In a world where we use debit cards and gift cards most of the time, we often forget the importance of teaching children about money. 

The thing is, if any of our children decide to have a job where they use a cash register, money skills are needed. Those who run their own business or become bankers are also working with money all of the time. There are many other jobs that require a solid base knowledge of money!

Learning about money teaches so many mathematical skills that children may not have interest in or understand without the use of money. So even if you still feel learning about money isn't that important, it may not be about the money at all!

Still, teaching about money can feel extremely overwhelming. There are SO MANY STEPS! 

This is why I've created the Montessori-inspired Coins: Pennies Printable Pack.  It starts with the most basic concepts and progresses from there. No step is skipped to ensure every child develops a solid understanding of every concept.(Intermediate and Advanced Money Bundles will be coming in the future!)

Here is a look at all of the fabulous penny activities for kids included!

Learning about money initiates such excitement in children. It's like treasure to them. They feel so grown up as they work with money, no matter how little the amount is.

Money is used in so many play scenarios. I remember playing store with my sisters growing up on a regular basis. Sunshine has forever wanted a cash register! 

There wasn't a time that I wasn't trying to save every coin I had for something special as a child. Now, each of my children have piggy banks in their room. They do the same thing.

Before family vacations my mother would break open the piggy bank full of coins she'd collected doing laundry. We'd all sit around the table and count coins until there were no more.  That was our spending money for our trip.

Montessori-inspired U.S. Coins: Pennies Printable Pack

All activities in this post are from the Montessori-inspired U.S. Coins: Pennies Printable Pack. This pack includes 108 pages of printables that help children master using the penny in every situation. 

Penny Activities for Kids

Learning about money, even the penny, starts with identification and language skills. What does a penny look like? What is it called? How do you write the name?  

Let's take a look at all that's included!

Penny Writing Strips

There are some kids that absolutely LOVE to write. To attract those children to money activities, I have included a set of writing strips. Besides penny writing strips, there are also ones that say one cent, and so much more!

P is for Penny Do-a-dot Page

For those that struggle to write and are still working on developing fine motor skills strong enough to write, there are beautiful do-a-dot pages included.  Both uppercase and lowercase options are available, as well as the front and back of the penny. The dot sizes are created to match the size of a penny.

Penny vs. Not a Penny

Once a child feels confident in knowing what a penny is, this sorting activity can be introduced to challenge those skills. Cards in the green container include multiple coins to sort into two columns: penny and not a penny.

Which Coin is the Same?

To further challenge identification skills, kids can enjoy this activity. Which coin is the same as the one on the far left? Once identified the kids will place a penny on it.

This activity can be tricky as it includes coins that look similar from other countries. I grew up on the Canadian border. Canadian pennies were constantly mixed in with American ones.  Lol.

Counting with Pennies

This activity was created to introduce counting with pennies and relating it back to counting in general. Each card includes a number and then the money amount associated with that number while working with pennies. 

The object of the activity is to count out the number of pennies specified and place them in order in the boxes. Boxes were designed to fit each and every penny.

Counting Pennies Nomenclature Cards

Once a child knows how to count pennies and understands how to read cents or dollar signs with decimals, this activity provides even more practice.

These nomenclature cards can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the needs of your child. The pennies on the cards are life size, so a child can place real pennies over top of them while counting to keep their place.

Counting Pennies Clip Cards

These cards are designed just like the Counting Pennies Nomenclature Cards, but with answer choices at the bottom. The nomenclature cards are a great control for this activity if needed. The child counts the coins and then places a penny on the answer at the bottom.

Money and Decimals Penny Clip Cards

At some point, teaching decimals when learning about money is necessary. This activity helps with that concept. There is a beautiful money and decimals control provided, as well as a second set of clip cards focusing on decimal placement.

Hundred Board Using Pennies

For the ultimate counting activity, this hundred board is provided. It's a great way to practice counting to 100 with pennies and then teach that 100 pennies is equal to a dollar. Pennies do fit in each of the boxes.

Adding with Pennies Clip Cards

Counting pennies is one thing, but learning to add with them is a completely different skill. These cards are designed to help with that.

Sunshine absolutely loved this activity. She chose to use the pennies provided, laying them out on the table, exactly the way they looked on the card and then added them up. Your child may choose to do things differently.  Once Sunshine had decided on an answer, she used the pennies to mark her card.

