14 Toys and Games to Teach Kids About Money
The business board game uses business and math skills to grow a startup business. Kids learn the value of investing for growth along with the inherent risk and rewards of business opportunities. They also face such financial scenarios as lawsuits, price wars, networking and IPOs.
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$14.99 (Junior) -- Ages 5 and up
$19.99 (Original) – Ages 8 and up
This classic game teaches kids to keep track of money, both what they earn and pay in rent. Older kids are faced with weighing the pros and cons of spending more to make more, and going into debt to stay in the game. The Junior version features fewer properties and doesn’t allow building or mortgaging properties.
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This board game shows how a paycheck gets spent each month. Players encounter bills, lucky payouts, insurance, loans and savings accounts on the 31-space game board that resembles a calendar. Whoever has the most money after paying off loans and bills at the end of the game wins.
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This computer game allows players to be a corporate CEO and navigate real-world business challenges to grow their empire. This strategy game explores marketing, manufacturing, purchasing, importing and retailing. It’s used in business classrooms at Harvard, Duke, University of North Carolina and Stanford.
Good Old Games
$14.99 (Junior) -- Ages 5 and up
$19.99 (Original) -- Ages 8 and up
This time-honored game starts with a key financial decision: take on a loan for college or go debt-free and degree-less. Players go through life’s milestones, collecting paychecks and making decisions that could help them or cost them (buy home insurance or not?) as they try to save the biggest nest egg. The Junior game offers a simpler version for younger kids.
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In this fast-paced game, players go around the board doing chores and collecting an allowance. Then they can spend their earnings on the things they want. The game helps players make change, keep track of money and learn basic addition and subtraction.
Kids learn to make specific amounts using different coins and bills, such as counting 13 cents without dimes. The player who earns the most money wins the game.
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This educational board game teaches kids the differences between an asset and liability and gives them practice investing with play money. The board game was created by money guru Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad.
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With a built-in, solar-powered calculator, children can learn basic math, calculator and money skills while they ring up imaginary purchases and give back change. The cash drawer makes a fun “cha-ching” when opened. The register comes with life-sized coins and bills, a play credit card and an activity guide.
With a built-in, solar-powered calculator, children can learn basic math, calculator and money skills while they ring up imaginary purchases and give back change. The cash drawer makes a fun “cha-ching” when opened. The register comes with life-sized coins and bills, a play credit card and an activity guide.
Unleash your child’s inner entrepreneur. This kit includes everything to set up a delicious lemonade stand: a banner, spinning sign, money box, sales pad, price sign and 20-page book with a marketing plan, budget, sales strategies and recipes. The company also offers a charity bake sale kit (ages 5 and up) and babysitting start-up kit (ages 10 and up) for the same price.
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This game is two in one. In the first game, players learn how to make change while earning a $100 bill. The second game teaches players how to budget money on housing, food and clothing. Tips for parents and teachers are included.
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Give your child a piggy bank that counts how much they’ve saved. The Digi-Piggy keeps track of every coin deposited and shows the running total on the LCD readout. This helps children understand the time it takes to save toward a financial goal.
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An inexpensive stocking stuffer, this game includes 52 cards with pictures of coins on one side and the amount on the other. The game helps kids recognize coins and their values.
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$4.99 (paperback) -- Ages 3 to 7
Brother and Sister Bear know that money can buy baseball cards, ice cream and balloons, but they don't know how to manage their allowances. Mama uses a checkbook to help them learn the value of money and how to save. The book comes with tear-out checks, so kids can keep track of their spending.
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