Nowadays, people make most of their purchases with plastic, so you may wonder if it’s worthwhile to teach your kids how to identify and count coins. The truth is, coins are still in use, particularly by kids, and knowing how to count them is an important, fundamental skill for children.
First grade is when my children were introduced to recognizing and counting coins in school. To reinforce the learning process, we practiced coin counting at home. Once children grasp being able to count money, they can start transacting and participating in the economy. It’s empowering for children to be able to go into a store and purchase things on their own. This one skill can start a child’s financial journey and act as a basic building block for other financial skills down the road such as money management and budgeting.
Coin Recognition
To start the learning process, you first need to be able to identify the various types of coins. Traditionally this is a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter. Practicing with real coins vs plastic aids in recognition skills since children will understand the look and feel of each coin. Once you have a variety of coins, review with your child what each one is called. Test their skills by giving them two different coins, perhaps a nickel and a dime, and asking your child to hand you the nickel. After your child has mastered distinguishing coins, have them practice sorting a mixed pile of coins. This can be as simple as sorting them into a pile for each denomination or having them help you sort coins to put in coin wrappers to bring to the bank.
Protect Your Identity with Edge Pay
Monitor your credit and secure your finances with our modern debit card.
Learn more
Math Skills
Coins can be used to reinforce and practice math skills. Knowing basic math skills gives your child the ability to know which coins are needed to make live purchases in a store. To be able to count coins, it is helpful to first master he ability to skip count. This is a foundational concept that is often referred to as counting by fives, tens, or any denomination other than one. To exercise this skill, have your child practice counting nickels by fives, then work towards dimes and quarters.
To ensure your child can add up various coin combinations, practice addition by combining different coins and ask your child to add them up for you. Ask your child to write down the value of each coin on a piece of paper to show how the answer was found, and to prove your child has mastered identifying the various coin denominations. They can also practice subtraction in his manner, by removing a coin and telling you how much money is left.
It’s not only important to know how many coins are needed to make a purchase (addition). It’s just as important to know how much change you should expect back (subtraction) if exact change was not given. This component of teaching your child to count coins may take the longest, depending on your child’s math skills.
Games
Games offer a fun way to practice money and math skills. A favorite game in our house is Monopoly Junior. Instead of using the Monopoly dollars, we use real coins to play the game for coin recognition and money counting practice. Sometimes it’s fun to incentivize the game by giving your child any remaining money at the end.
Another game you can try is Store. Set up your store with items from around the house and put price tags on them. Give your children money and allow them to buy the items in your store. Take turns being the shopper and storekeeper. The storekeeper is an important role too since you may need to make change for your customer counting money back. If music appeals to your child more than a game, there are many counting coin songs and chants available on YouTube.
Like any skill in life, your children will need to learn how to count coins one step at a time. It is important for them to first learn how to recognize a coin’s value. Once they know the value, they can then practice skip counting, which will then enable them to recognize different coin combinations. Be patient with their learning process, letting them take the time to master each skill, one at a time, which will allow them to learn how to successfully count money.
Your Credit Card Can Earn You Money
It’s true. Find out how you can profit from your spending.
Download the eBook
About Caroline Cross
Caroline Cross is the branch lead at VSECU's Williston branch. Her daily interactions with members can range from opening accounts to closing consumer loans. Caroline lives in Williston with her husband and two children.
See all posts by this author
FAQs
To be able to count coins, it is helpful to first master he ability to skip count. This is a foundational concept that is often referred to as counting by fives, tens, or any denomination other than one. To exercise this skill, have your child practice counting nickels by fives, then work towards dimes and quarters.
How to teach children to identify coins? ›
Start with the penny and if it takes your child a day, week or even a month for them to learn about it, that's okay. Discuss the penny's attributes with them, ask them what they notice about it, talk about the coin's color, what's on the head and tail's sides, and its value. Then practice counting with it.
