeat this on another spot of the white paper with the other side of the coin.
- 4
  Make many coin impressions on the sheet of white paper using all the coins. Include nickels, pennies, dimes and quarters.
- 5
  Cut all the coins out and on the blank side of each coin, write the corresponding number. For instance, write "1 cent" and "penny" on the paper penny coins. You will end up with a pile of paper play coins with pictures on one side and writing on the other, If you want coins with both sides looking like the real coin, glue a matching front and back piece together so you have a full coin. Either way, this is a good teaching tool to help children learn about money and how to earn and use it properly. From this project, you can expand onto real coins.This is a great sensory stimulation craft for young children.

Educational Toys