Children love to role-play everyday grown-up activities and shopping is one of the most common. It’s through these games of make believe that they learn how money is exchanged for goods and services, and that change is given when the money you have available is greater than the cost of the goods you’re buying.
Get some packets and tins out of the cupboard, put them on a low table and set up a shop in your kitchen or living room. You or your child can write prices on stickers and one of you gets to be the shopkeeper. It’s easiest to start with everything priced in pounds and use only pound coins. Count out three coins to buy a £3 box of cereal, and so on.
Since many of us now pay with a card or even a smart phone, you could also include an old or toy phone and a credit card in your child’s play purse.
Tip: There is so much to learn about human interaction by setting up a play shop. Even if you only ever use contactless payments in your shop, your child can learn what to do and say when they’re out with you at the market or store.
