Most kids are fascinated by money and enjoy doing activities where money is involved, whether it be counting money, playing store, or playing games that incorporate money in some way.
Playing games is a great way to sneak in some learning and here are some games that will help your kids learn about the many aspects of money, from counting coins to money management. Keep reading to find my list of the best educational board games for teaching kids about money.
Monopoly
The Monopoly game is the world’s favorite family gaming brand. In ‘The Fast-Dealing Property Trading Game’ players move around the game board buying or trading properties, developing their properties with houses and hotels, and collecting rent from their opponents, with the goal being to drive them all into bankruptcy leaving one monopolist in control of the entire economy. For ages 8+
A Junior Edition for ages 5+ is also available
The Game of Life
Do you have what it takes to win The Game of Life My Dream Job game? It’s the family game that’s easy to set up, quick to play, and exciting along the way. Live the life you want by choosing your path for a life of action, adventure, and unexpected surprises. Will you receive a fortune and lose it as quickly as you got it? Will you need a bank loan to pay a debt? Once everyone reaches the end of the game at retirement, everyone pays their debts and adds up their wealth. The player with the most money wins the game. For ages 8+
A Junior Edition for ages 5+ is also available
Pay Day
The classic game of Payday makes family finance fun as it reminds everyone just where the money goes. The object is to be the player who has the most cash and savings left at the end of the game after paying the bills and paying off mortgages and loans. For ages 8+
Money Bags
It’s a banking bonanza as players collect, count, and exchange money all the way to the finish line. Learn all about making values using various coins and bills: Can you make 13 cents without using dimes? How about 32 cents without using quarters? Land on the $ space and—cha-ching!—you’re in the money! Better hurry: whoever reaches the finish first receives a bonus. Earn more money than your fellow “investors,” and you win the game, money bags! For ages 7+
The Allowance Game
In this fast-paced game, players race around the colorful board doing chores and collecting an allowance, then spend their earnings on the things they want. For ages 5-10
CASHFLOW
CASHFLOW teaches you and your kids how to get out of the Rat Race and onto the Fast Track, how to make your money work for you – not the other way around. CASHFLOW is an educational board game that simulates real life financial strategies and situations. As a simulation, you learn valuable lessons and gain priceless insights into personal finance and investing without having to put your actual money at risk. CASHFLOW is an educational board game that teaches accounting, finance, and investing at the same time – and makes learning fun! For ages 14+
Acquire
Each player strategically invests in businesses, trying to retain a majority of stock. As the businesses grow with tile placements, they also start merging, giving the majority stockholders of the acquired business sizable bonuses, which can then be used to reinvest into other chains. All of the investors in the acquired company can then cash in their stocks for current value or trade them 2-for-1 for shares of the newer, larger business. The game is a race to acquire the greatest wealth. For ages 12+
Made for Trade
Made for Trade was designed to capture the essence of our country’s formative years. Like American settlers, players will need to visit different shops to attain items they need by paying shillings or by trading. They’ll learn what everyday life was like for ordinary citizens while practicing bartering and money management. For ages 8+
Stock Market
A board game, were you can buy sell and trade to try and become the richest on the “Exchange”. For ages 8+
Buy it Right
Teach kids the importance of money recognition, adding and making correct change through interactive game play. Kids can set prices, buy and sell items and learn the value of money as they move throughout the game board. For ages 6+
What are some of your favorite games for teaching your kids about money?
I’d forgotten about Payday. The Allowance Game and Life are our favorites. My oldest also likes Settlers of Catan. Although there’s no currency, the trading principle can help teach the monetary concept.
My kids and I enjoy a game called Exact Change. It’s a card game similar to Uno™ that the whole family can play.
Also Monopoly Millionaire. The simplified money system makes it fun and easy for younger kids to use emerging math skills.
Yes!!! I remember when I was a child I loved “money games” too! They really do teach you lessons for later in life when you have to deal with real money:) Thanks for sharing. Blessings, ~Sarah (visiting from Radical Femininity)
What a great collection of games!! Such a great way to teach kids about money without them even knowing it! 🙂
Cathy
Loved this post! We can learn so much from games like these, and they are a great way to keep minds fresh in the summer! Thank you for sharing on this week’s Homeschool Mother’s Journal!