Cars, trucks, and tools — the car garage is myplayshop’s shop for children who love anything with wheels. Instead of cakes or flowers, your child sells vehicles, road signs, and workshop tools.
In myplayshop’s garage, your child is the shopkeeper. Customers come in looking for toy cars, tool kits, and car parts. Your child scans items, totals the order, takes payment, and gives change.
Why Vehicle-Loving Kids Engage
For children who are passionate about cars and trucks, the garage theme transforms maths practice:
- The products match their interests — Toy cars, trucks, and tools are things they genuinely want to think about
- Higher-value items — Vehicles tend to cost more than bakery treats, introducing larger numbers naturally
- Varied inventory — From small parts to full vehicles, the price range keeps things interesting
Running the Garage
A typical session might go like this:
A customer arrives wanting:
- Toy race car: $12.00
- Set of road signs: $4.50
- Wrench tool: $3.00
- Total: $19.50
- Customer pays with: $20.00
- Change needed: $0.50
The next customer might just buy a single tool for $3.00 — every transaction is different.
Building Bigger Number Skills
The garage naturally introduces larger amounts:
Two-digit totals. When a toy truck costs $15 and someone adds accessories, totals can reach $20–$30. This pushes children beyond the single-digit comfort zone.
Mixed pricing. Small items (a road cone for $1.50) alongside expensive ones (a fire engine for $18) means children work with varied numbers in one transaction.
Change from large notes. Bigger totals mean customers pay with $20 or $50 notes, creating more complex change calculations.
Who It’s Great For
- Vehicle enthusiasts — Cars, trucks, and tools keep them coming back
- Ages 6–10 — The higher prices suit children with some money confidence
- Children ready for a step up — After mastering the bakery or ice cream shop, the garage offers bigger numbers
- Reluctant learners — If your child isn’t motivated by “typical” shops, cars might be the hook
Garage Play Ideas
- Car budget challenge — “You have $25. What vehicles and accessories can you buy?”
- Real-world link — Visit a toy shop and compare the price of a toy car there with the one in the game
- Custom garage — Use the custom shop to create a garage with your child’s favourite vehicles at prices they choose