Counting Money: Games, Tips & Worksheet
Counting money means adding up coins and notes to find the total. The trick is to start with the biggest value and count on, which also builds skip counting in fives and tens.
💰 Play the counting money game 🖨️ Printable worksheet
Tricks that make it easier
- Sort coins from biggest to smallest, then count on.
- Group coins that make 1 whole unit (like 100 cents or 100 pence).
- Skip count: 20, 40, 60 for twenty-cent or twenty-pence coins.
Try these
- £6.92 + £5.16 =
Answer
£12.08 - £4.77 + £0.93 =
Answer
£5.70 - £2.98 + £1.54 =
Answer
£4.52 - £5.99 + £3.77 =
Answer
£9.76 - £7.28 + £2.25 =
Answer
£9.53 - £2.19 + £5.09 =
Answer
£7.28
Common mistakes
- Counting the number of coins instead of their value.
- Thinking a bigger coin is always worth more.
- Mixing up cents and dollars, or pence and pounds, when writing amounts.
A five-day practice plan
| Day | What to do (10 minutes) |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Play Money Match on this skill for 5–10 minutes. Read the explanation after every mistake. |
| Day 2 | Learn one trick from this page and use it out loud while you play. |
| Day 3 | Print the worksheet and try it without help. Mark it with the answer key together. |
| Day 4 | Play again and try to beat your personal best score or get three stars. |
| Day 5 | Mix it up: try the ⏱️ Timed test, or ask your child to explain the skill to you in their own words. |
Suits Year 1 and Year 2 and Year 3.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach my child to count money?
Use real coins, start with the biggest value and count on, then play the money game to practise every day.
What age do children learn about money?
Most start recognising coins around ages 5 to 6 and add amounts and give change from about 7 to 9.
Does the game use my country’s money?
Yes. The coins and notes match the country version of the site you are using.