Count coins. Preschool is the perfect age to have kids sort and count coins. Explain that each coin looks different because each holds a different value. Here’s an idea: set up a little grocery store and have them purchase food with their coins. Practice counting out more coins for big purchases and less for small ones.

Teach the value of money. Communicating the cost of items in stores will open their eyes to associating things with worth and instill a habit of checking prices. Take them on shopping trips, show them where prices are located, and tell them the cost of each item as you put it in the cart. Have them watch the total cost increase as items are scanned at checkout and hand the money to the cashier.

Tell stories. All kids love stories! Tell them about the price differences of candy and toys from when you were a kid. Talk about your first job, what you were paid and how much your bills were. Tell them about a financial hardship you went through and how you managed to overcome it.

Read together. There are many great children’s books about money. Take them on an adventure to your local library to borrow (instead of purchase) books about saving, spending, and wants vs. needs.