Money games with pretend shops

Quick answer

You can use pretend shops to learn about money, counting, addition, subtraction, and making change. By playing with coins and notes, you can practice real-life maths skills while having fun!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:

• Count different coins and notes to find the total amount
• Add up prices to work out how much something costs
• Give the right change when buying something
• Use money to solve simple problems like sharing or saving

Why this matters

Money games with pretend shops help you understand how money works in real life. You’ll learn to count coins, add up prices, and give change – all important skills for shopping, saving pocket money, and understanding how to spend wisely. These games also help you think about how to plan and solve problems using numbers. Whether you're buying a toy, sharing snacks, or saving up for a treat, knowing how money works makes life easier and more fun!

How it works

Playing pretend shops is a great way to learn about money. Here's how it works:

1. Set up your shop with items and prices
2. Choose a shopkeeper and a customer
3. Customer buys items and pays with coins or notes
4. Shopkeeper counts the money and gives change
5. Practice adding prices and counting change

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are running a pretend shop selling toys:

• A toy car costs 50p
• A doll costs £1.20
• A puzzle costs 80p

If you buy one car and one doll, how much do you spend?

Step 1: Add the prices

• 50p + £1.20 = £1.70

Step 2: If you pay with £2, how much change do you get?

• £2.00 - £1.70 = 30p

You get 30p change!

Try it as a mini adventure

Imagine you are the shopkeeper at a lemonade stand. You have these drinks:

• Small lemonade: 30p
• Medium lemonade: 50p
• Large lemonade: 70p

Customer buys 2 small and 1 large lemonade. How much do they pay?

First, count the small lemonades:

• 2 x 30p = 60p

Then, add the large one:

• 60p + 70p = 130p = £1.30

If they pay with £2, how much change do you give?

• £2.00 - £1.30 = 70p

Great job! You gave 70p change.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Adding up prices and forgetting to carry numbers
• Why it happens: Kids might count quickly without checking their work
• Fix: Use a number line or count on your fingers to double-check

• Mistake: Not knowing how to make change
• Why it happens: Not understanding that change is what’s left after paying
• Fix: Practice counting backwards from the amount paid to the price

• Mistake: Mixing up pence and pounds
• Why it happens: Confusion between 50p and £0.50
• Fix: Use the £ and p symbols clearly and practice with real coins

Parent and carer guide

Playing pretend shops is a fun way to help your child practice money skills. Here’s how to support them:

• Use real coins and notes to make it more realistic
• Let your child be the shopkeeper and you be the customer
• Ask questions like: “How much do these items cost altogether?”
• Encourage them to count out the money they need to pay
• Practice with different prices to build confidence

Don’t worry if they make mistakes – it’s part of learning. Keep the game fun and encouraging!

Practice questions

1. How much is 3 x 20p?
2. If a sandwich costs £1.50 and a drink costs 60p, how much do they cost together?
3. You pay with £2 for a toy that costs £1.20. How much change do you get?
4. If you have 50p and want to buy a pencil that costs 25p, how much money will you have left?
5. How much do 4 stickers cost if each sticker is 10p?

• Answers:
• 60p
• £2.10
• 80p
• 25p
• 40p

FAQ

Why are pretend shops good for learning maths?

Pretend shops help children practice counting, adding, subtracting, and understanding change in a fun and safe environment.

Can I use pretend shops with younger children?

Yes! Even 4-year-olds can play with play money and simple prices to learn about counting and sharing.

How can I make the game more challenging?

Try using more coins, adding decimals, or letting children make their own prices and menus.

What if my child finds it hard to count money?

Start with simple coins and use real-life examples like shopping or saving up for a treat.

Can pretend shops be used for learning other skills too?

Yes! They help with communication, problem-solving, and understanding how to work in teams.