Teaching Financial Literacy to Your Toddler: Fun Activities to Try at Home
Have you ever taken your little one to the store and heard, "I want this!" or "Can I have that?"
By introducing financial literacy at a young age, your child can develop valuable skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Learning about money can help them become responsible, independent, and disciplined. It can also enable them to make better financial choices when they grow up. Additionally, it can increase their confidence, improve their communication skills, and enhance their chances of achieving their financial goals.
One easy activity that you can do is playing store. Use play money and household items to set up a pretend store. Let your child be the cashier and practice counting and making change. Talk about buying and selling and encourage wise decisions. This activity can help children learn about the value of money and how to manage it effectively.
Another fun activity is creating a savings jar. Decorate a jar with your child and encourage them to save spare change. Discuss how saving money can help them achieve their goals and teach them the importance of delayed gratification. This simple activity can help your child develop good financial habits and instill the value of saving at an early age.
You can also find money-themed books at your local library. Look for educational books about money, like “Curious George Saves His Pennies” or “Bunny Money.” Reading them together with your family can make for a fun learning experience.
Lastly, take advantage of community resources like the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELCHC). The ELCHC provides free prekindergarten education to eligible children in Florida through the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program. This program prepares children for success in kindergarten and beyond by teaching literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional skills. Enrolling your child in this program can give them a head start in life and help them build a strong foundation for their future.

Blog written by: Kiyana Scott
Manager, Marketing & Resource Development at Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County