2.5y–4.2y12 minFree playFamily timeDevelopmental play
Play Shop: Coins and Change
A quick pretend-shop role-play where children practise counting small amounts, paying, and giving simple change while adults model clear number language in meaningful play.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a small pile of coins (or paper circles as ‘coins’)
- 3–5 small household items to ‘sell’ (e.g., spoon, sock, toy, empty box)
- two small bowls/containers (one for ‘till’, one for ‘change’)
- paper and a pen/marker for simple price tags
Nice to have
- an envelope or small bag as a ‘purse’
- 2–3 toys/teddies as extra ‘customers’
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- Milestonecounts up to 5Mind· 2.5y–3.3y· core
- MilestoneCounts objects one-to-oneMind· 4y–4.5y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneReenacts familiar experiencesMind· 2.2y–3.8y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneEnacts a pretend roleMind· 3y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneReceptive opposite understandingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestonePretends with imagined roles or thingsMind· 2y–3y· stretch
What it practices
- Uses some number names and number language spontaneously.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses some number names accurately in play.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Recites numbers in order to 10.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Knows that numbers identify how many objects are in a set.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Beginning to represent numbers using fingers, marks on paper or pictures.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Include counting money and change in role-play games.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)