We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How Do I Choose the Best Money Games for Kids?

Nicole Madison
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

When selecting the best money games for kids, you may find it helpful to choose those that help the players build practical skills they can use as they grow. For example, games that teach lessons about budgeting money to last for a month may prove helpful. Such games might involve giving each player a pretend paycheck and having him learn how to pay bills, buy groceries, and spend money on fun things without running out before the week or month ends. These types of games can teach children lessons about the value of money as well as the importance of saving a significant portion of it.

Some of the best money games for kids also introduce children to investing. For example, some teach children how to build wealth and income by investing in stocks, bonds, and real estate. Many games also teach children important concepts about running and investing in a business. Children can learn ways to plan for financial stability in addition to or instead of working a job as well.

Children may also benefit from money games for kids that teach money-handling lessons. Such games can teach children how to pay for items as well as how to give change using the fewest bills and coins. These lessons can act as important supplements to math textbook and workbook lessons that help build money-handling skills. Many children develop greater understanding for such concepts when they receive hands-on lessons in addition to traditional learning activities.

The best money games for kids may also include playing pieces that look like real money and checks. Such games help children get used to using different denominations of money as well as personal or business checks. As with other types of math, hands-on learning helps to boost true understanding and retention. If you can find a money game that includes bank withdrawal and deposit documents, this may prove helpful as well.

It is also important to choose money games for kids based on the fun factor. If a game doesn't provide basic fun, it is unlikely to hold your child's attention. Often, the best games are those that are so much fun that children do not realize they are learning at the same time.

While you can purchase these types of games, this is not your only option. You can also create your own games that are tailored to what you are trying to teach your children. You can typically find free resources for game creation online.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Nicole Madison
By Nicole Madison , Writer
Nicole Madison's love for learning inspires her work as a WiseGeek writer, where she focuses on topics like homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. Her passion for knowledge is evident in the well-researched and informative articles she authors. As a mother of four, Nicole balances work with quality family time activities such as reading, camping, and beach trips.

Discussion Comments

By bythewell — On Oct 09, 2014

@Iluviaporos - That kind of set-up might teach kids a little, but I think you've really got to give them structured games if they are going to learn real world rules about money. There are plenty of online money games for kids that help to encourage saving and moderate spending and show them what different things go into making up a budget.

By lluviaporos — On Oct 09, 2014

@Fa5t3r - My father used to give us each $20 whenever we went to the mall and I always ended up spending it on presents for people, which they invariably didn't really want. I don't really remember calculating that much, but I suppose $20 was a lot back then and was supposed to keep me occupied for most of the day while my parents were shopping.

The game I really remember as teaching me about exchange and bartering and value and things like that was one I invented myself with my sisters. One of my aunts had a large collection of beautiful costume jewelry and we used to play with it every time we visited her. We'd inevitably set up little "shops" and trade pieces. It's a pretty typical game for kids, but I don't remember the rules particularly well. I just remember it was fun to play.

By Fa5t3r — On Oct 08, 2014

One of the best money games I've ever played with kids works on several levels. Basically, whenever you go to a store like Walmart to do general shopping, you give the child a small, fixed amount of money they can spend on themselves. But they have to justify why they want to spend it on that item and not something else. Or they can "save" it.

If you give them something like five dollars and 35 cents, they will have to calculate what they can get for that. It keeps them busy while you're shopping and gets them to practice real-world budgeting, as well as impulse control and addition and decimals. It also stops them from grabbing $100 toys off the shelf by making them responsible for what they spend.

Nicole Madison

Nicole Madison

Writer

Nicole Madison's love for learning inspires her work as a WiseGeek writer, where she focuses on topics like...
Learn more
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.