Comparing prices is one of the most practical money skills a child can learn. It moves beyond counting and adding into thinking — which option is the better deal? Is the bigger packet always better value? Should I spend more now or save for something else?
These are the decisions adults make every day without realising it. For children, learning to compare prices builds not just maths skills but critical thinking about money.
Why Price Comparison Matters
Price comparison teaches children to think before they spend. It introduces ideas that go far beyond arithmetic:
- Relative value — a £2 toy might be a great deal or a waste of money, depending on what it is
- Trade-offs — spending £3 on sweets means not having £3 for something else
- Unit thinking — three apples for £1 versus one apple for 40p requires a different kind of maths
- Needs versus wants — the foundation of all budgeting starts with comparing what things cost against how much you want them
Children who practise comparing prices develop a healthy scepticism about spending that serves them for life.
What to Expect at Each Age
Ages 6–7: Can identify which of two items costs more or less. Starting to understand that cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Can compare prices when both are in the same unit (both in pence, or both whole pounds).
Ages 7–8: Can compare prices across simple ranges (e.g., is £1.50 closer to £1 or £2?). Starting to think about what makes something “worth it.” Can rank three or four items by price.
Ages 8–10: Can compare unit prices with help (e.g., which bag of apples is better value). Starting to factor in quality, quantity, and personal preference alongside price. Understands that the cheapest option isn’t always the best choice.
How myplayshop Teaches Price Awareness
In myplayshop, your child sees prices constantly. Every item in every shop has a realistic price, and working with these prices builds an intuitive sense of what things cost:
- Scanning items with different prices develops familiarity with typical price ranges
- Different shop types have different price levels — a sweet shop has cheaper items than a toy shop, which builds understanding of price ranges by category
- Adding up totals naturally involves comparing the cost of different items in the basket
- Working across currencies shows that the same concept applies everywhere, just with different numbers
- Repeated exposure to realistic prices builds the price intuition that makes comparison shopping natural
The game doesn’t explicitly teach comparison, but by constantly handling realistic prices, children develop the number sense that makes comparison easy.
Activities to Try at Home
-
The catalogue challenge — Open a toy catalogue or website together. Pick a budget (say £10). Ask your child to find the best toy they can within budget. Discuss why they chose it over cheaper or more expensive options.
-
Supermarket detective — At the supermarket, pick two similar products (e.g., two brands of cereal). Ask your child which is cheaper. Then ask which they think is the better deal, and why. Price isn’t the only factor — introduce the idea of value.
-
The price guess game — Before entering a shop, ask your child to guess what certain items cost. A loaf of bread? A bottle of milk? A banana? Then check the real prices. Over time, their guesses get remarkably accurate.
-
Menu maths — Look at a restaurant menu or takeaway leaflet. Give your child a budget and let them “order” a meal. Can they get a main course and a drink within £5? What about adding a dessert?
-
The savings comparison — If your child wants something specific, help them find it at two or three different shops or websites. Which one is cheapest? Is there a reason to pay more at one place (faster delivery, better quality)?
Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Start with obvious differences — Compare a £1 item with a £5 item before comparing £1.99 with £2.10.
- Use real shopping as practice — Every trip to the shops is a chance to compare prices together.
- Introduce “value” alongside “price” — A £3 toy that breaks in a day is worse value than a £5 toy that lasts a year. Help children think beyond the number.
- Don’t always choose the cheapest — Show children that sometimes you pay more for a reason. This prevents the idea that cheapest always equals best.
- Connect to myplayshop — After comparing real prices, let your child play a few rounds. The constant exposure to prices in different shops reinforces their developing number sense.