When a Toy Breaks and a Child Says, “Just Buy Another”
It’s innocent. It’s sweet.
But it’s also the moment we realise something important:
Our kids don’t truly understand where money comes from or how it works.
And why would they?
To a child, money seems magical. Things just appear: chocolates, toys, birthday gifts, online orders. But what if we could help them see the world a little more clearly, not with pressure or lectures, but with play and gentle guidance?
Children are always ready to learn about money.
They just need us to bring it down to their world, full of coins, colours, and curiosity.
Here’s a guide to teaching your child about money in the most natural, creative, and kind-hearted way.
1. What is Money, Really?
To adults, money is digital — UPI, cards, net banking.
But to children, it needs to be something they can touch.
Start by introducing physical money — rupee coins and ₹10, ₹20, ₹50 notes.
Try this at home:
Take a few coins — ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10 — and some colourful notes. Lay them on the floor.
Let your child:
- Touch them
- Sort them by size or colour
- Try adding them up
- Guess what they could buy
Now, set up a mini shop at home. Use real items like:
- A banana (₹10)
- A pencil (₹5)
- A small toy (₹20)
- A packet of chips (₹15)
Give your child ₹50 in play money and let them “shop.”
They’ll quickly learn that money is limited, and choices matter.
2. Teaching Needs vs. Wants (In the Most Fun Way)
Here’s one of the simplest lessons that lasts a lifetime:
We don’t need to buy everything we want.
In India, a child might think they need that remote-controlled car or a packet of Gems every time they go to the store. But do they?
Turn it into a fun sorting game.
Ask:
- Milk? (Need)
- New fancy water bottle with lights? (Want)
- Slippers? (Need)
- A huge pack of Lays? (Want — unless it’s a celebration!)
You can even cut pictures from magazines or old Flipkart printouts and let them paste items into two boxes: “Needs” and “Wants.”
This teaches them how to think, not just react.
3. Save, Spend, Share: The Three Jar Method
This is one of the best money habits to start young.
Take three glass jars or paper envelopes and label them:
- Save – for something bigger later (like a toy or cricket bat)
- Spend – for small joys (like stickers, small treats, or toffees)
- Share – to help others (a donation box at the mandir, a gift for a friend, or sweets for a cousin)
When your child receives money from birthdays, relatives, or helping around the house, help them divide it into the jars.
Let them choose how much to put in each jar. This gives them confidence and teaches them that money isn’t just for spending — it can also grow and do good.
4. Let Them Earn It (In Kid-Friendly Ways)
Even small tasks can help a child feel responsible. Earning ₹5 for folding laundry or ₹10 for watering plants is not just about money — it’s about learning the value of work.
Here are a few simple task ideas:
- Filling water bottles (₹2)
- Helping Amma in the kitchen (₹5)
- Dusting the TV or shelves (₹3)
- Matching socks or folding handkerchiefs (₹2)
Create a little weekly reward chart. Add stars or stickers when tasks are done. At the end of the week, convert those into rupees — even if it’s just ₹20. It’s not the amount, it’s the meaning.
5. Talk About Money in Your Everyday Life
You don’t need to sit your child down for a “money talk.”
Just include them in your small decisions.
While shopping at Big Bazaar or online:
- “Let’s check if this is within our budget.”
- “We already have one of these at home.”
- “We can wait and save for this next month.”
They learn through observation. When they see you making thoughtful choices, they’ll start doing the same, even without you asking.
Creative Money Activities to Make Learning Fun
Let’s add some magic to money learning. These unique activities will make finance feel like fun, not a subject.
1. Treasure Hunt with Rupees
Hide ₹1, ₹2, and ₹5 coins around the house. Create clues and make it a mini treasure hunt. After they find all the coins, help them count and decide what to do with it using their jars.
2. Make-Your-Own Money
Give your child paper, scissors, and crayons. Let them design their own rupee notes with drawings and numbers. This leads to a fun chat: “What makes money real?” “What can we trade with?”
3. Story Budgeting Game
Read a bedtime story — maybe about a prince, a fairy, or an animal. Then ask:
“If the character had ₹100, what should they buy first?”
“Should they save some or spend it all?”
Let your child become the storyteller and decision maker.
4. Home Store Challenge
Turn your home into a little store using real household items. Give your child ₹50 in pretend money. Set prices. Watch as they budget, think, and decide — all while giggling and learning.
5. Share Jar Day
Once a month, sit down and open the Share jar. Ask, “Who can we help this month?” Let your child be part of the decision, even if it’s just buying a small snack for your house help’s child or offering ₹10 at the temple.
These small acts build empathy, and the idea that money can be meaningful.
Final Thoughts: It’s More Than Money
Teaching kids about money isn’t really about rupees.
It’s about raising thoughtful humans.
It’s about helping them understand:
- That they can’t have everything — and that’s okay
- That they can earn, wait, plan, and give
- That real joy comes not from spending quickly, but from choosing wisely
So the next time your child says,
Can we buy this, please?
Don’t just say yes or no.
Smile and say,
Let’s talk about it together.
Because that’s where the real lesson begins — in conversation, not commands.