If I was a marketing junkie, I would’ve posted this right before Christmas, but it’d be weird for me to spread awareness about marketing and advertising to kids, and then publish an article about buying toys—at Christmastime—to get you to buy more. This isn’t about consumerism, but if you’re buying toys, you might as well buy some toys that teach.
Some of these are obvious choices, and many can be found on my resources page, but I did my best to find some unique options you haven’t considered before.
This isn’t going to include board games. If you want board games that teach financial lessons, check out these 53 games.
Now to the toy section…
1. Learning Piggy Bank
Recommended Age Range: 2 – 7
Every child loves to play with fake money. With this, you’re encouraging the concept of saving money, and showing your kids it can be fun. It teaches kids numbers and colors with two different game modes.
Skills Learned:
- Introduces numbers and colors
- Develops language and social interaction skills
- Stimulates tactile/motor skills
- Reinforces listening and problem solving abilities
- Helps build self confidence
2. Money Set for Kids
Recommended Age Range: 3+
This currency kit includes more than just realistic paper money and plastic coins, it also includes modern-style credit and debit cards plus a realistic writable checkbook. Everything is high quality so you don’t have to worry about it being torn apart in a week. Let kids learn with fake money, before they start using real money.
Skills Learned:
- Financial literacy
- Basic math skills
- Giving change
- Money management
- Money denominations
3. Pretend & Play Checkbook
Recommended Age Range: 5 – 12
This comes with 25 life-sized checks, and a calculator. It’s important to teach kids what checks are, how to write them, and how their money is tied to them. Plus, kids have a great time writing their own checks for things around the house.
Skills Learned:
- Financial literacy
- Check writing
- Calculator use
- Balancing checkbook
4. Toy Cash Register
Recommended Age Range: 3+
Encourage beginning math and calculator skills while providing lots of opportunities for imaginative play. Features a built-in, solar-powered calculator that helps familiarize children with the use of a calculator. They will also learn currency denominations and have fun handling life-sized money. Large buttons on the keypad are easy for little hands to press and the cash drawer makes a “cha-ching” sound when it opens, just like a real register!
Skills Learned:
- Financial literacy
- Basic math skills
- Calculator use
- Money denominations
- Giving change
5. Play Wallet
Recommended Age Range: 3 -8
This is a toy wallet with play money and write-on cards.Includes 14 play bills ($1 – $100 bills) 19 play coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters).Write-on cards include: drivers license, bus and rail pass, 2 coupons, and store, bank, charge, gym membership, health, library, and toy donor cards.Perfect for playtime errands and pretend shopping.
Skills Learned:
- Financial literacy
- Basic math skills
- Money denominations
- Builds confidence
- Budgeting
6. ATM Piggy Bank
Recommended Age Range: 3 – 20
High quality and premium ABS. Safe simulation design.Can store 600 pieces of coins or 100 pieces of paper money.Automatic volume of currency with lights: when the banknote aims at cash inlets, it can automatically absorb. Password protection: if you press the wrong password, it will not be issued. Batteries: 3 pieces of AA batteries (not included).
Skills Learned:
- How ATMs work
- Basic math skills
- Security and passwords
7. Money Savvy Pig
Recommended Age Range: 1+
This isn’t really a toy, but it will seem like one to kids, and it’s really cool. It separates money into four categories: save, spend, donate and invest. The best part is that each compartment empties individually. It comes in a multitude of colors so you don’t have to get this green one if your child prefers another color.
Skills Learned:
- Financial literacy
- Saving and Investing
- Budgeting
8. Double-Sided Magnet Money
Recommended Age Range: 5+
These are simple, literal money magnets. There are a few different brands that make a similar product, but this is the highest quality and longest lasting (read: many of the other money magnets are trash). This is a 45-piece set, which includes 36 coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters) at 4x actual size, 9 bills (1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bills) at 1.5x actual size. It’s great for teaching denominations and spending.
Skills Learned:
- Financial literacy
- Money denominations
- Counting money and change
9. State Quarter Map
Recommended Age Range: 5+
Encourage a love for coin collecting, traveling, and geography. One really cool thing about this board is that it has slots for the U.S. territories too, not just the 50 states. Just plug the quarters into the spot on the state or territory, and fill up the board.
Skills Learned:
- Counting
- Geography
- Money denominations
10. Teen Entrepreneur Toolbox
Recommended Age Range: 12-18
This isn’t really a toy, but we couldn’t leave the teens out. In this toolbox, Anthony O’Neal, who has partnered with Dave Ramsey in the past, walks teenagers through eight easy, practical steps for starting their own business. Teens will learn all about building a business and entrepreneurship in general. It’s worth the 30 bucks to give your teen invaluable life lessons.
Skills Learned:
- Entrepreneurship
- How to start a business
- Marketing
- Customer service
- Financial decisions
There are all kinds of financial toys out there, but a lot of it is junk. These were some toys I found that don’t suck. Feel free to mention your favorite money toys in the comments!