Subtracting with Pennies Clip Cards

I just love this subtraction activity! The child reads the problem and then covers the coins subtracted with the white glass beads to reveal the answer. The answer is then marked using a penny.

Multiplying Pennies Clip Cards

This activity is a basic multiplication clip card, but uses pennies for counters. The child uses pennies as counters to solve the problem and then marks answers using the green glass beads.

In printable packs that include the nickel, dime, and quarter, money values using cents and dollar signs are used to provide more challenge with the activity.

Dividing Pennies Clip Cards

Like the multiplication cards, the division cards are created simply to introduce division concepts using pennies as counters.

In the nickel, dime, and quarter printable packs, money values are added to this activity to provide more of a challenge.

And there you have it! 

There are so many wonderful resources in the U.S. Coins: Pennies Printable Pack. 

For those looking for more Montessori and money resources and activities for kids be sure to subscribe to our FREE newsletter.

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FREE Hanukkah Counting Candles Printable Pack

Hanukkah is coming!  

I try to make sure our learning reflects the holidays around the world we're celebrating. 

I created this new FREE Hanukkah Counting Candles Printable Pack to use with my daughter, who really struggles with her reading. 

I'm hoping that by using the Hanukkah nomenclature cards and clip cards with words on them she can practice reading numbers one through eight.

For those who are just learning how to count and identify numbers, this printable pack is equally fantastic!

My kids are so excited.  We have celebrated Hanukkah in our home for several years now after discovering through DNA testing that some of Princess' ancestors are Jewish straight from Israel.

Celebrating this holiday is a way for her to feel connected to her birth family, even though she does not know who her birth father is.

Hanukkah Counting Candles Printable Pack

The Hanukkah Counting Printable Pack includes three activities:

• Counting Candles Nomenclature Cards with Numbers and Words
• Counting Candles Clip Cards with Numbers
• Counting Candles Clip Cards with Words

Each card includes candles from a menorah for each night of Hanukkah. 

The candles are arranged in the order they are lit as the numbers grow.

I debated back and forth about including the shammash or helper candle. 

In the end I decided it would be too confusing for little ones if I did include it. 

I also wanted to be sure to keep the focus on the eight nights of Hanukkah.

I encourage you to explain how the candles are lit to ensure there is a an understanding of the shammash or helper candle before presenting this activity.

Source: The Hanukkah Counting Printable Pack is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy, follow the directions at the bottom of the post.

Hanukkah Printable Packs

If you're looking for more in-depth resources about Hanukkah, including how to light the candles etc, be sure to check out the resource below!

Montessori-inspired Hanukkah Printable Pack

This printable has has everything you need to explain the story of Hanukkah and how to celebrate the special holiday including how to light a menorah, how to play dreidel and so, so, so much more! 

It's geared towards preschoolers and elementary students.

If you're looking even more resources, be sure to grab this resource as well!

Montessori-inspired Hanukkah Printable Pack II

This printable pack focuses on the celebration of Hanukkah with gorgeous images. 

It includes so many fun activities that involve food, culture, and more!

I love that so many different subject areas are incorporated into these two printable packs.

Don't forget your free printable!

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7. Select the Minimalism, Montessori, or Mental Health Printables Library.

8. Find the printable pack you are looking for listed in alphabetical order, click on it, and voila!

We hope you enjoy your free printable.

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Sunshine is technically ten years old, but cognitively and developmentally, she is six years old. Emotionally, at times she's even younger than that. 

For some this may be sad news, but for me, it's the opposite. I LOVE that she's not growing up as fast as her siblings, as it gives me more time to enjoy the phases I love most. Ages four to six are some of my absolute favorites.

This year Sunshine is all about mermaids, dragons, unicorns and more. I asked her for a wish list during our last video chat. She definitely had a list of ideas ready. Lol. 

Based off of her wish list, I am sharing our recommendations for Gift Ideas for 6 Year Old Girls.

I hope you are able to find some great ideas here and cross off a little girl on your Christmas shopping list!

Gift Ideas for 6 Year Old Girls

I have to admit I have such a hard time not buying each and every thing on this list for Sunshine as I love it all so much. Already I'm figuring out exactly how many of these items will fit in her stocking versus under the tree so I can make it work.  Lol.

