12 Games and Programs To Teach Kids About Money

If you’ve ever watched your kid “buy” a unicorn with 1,000 pretend coins in a video game and thought, “Uh oh… this child is not ready for a credit card,” you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t have to turn family dinner into a lecture on compound interest. Today, there are tons of money games, kids’ banking apps, and classroom-style programs that make learning about money feel like playtime instead of homework.

In this guide, we’ll walk through 12 games and programs that help kids learn how money really works: earning, saving, spending, giving, and even the basics of investing. We’ll cover options for preschoolers all the way up to teens, including board games, online games, apps with debit cards, and organized financial literacy programs in the United States. All you have to do is pick a few that fit your child’s age and personalityand press “play.”

Why Money Games Work So Well for Kids

Kids learn best when they can see, touch, and experiment. Research on financial literacy consistently shows that hands-on experiencesearning allowance, making choices with real or play money, and trying out scenariosstick in a way that lectures never do. Board games and apps that mimic real-life money decisions can teach budgeting, saving, tradeoffs, and risk in a low-stakes environment.

Even better, money games make awkward topics feel normal. Instead of giving a mini TED Talk on why you can’t buy a $300 toy, you can simply point to the game: “Remember how you had to save for three turns before you could buy that cool thing? Real life works the same way.”

How To Choose the Right Money Game or Program

Before we dive into the list, it helps to know what you’re looking for. Ask yourself:

• Age and attention span: A kindergartener needs simple coin recognition; a teen might be ready for investing basics or a debit card app.
• Preferred format: Does your child love screens, or is your family trying to cut back on them? There are good options for both digital natives and board game lovers.
• Real money or play money: Some apps use real debit cards, while others stick to virtual currency in a game. Choose what you’re comfortable with.
• Parental control: Look for tools that let you track activity, set limits, and start conversationsnot just hand over financial power and hope for the best.

With that in mind, let’s look at 12 great ways to teach kids about moneywithout putting them to sleep.

12 Games and Programs To Teach Kids About Money

1. Peter Pig’s Money Counter (Online Game)

Best for: Young kids learning coins and simple saving.

Peter Pig’s Money Counter is a free online game that helps elementary-age kids practice identifying and counting U.S. coins. Players sort coins, count totals, and earn rewards they can “spend” in a virtual store to dress up Peter Pig.

Why it works: It connects the basicscoin recognition and countingwith simple budgeting. Kids see that if they splurge on one item, they can’t afford another, which is basically Finance 101 in piggy form.

2. Learning Coins (ABCya)

Best for: Preschool through early elementary kids.

ABCya’s “Learning Coins” is designed to introduce kids to different U.S. coins, including names, values, and visual cues. Kids match coins, drag and drop them into groups, and get instant feedback.

Parents can use it as a warmup before giving real coins at homeask kids to sort loose change into piles, or “buy” small items from a family store. The game builds confidence so your child doesn’t freeze the first time a cashier hands them change.

3. Money Bingo (ABCya)

Best for: Kids who already know basic coin values.

Once kids know coins, ABCya’s Money Bingo kicks it up a notch. Instead of just identifying a quarter, kids have to count mixed coins to find the right total on their bingo cards.

This is a sneaky way to practice mental math and introduce the idea of combining small amounts to reach a savings goal. For bonus fun, play side-by-side and see who can fill their bingo card firstkids love beating adults at “money math.”

4. Savings Spree (App)

Best for: Ages 7 and up who are ready for real-world money choices.

Savings Spree is an educational app presented like a game show, hosted by a cartoon pig. Players earn money, then choose whether to spend, save, donate, or invest in ways that affect long-term outcomes.

The app teaches that:

• Small daily decisions add up over time.
• Unexpected expenses happen (hello, broken phone!).
• Saving and investing create more choices later.

It’s a great way to show kids that money isn’t just about “getting more stuff”it’s about tradeoffs and planning for the future.

5. Greenlight: Kids’ Debit Card and App

Best for: Tweens and teens ready for a supervised debit card.

Greenlight is a popular family finance app in the U.S. that pairs a kids’ debit card with an app for both parents and children. Features include chore tracking, allowance automation, savings goals, parental controls, and even options to practice investing.