How to help kids learn to count money? ›
Create a chart that has 100 squares, labeling each square in sequence with the numbers one through 100. Give your child a handful of different coins and tell them to place each one on the square representing the total value, having them begin with the highest-value coin and working their way down.
At what grade should students begin to be taught about money identification? ›
Money skills are basic skills that students need to learn to help them understand the concept of money values, how to count money, and how to solve real-world money problems. These skills are scaffolded beginning in first grade to teach basic money identification and then become more difficult as students progress.
What is the easiest way to identify valuable coins? ›
One of the easiest ways to tell if a coin is rare is to check the date. If the coin is from before 1800, it's likely rare. Coins minted in the 19th century are also generally considered rare, with a few exceptions. Coins from the 20th century are less likely to be rare, but there are still some that meet the criteria.
What age should kids count coins? ›
Five to six-year-olds see the number of coins having more value than the actual value of the coin; for example, four pennies is worth more than one nickel. 7-year-olds: Children start to learn the actual value of money and that not all money is worth the same amount by age seven.
What is the quickest way to count coins? ›
Counting Coins: Strategies for Speed and Accuracy
A quick way to count coins is by multiplying the value of each coin type by the number of coins. For example, if you have five quarters, you'd multiply 25 cents by 5, giving you a total of $1.25. Another strategy is to group coins into sets that are easy to add.
What is the strategy for counting coins? ›
Always start with the coins of greatest value and work your way down. For example, if you have 3 nickels, 1 dime, 2 quarters, and 5 pennies, count the quarters first! After the quarters, the second most valuable coin is the dime. Then comes the nickel.
What grade do you learn to count coins? ›
These learning materials for second and third grade children focus on understanding how to use coins, their relationship to math and computational skills, and the history of coins. The lessons and activities are organized into two main topics: Math and Coins and the Mint.
How do you teach counting in a fun way? ›
12 Fun Activities to Improve Kids' Counting Skills
- Play counting games. ...
- Make math puzzles. ...
- Use flashcards. ...
- Sing counting songs. ...
- Play counting games on the computer. ...
- Practice number formation with playdough mats. ...
- Play counting board games. ...
- Create patterns with counting objects in sequence.
Easy ways you can help your child learn to count
- Start early. You can start talking to your baby about numbers and counting before they can even talk. ...
- Keep it simple. ...
- Count things your child can't touch. ...
- Try board games. ...
- Use maths 'language' ...
- Put things in groups. ...
- Use your fingers. ...
- Mix up your counting.
This activity can be done as a type of game: give the student a container of coins and play a game like Go Fish. Have the student select and identify the coin. Then ask another player for the coin that has just been identifies (e.g. “Give me all of your dimes.”).
How to teach kindergarten about coins? ›
An Introduction to Coins: Using real or paper coins, students will discuss what they know about coins, coin values, and place their coins in value order. Battle of the Coins: Students will observe the physical attributes, such as size, height, weight, and length, of coins.
How to teach kids the value of money? ›
When they're little
- Introduce the value of money.
- Emphasize saving.
- Introduce them to investing.
- Encourage a summer job.
- Introduce them to credit.
- Consider a Roth IRA.
- Help them set a budget.
- Encourage them to stay invested.
Mint marks are letters that identify where a coin was made. They hold the maker responsible for the quality of a coin. When the U.S. used precious metals such as gold and silver to make circulating coins, a commission evaluated the metal compositions and quality of coins from each of the Mint facilities.
Can I take a picture of a coin to identify it? ›
The identification process is relatively straightforward. All that is required is to take a picture of your coin (or upload a picture from your phone gallery), and the CoinSnap application will match the image to the information present in the extensive database to give a reference result.
What are the characteristics of coins for kids? ›
Pennies and nickels have plain edges, which are smooth. Dimes and quarters are reeded with little lines all around the edge. Some collectible coins even have words around the edge, called a lettered edge.
