Counting money is one of the first real-world maths skills children encounter. They see coins in shops, in piggy banks, and around the house. But knowing that a small silver coin is worth more than a big copper one? That takes practice.
The best way to learn counting money isn’t through worksheets — it’s through repeated, meaningful practice. And that’s exactly what happens when a child plays shopkeeper and handles money with every transaction.
Why Counting Money Is Harder Than It Looks
Adults forget how confusing money is for young children:
- Size doesn’t equal value — A 5p coin is bigger than a 10p coin
- Multiple representations — The same amount (50p) can be one coin or five 10p coins
- Decimals — £2.50 mixes whole numbers and parts
- Different currencies look different — US quarters look nothing like UK 50p pieces
Children need to build a mental model of money through exposure and practice. Abstract exercises help, but nothing beats handling realistic coins in a context that makes sense.
How myplayshop Teaches Counting Money
Every transaction in myplayshop involves counting money. Here’s what that looks like:
Scanning items: As your child scans each product, the price appears on the register. They start to see prices as real values — not just numbers on a page.
Watching the total: The running total updates with each item. This is addition in action, and children naturally start predicting what the next total will be.
Receiving payment: The customer hands over coins and notes. Your child sees the individual denominations and counts them up to check the payment.
Giving change: If the customer paid too much, your child selects coins from the till to make up the difference. This is where counting money becomes most active.
Over dozens of transactions, counting money becomes automatic — just like it is for adults.
What to Expect at Each Age
Ages 4–5: Recognising coins and matching them to values. Counting small groups of identical coins (e.g., three $1 coins). Understanding that money is used to pay for things.
Ages 5–6: Counting mixed groups of coins. Adding small prices together. Beginning to understand the relationship between coins (two 5p = one 10p).
Ages 6–7: Confidently counting mixed coins and notes. Working with amounts over $1/£1. Starting to calculate change from simple amounts.
Ages 7–8: Counting money quickly and accurately. Handling more complex totals with multiple notes and coins. Finding efficient coin combinations.
Why a Game Works Better Than Drills
Traditional money counting exercises go like this: “Here are some coins. How much is this worth?” The child counts, gives an answer, and moves to the next one.
In myplayshop, counting money is embedded in a story. The child isn’t counting coins because they were told to — they’re counting because a customer just handed them money and they need to know if it’s enough. The motivation is intrinsic.
This matters because:
- Repetition feels natural — Each customer is a new counting opportunity
- Context aids memory — “That time the customer paid with all 10p coins” is more memorable than “question 7 on the worksheet”
- Mistakes have low stakes — Getting it wrong just means trying again. No red pen marks
- Progress is visible — Stars, happy customers, and the end-of-day report show improvement
Pair Screen Time With Real Practice
For the strongest results, combine myplayshop with real-world money handling:
- Coin sorting — Tip out a jar of coins and sort them by value together
- Shop prices — Point out prices in real shops and ask your child to count out the right amount
- Piggy bank maths — Count the contents of a piggy bank weekly and track the running total
- Play customer — At home, take turns being shopkeeper and customer with real coins