Why families like it:

• Parents can set spending limits and see real-time transactions.
• Kids learn how to swipe responsibly and track their own balances.
• Savings “buckets” help kids visualize goals like “new bike” or “concert tickets.”

It’s a bridge between piggy banks and adult banking, with training wheels firmly attached.

6. BusyKid (Allowance & Investing App)

Best for: Kids who earn chore money and want more responsibility.

BusyKid lets parents assign chores, send digital allowance, and help kids decide what to save, spend, donate, or even invest. Financial sites frequently highlight it as a top money app for kids because it ties money directly to effortno chores, no “payday.”

BusyKid also allows parents to match savings or pay small “interest” bonuses on money their kids leave untouched, which is a powerful hands-on way to show how compounding works.

7. GoHenry / Acorns Early

Best for: Families who want gamified lessons plus a debit card.

GoHenry, now associated with Acorns Early in the U.S., combines a kids’ debit card with in-app “money missions” and financial literacy games. Kids can earn from chores, set savings goals, and watch animated lessons on topics like budgeting and spending wisely.

Parents control transfers, set spending categories, and monitor activity. The mission-style learning makes it feel more like a game and less like a finance course, which is ideal for reluctant learners.

8. The Allowance Game (Board Game)

Best for: Ages ~5–11 who love classic board games.

The Allowance Game is a board game where kids earn money by doing chores, land on spaces that represent real-life expenses, and race toward a savings goal. It’s often recommended by financial educators as a kid-friendly way to practice earning, spending, and making change.

The physical play money gives younger kids a tactile sense of valuecounting cash, making change, and feeling the “pain” of handing over their hard-earned dollars to pay a bill in the game.

9. Monopoly (Classic Board Game)

Best for: School-age kids and teens who can handle longer games.

Monopoly has been teaching money lessons (and starting sibling rivalries) for generations. While not a perfect economic model, it introduces concepts like rent, cash flow, risk, and the downside of running out of money. Financial literacy experts still cite Monopoly as a useful tool for discussing strategy, chance, and the importance of keeping some cash on hand.

Parents can take it further by asking:

• “Was buying that property worth it in the long run?”
• “How did it feel when you had to mortgage something?”
• “What would you do differently next time?”

10. The Game of Life

Best for: Kids 8+ who like big-picture life scenarios.

The Game of Life lets kids “live” an entire adult life in one gamechoosing college or career, dealing with surprise expenses, and heading toward retirement. It’s frequently cited as a creative way to talk about education paths, income, debt, and long-term planning.

Use it to open discussions like: “What happens if you borrow a lot for school?” or “How does having kids change your expenses?” It’s a playful way to talk about serious topics without scaring anyone.

11. PayDay

Best for: Kids learning about monthly budgeting.

PayDay simulates a month of income and bills, where players earn a paycheck, then pay expenses, deal with surprise events, and see whether they end the month ahead or in the hole. It’s frequently recommended alongside Monopoly and Life as a board game focused specifically on budgeting and cash flow.

It’s a great way to show that “having a big paycheck” doesn’t automatically mean being richwhat matters is how you manage what comes in and out.

12. Organized Financial Literacy Programs (Jump$tart, NFEC, and Junior Achievement)

Best for: Classroom or group settings, or parents looking for structured curricula.

Beyond individual games and apps, several U.S. organizations offer structured financial education programs for kids and teens. The Jump$tart Coalition curates a national clearinghouse of vetted financial education resources that align with personal finance standards, including games, lesson plans, and digital tools.

The National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) and state education departments publish toolkits and at-home financial lessons for kids ages roughly 9–15, while Junior Achievement provides classroom-style programs and simulations that cover earning, spending, credit, and more.

If your child’s school doesn’t yet offer consistent financial education, these programs can supplement learning at home or in community groups.