1. Melissa and Doug Ballet Recital Jigsaw Puzzle

Sunshine absolutely loves puzzles and is quite good at them so long as they don't exceed 100 pieces. She is also very much into ballet and wants to be a dancer when she grows up.  I couldn't resist pairing these two things together with this beautiful ballet puzzle.

2. LEGO Disney Raya and Sisu Dragon 43184

Over the summer while living in a hotel, Sunshine and I watched the movie Raya and The Last Dragon. Sunshine absolutely LOVED Sisu. When she saw this LEGO set, she just had to have it. The fact that Sisu is a dragon makes her all the more loveable, as dragons are one of Sunshine's favorite things right now.  

For those who don't know, Sunshine absolutely loves playing LEGO. It soothes her and provides such great sensory input. Sunshine loves putting things together and taking things apart. She also stims on fine motor tasks like putting LEGO bricks in place.

3. Barbie Dreamtopia Brush n' Sparkle Unicorn with Lights and Sounds

Sunshine has wanted a horse for her Barbie dolls ever since she gave her sister one for her birthday a couple years back.  When she saw that there was a Barbie unicorn, she decided that having a unicorn would be even more amazing than a horse. Alas, this unicorn HAD to be on her wish list.  Lol.

4. Peaceable Kingdom Mermaid Island Cooperative Game

Sunshine still struggles playing games where she's playing against others, but thoroughly enjoys cooperative board games. She has the fairy game in this same series and adores it.  Knowing how much Sunshine loves mermaids right now, this is the perfect fit for her!

5. Schleich Bayala Dragon 2-Piece Set

Sunshine is very passionate about dragons right now and has decided she needs to have some. I was so excited to see this set from Schleich in colors that Sunshine will love.  She is always about creating families with her animals, so the fact that this set comes with a mother and child dragon is perfect!

6. Douglas Starsky Appaloosa Horse Plush Stuffed Animal

A long time ago, Princess gave Sunshine a large horse stuffed animal for Christmas. As Sunshine and I were chatting last week, she remembered that horse and said she wanted another. This time she wanted a white one.  Well, I searched all of Amazon for a large white horse with no luck. This was the closest thing. It's not as large as the last one, but it's as large as I could find.  I'm sure she'll love it!

 

7. Disney's Descendants 3: Audrey's Diary

Sunshine loves Disney's Descendants. She particularly admires the character Audrey. I have already purchased Audrey's costume and wig for Sunshine for Christmas.  This will go perfectly with those items.

For those that don't know, Sunshine stims off of flipping pages in a book. Though she can't read, she loves carrying around books and looking through them. It soothes her. I suspect just carrying a book also provides her sensory input she needs.

8. Happy Birthday Barbie Doll

Sunshine loves playing with Barbie dolls. This year she has asked for a Barbie in a fancy dress.  She has already chosen to give her sister the holiday Barbie from this year, so I decided this would be the next best thing. I love that the dress is modest, shimmery and pink!

9. Klee Kids Water-based Peelable Nail Polish Set

During our chat about Christmas, Sunshine asked if she could have nail polish.  (She has a history of getting into mine and destroying furniture with it.) I said I would think about it and started to look for a solution that would make us both happy.

I am so excited to have found this water-based nail polish that's non-toxic and perfect for little girls! It looks like so much fun!

10. Klee Kids Astro Star 4-Piece Make Up Kit

Along with Sunshine's request for nail polish was one for make up. When I realized that Klee Kids makes nail polish and make up kits that are non-toxic and gentle, I was hooked!  This is the perfect solution for Sunshine. The best part is I won't have to worry about her skin reacting harshly to it.

11. Gladdon Cat Purse

Sunshine loves to accessorize and carry as many things as possible with her where ever she goes.  She is also very passionate about cats.  When I saw this purse and how large it is, I knew it would work perfectly for her. It's quite adorable, I must say!

12. Set of 3 Books: How to Catch a Unicorn, How to Catch a Mermaid, and How to Catch a Dragon

Sunshine has always loved picture books. She loves looking through them. She loves being read to. She loves learning the words and reading them to us. The issue is that we've already read so many books, it's hard finding new ones for her. 

I was so excited to see these three books in the How to Catch series. She will love all three. I've grouped them together, because they are incredibly inexpensive. But if you're short on funds, even just one will be great!

Oh how I love shopping for little girls. It is so much fun! I hope your shopping is just as enjoyable!

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