Every child has wandered through a toy shop, wide-eyed at the shelves. Running one? Even better. In myplayshop’s toy shop, your child is in charge — stocking shelves with plushies and puzzles, serving excited customers, and handling the money.
The toy shop is where maths gets a step harder. Toys cost more than cupcakes, so the totals are bigger, the payments larger, and the change-making more interesting.
The Step-Up Challenge
If the bakery and ice cream shop are where children learn the basics, the toy shop is where they level up:
| Feature | Bakery/Ice Cream | Toy Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Typical item price | $0.75–$3.00 | $5.00–$20.00 |
| Typical total | $3–$6 | $10–$30 |
| Change complexity | Simple coins | Mixed coins and notes |
| Mental maths | Small additions | Larger numbers, more steps |
This progression feels natural. A child who’s confidently handling bakery transactions will find the toy shop challenging but achievable.
What’s on the Shelves
The toy shop is stocked with products children recognise and care about:
- Plushies — Teddy bears, stuffed animals, cuddly toys
- Puzzles — Jigsaw puzzles of varying sizes
- Robot pals — Toy robots and tech gadgets
- Board games — Classic and modern games
- Creative toys — Building blocks, art sets, and craft kits
Each product has a price that reflects its real-world value. A small plushie costs less than a big board game — reinforcing the connection between the game and reality.
Bigger Numbers, Bigger Learning
The toy shop introduces mathematical challenges that simpler shops don’t:
Working with notes: When a total is $12.50, customers pay with $20 notes instead of coins. Your child needs to give change that mixes notes and coins.
Larger mental additions: Adding $8.99 + $12.50 is harder than adding $1.50 + $0.75. The toy shop builds confidence with bigger numbers.
More complex change: Change of $7.50 from a $20 note requires selecting a $5 note, a $2 coin, and a 50p coin — multiple denominations working together.
Price comparison: “This robot costs $15 and that puzzle costs $8. Which is more expensive? How much more?” These comparisons happen naturally.
Who the Toy Shop Is Best For
Ages 5–6: Can enjoy browsing the toy shop and scanning items. The money handling will be challenging, so playing alongside a parent helps.
Ages 7–8: Ready to handle full transactions. The bigger numbers push their skills without overwhelming them.
Ages 9–10: Can manage the toy shop confidently and quickly. Challenge them to give change using the fewest coins possible.
From the Game to the Real World
- Toy shop maths — Next time you’re in a toy shop, talk about prices. “This Lego set costs $25. If you had $30, how much change would you get?”
- Pocket money practice — If your child gets pocket money, let them plan a toy “purchase” by counting their savings and comparing prices
- Wish list maths — Write a wish list with prices and add up the total. “Your wish list costs $45 altogether!”