Making the Most of Money Games at Home

Picking a game or app is just step one. The real magic happens when you connect the game to real life. A few tips:

• Play together: Sit down and play board games with your kids instead of sending them off to “learn.” Money conversations happen naturally when you react to the same events on the board.
• Link to real allowance: Use apps like Greenlight, BusyKid, or GoHenry to connect chores and allowance to real spending decisions.
• Talk through mistakes: When kids overspend or lose in a game, treat it as a safe practice round: “What could you try differently next time?”
• Repeat often: Short, regular money conversations stick better than one big “money talk” when your teen is about to move out.

Real-Life Experiences: What Actually Works With Kids

The most effective money lessons almost always blend three ingredients: play, real responsibility, and conversation. Here are some practical, experience-based ideas you can borrow and adapt to your own family.

Turn Game Night Into a “Money Lab”

Think of family board game night as a low-pressure money lab. When you play Monopoly or The Game of Life, don’t rush through turns just to finish. Pause occasionally to ask simple questions:

• “Why did you choose that property?”
• “What happens if you keep spending and don’t save anything?”
• “Did that risky move pay off?”

Kids often reveal how they think about money through their game strategy. Some children hoard cash and never spend; others “YOLO” every dollar. Neither is wrong in a board game, but both open the door to talking about balance in real life.

Use Apps as Training Wheels, Not Autopilot

Kids’ banking apps and money games are powerful, but they shouldn’t replace actual conversations. If your child uses a debit card app, make it a habit to sit down weekly and review their transaction history together. Ask what they’re proud of and what they regret.

You might say, “I noticed you spent a lot on snacks this week. Did that make you happy, or do you wish you’d saved some of that money for your bigger goal?” That question does more for long-term habits than any app notification ever will.

Let Them Feel “Safe Failure”

One of the best reasons to use games and controlled apps is that kids can fail without real-life consequences. When they blow all their money in PayDay and run out before the end of the month, it’s annoyingbut it’s also a powerful, sticky lesson.

Resist the urge to rescue them every time. In a game, let the natural consequence play out. In an app, you might decide that once their spending budget is gone for the week, that’s it. Short-term frustration can lead to long-term maturity.

Connect Play Money to Real Money

Money games become much more meaningful when kids see the same ideas in their own lives. Here are some simple ways to make that connection:

• After playing Peter Pig’s Money Counter, give younger kids a real jar of coins to sort, roll, and deposit into a savings account.
• After The Allowance Game, create a simple chart at home showing how much your child earns for different chores and how long it would take to reach a specific goal.
• After a month of using a debit card app, have your teen calculate what percentage of their money went to needs, wants, savings, and giving.

This mirrors what kids see in their gamesonly now, the outcome is a real skateboard or concert ticket instead of cardboard money.

Share Your Own Money Stories

Kids are surprisingly interested in how adults handle money, especially when you share your mistakes. If you feel comfortable, talk about a time you overspent, got into debt, or saved for something big. Tie it back to their games:

“Remember how you had to sell things in Monopoly because you ran out of cash? I did something similar in my 20s when I used my credit card too much. Here’s what I learned…”

By linking your real stories to their game experiences, you show that money decisions are a lifelong learning processnot something they’re expected to “get perfect” right away.

Keep It Fun, Not Fear-Based

It’s tempting to lean into fear“If you don’t save, you’ll be broke!”but anxiety rarely leads to confident money habits. Games, apps, and structured programs already give you a built-in way to talk about risk and consequences without scaring kids.

Focus on the positive: “When you save, you have more choices.” “When you plan, surprise expenses are less stressful.” “When you give, you can help others.” The goal is to raise kids who feel capable, not terrified, when they think about money.

Conclusion: Make Money a Normal Part of Growing Up

You don’t need a finance degreeor a lecture hallto teach kids about money. With the right mix of board games, online games, apps, and structured programs, you can turn everyday moments into mini money lessons that actually stick.

Start with one or two tools that fit your child’s age: maybe Peter Pig’s Money Counter and Learning Coins for a kindergartener, or Greenlight and PayDay for a middle-schooler. Add in a family game night, a simple allowance system, and short weekly check-ins about money choices.

Over time, those small, playful experiences build something incredibly powerful: a young person who understands how money works, feels confident making decisions, and is far less likely to be blindsided by finances later on. That’s the real winno matter who takes first place in Monopoly.